MANILA, Philippines – two of the PBA’s most successful teams faced off in an attempt to start the 2025 Philippine Cup with a perfect 3-0 record. The league’s last game before the Holy Week break was a high-stakes clash between the Magnolia Hotshots and San Miguel Beermen, both of which had won their opening two games, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Both sides were keen to rebuild their reputations after disappointing Commissioner’s Cup campaigns. The last meeting had been especially traumatic for San Miguel. With a final record of 5-7, the Beermen missed out on the playoffs for the first time in 22 conferences. For a squad that had regularly advanced to the post-elimination stages for the previous ten years, it was an uncommon miss.

With a strong start to the All-Filipino conference, San Miguel was determined to recover. They defeated NLEX 98-89 to start their Philippine Cup campaign, and then they defeated Meralco 110-98 in a game with a throwback theme played at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. With their longtime leader, June Mar Fajardo anchoring the paint, these two victories restored confidence in the Beermen’s capacity to get back to their previous level of play.

Fajardo had a strong start to the game. He had recently received recognition at the PBA’s gala event at Solaire North Resort as one of the league’s 50 Greatest Players. He and his teammates were eager to forget the pain of their earlier setback, and the accolades gave them even more drive.

The Magnolia Hotshots, meanwhile, were keen to make a name for themselves early in the competition. Similar to San Miguel, they had a tumultuous run in the Commissioner’s Cup, finishing with a 6-6 record and losing to top-seeded NorthPort in the quarterfinals.

Coach Chito Victolero stated that the team’s goal was to get better. The players were gradually improving their system and embraced the coaching staff’s goals. The team believes that minor changes to their current structure could have a significant impact. That mentality paid off in their first two victories, defeating Blackwater 106-84 and Converge 83-71.

The Hotshots had the confidence to take on the formidable Beermen thanks to their early success, which was supported by reliable scoring from seasoned players like Paul Lee and the hard work of their supporting cast. Magnolia’s victory over San Miguel in a tune-up game during the preseason buildup gave them a psychological advantage coming into the match.

Both clubs produced a fierce match that lived up to expectations on game night. Between the first tip and the last buzzer, the scoreboard stayed close. In the final seconds of regulation, every possession proved vital because neither side was able to lead by double digits.

By the end of the fourth quarter, the game was deadlocked, and overtime was required. Magnolia gained the upper hand in the remaining five minutes by using its expertise and mental tenacity.

The unexpected hero was veteran guard Mark Barroca, who had trouble shooting the entire game. In the clutch, he came alive after missing his first eight attempts. He made two crucial jumpers as overtime was coming to an end, giving the Hotshots just enough breathing room to fend off the Beermen.

Magnolia’s “next man up” mentality was evident throughout his performance. Others stepped up to take the load even on the nights when other players had off. With a hard-fought victory for the third consecutive game, the Hotshots defeated San Miguel 98-95 to hand them their first conference defeat.

The defeat served as a reminder to the Beermen of how fierce the competition was. Their good start indicates they are still top contenders in the competition, even though the loss ended their attempt to sweep their first three games.

Due to Holy Week, both teams are now taking a little break. They will return to the court with important lessons learned from this encounter when play resumes. While San Miguel will try to regroup and make amends, Magnolia will want to maintain their momentum.

Games like this are crucial preludes to potential playoff matches because the Philippine Cup is still in its early stages. If the matchup on Wednesday night is any guide, fans should anticipate more historic contests between the top teams in the league in the future.