The stage is set for the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals as Rain or Shine and Ginebra sealed the last two spots with decisive victories.
Rain or Shine topped higher-seeded Converge 112-103 for its second win in a row, while Ginebra continued its winning ways against Meralco by downing the Bolts 94-87. The playoffs will now take a break for the upcoming break Asia Cup qualifiers and resume play on February 26.
Rain or Shine leans on Thompson's post mastery
From the start, Rain or Shine made its Game 3 offensive strategy clear -- maximize Deon Thompson's presence in the post. After fouling out in the third quarter of Game 1, he bounced back with a solid 28-point performance in Game 2. But in this do-or-die matchup, he looked even more determined.
Thompson delivered his best performance of the conference, dropping 34 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. His intent to dominate the post was evident, making Converge's bigs work on defense as he attempted 19 shots inside the arc while converting an impressive 84.2% from the field. It felt like back-to-back revenge games for him and was exactly what Rain or Shine needed to outlast a talented Converge squad.
"We made really good adjustments after that first game, moving me away from [Chieck] Diallo and putting me on the local bigs. How we guarded the pick-and-roll was another good adjustment, and we added new wrinkles on offense to get me the ball in my preferred spots," Thompson said, crediting head coach Yeng Guiao's adjustments.
He also had plenty of support from Rain or Shine's local crew, led by rising star Adrian Nocum, who exploded for 25 points on an ultra-efficient 73.9% true shooting. Andrei Caracut and Jhonard Clarito chipped in 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Shooting remained a key weapon for Rain or Shine, as they drained 10 or more 3-pointers for the third straight game, finishing with an 11-of-28 (39.3%) from beyond the arc. Thompson's post presence played a crucial role, attracting double teams and freeing up shooters for quality looks.
With the win, Rain or Shine advances to its third straight semifinals under Yeng Guiao, where they will once again face their Governors' Cup tormentor, TNT, in a best-of-seven series.
Meanwhile, Converge found itself in a familiar position -- just one win short of its first-ever semifinal appearance. Still, the team showed significant progress, finishing as the third seed after the eliminations. Now, it's back to the drawing board as they look to take the next step.
Brownlee delivers anew for Ginebra
Since 2016, whenever Ginebra played in an import-laden conference, they've always had a safety net in Justin Brownlee. In this Game 3 showdown against rival Meralco, Brownlee again proved why he is one of the greatest imports to ever star in the PBA.
The game was a grind, with both teams locked in defensively -- a product of their long-standing familiarity. While Tim Cone's triangle offense is known for its structure and precision, sometimes the best approach is simplicity: Attack pressure points and keep the defense guessing.
That's exactly what Ginebra did. They consistently fed Brownlee, forcing Meralco's defense into scramble mode. Teams know by now that defending Brownlee often requires two defenders on the ball, which means trusting rotations to cover shooters. Unfortunately for Meralco, Ginebra's marksmen were locked in, ready to capitalize on open looks.
One of the biggest beneficiaries was Stephen Holt, who broke out of his slump with 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists on a 59.9 TS%. Meanwhile, rookie RJ Abarrientos once again displayed his fearlessness in big moments, contributing 16 points on an ultra-efficient 78.4 TS%.
Brownlee finished with 25 points, though his 48.2% TS wasn't as efficient as usual. However, beyond the numbers, his presence orchestrated much of Ginebra's offense. His seven assists -- and countless hockey assists -- generated easy buckets for his teammates.
"Teams have to pick their poison when going up against a guy like Justin. Either they go easy on him in the pick-and-roll, or they switch and double him in the post," Cone said, emphasizing the challenge of containing his star import.
With another series win over Meralco, Ginebra improves to 9-2 in playoff matchups against the Bolts and a perfect 7-0 when Brownlee is on the floor. This victory also extends Brownlee and Ginebra's incredible streak -- making at least the semifinals in all 12 conferences he has played for the crowd favorites.
Ginebra will play top-seeded NorthPort when the semifinals resume later this month.