The humid Manila air clung to my skin as I settled into my usual seat at the Playtime Filoil Centre last July 15. I’ve always loved these smaller venues—there’s an intimacy here you don’t get in the bigger arenas, a raw energy that feels closer to the heart of the game. Down on the court, Galeries Tower was fighting hard, their movements sharp and desperate. You could feel their hunger for that elusive first win, a tangible pressure that seemed to thicken the air. But Nxled was relentless, matching them play for play. Watching them, I couldn’t help but let my mind drift to the bigger stage, the one every Filipino basketball fan is already dreaming about: Ginebra vs San Miguel: Who Will Dominate the PBA Finals This Season?

It’s the question on everyone’s lips whenever the playoffs loom. As a fan who’s been following the PBA for over a decade, I’ve seen this rivalry evolve, but its core remains the same—a clash of titans, of culture, of pure, unadulterated basketball passion. Ginebra, with its "Never Say Die" spirit, feels like the people's team. Their games are emotional rollercoasters. I remember a finals game a few seasons back where they were down by 15 with only four minutes left. The crowd was deflated, but you could see it in Scottie Thompson’s eyes—that refusal to quit. They clawed back, possession by possession, and won it on a last-second shot. That’s Ginebra basketball. It’s chaotic, it’s heart-attack-inducing, and it’s utterly magnificent.

On the other side, you have San Miguel. My goodness, San Miguel. They are the blue-blooded aristocracy of the league. Watching June Mar Fajoner operate in the paint is like watching a master craftsman at work. It’s not always flashy, but it’s brutally efficient. They don’t just beat you; they systematically dismantle you with a depth of talent that’s almost unfair. They have, in my opinion, the most skilled starting five in the entire league. While Ginebra runs on emotion, San Miguel runs on execution and a cold, calculated confidence that can be utterly demoralizing for any opponent.

This brings me back to that Galeries Tower vs Nxled game I was watching. Galeries Tower, much like an underdog facing a behemoth, showed flashes of brilliance. They were scrappy, they hustled, but they ultimately fell short, losing by a score of 88-82. It’s a tough lesson, and one that highlights the gap between striving for a first win and competing for a championship. That struggle for consistency is what separates the hopefuls from the contenders. For teams like Ginebra and San Miguel, the question isn’t about getting a win; it’s about who gets to hoist the trophy after a grueling seven-game series.

So, who wins? I’ll be honest, my heart often leans toward Ginebra. There’s something about their underdog-energy, even when they’re the favorites, that resonates with me. But my head? My head says San Miguel. Their roster is just too deep, too experienced. If Fajoner stays healthy and their shooters get hot, I think they have a 60-40 edge in a potential finals matchup. They have this aura of inevitability. But then I think of a packed Araneta Coliseum, the crowd roaring for Ginebra, and Justin Brownlee hitting another impossible, contested three-pointer. In that environment, all logic goes out the window. That’s the beauty of this rivalry, and why that question—Ginebra vs San Miguel: Who Will Dominate the PBA Finals This Season?—is the only one that truly matters.