1. Fajardo identifies the problem beyond the import matchup
Asked about George King’s duel with Jordan Murphy, Fajardo pointed toward San Miguel’s collective defense. Ginebra was more organized, he said, and the Beermen needed to address the volume of threes they were conceding. Justine Bacnis reported those postgame comments for Tiebreaker Times after Friday’s Game 2.
The numbers show the breadth of that assignment: Ginebra made 16 triples, while Murphy supplied nine assists and Scottie Thompson 11. After our October 28 account of Ginebra’s defensive preparation for Fajardo, San Miguel now has its own organizational problem to solve. Powcast’s reading is that containing Murphy’s scoring alone will leave too much unfinished. The next adjustment must account for multiple passers and the shooters they can find.
2. Nocum’s 18 assists belong to Rain or Shine history
Nocum’s passing has reached a mark no Rain or Shine player had recorded before. PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon III identified Friday’s 18 assists as a franchise record, the league reported. The league also identified it as the most assists in a PBA game since Mike Cortez’s 18 for Air21 on December 13, 2012. This is a Rain or Shine record, rather than the league’s all time record.
Nocum also scored 22, but Converge still found the decisive late possessions through Cameron Clark, Mikey Williams and its free throw shooters. That makes Game 3 interesting beyond whether Nocum repeats the number: Rain or Shine must turn its creation into a stronger finish against an opponent that has now answered its opening comeback.
3. Morant’s diagnosis changes Portland’s immediate plan
Friday’s imaging update replaced uncertainty with a specific diagnosis: Morant has a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in four weeks, Portland announced. His first meeting with Memphis ended with an injury in the fourth quarter. The reassessment timetable leaves the date of his return unsettled.
That interrupts the shared creation described in our October 29 look at Lillard’s openings alongside Morant and Avdija. Portland still has Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson as backcourt options. After the Memphis game, Avdija said he would continue passing out to Lillard despite the poor shooting night. The immediate challenge is preserving those useful decisions while redistributing Morant’s drives and ball handling.
4. Oklahoma City’s reported Agbaji move carries a shooting question
Ochai Agbaji is the Thunder’s reported choice for their open 15th standard roster spot. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto first reported the plan, which The Oklahoman’s Justin Martinez confirmed Friday. It is a concrete roster response after the injuries to Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, with contract details still unannounced.
His recent shooting gives Oklahoma City something specific to evaluate. Agbaji made 39.9 percent of his threes in 2024 to 2025, then fell to 26.6 percent last season. The Thunder need perimeter help, but spacing will matter alongside his defensive contribution. For Agbaji, the available role offers an opportunity to recover his shooting level while joining a rotation with immediate vacancies.
Recent Results from Our Watchlist
All dates are Philippine time.
NBA
- Friday, October 30, 2026: Memphis Grizzlies 124 at Portland Trail Blazers 103, final. Deni Avdija had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
PBA
- Friday, October 30, 2026: San Miguel Beermen 99, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 126, final. Murphy had 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
- Friday, October 30, 2026: Converge FiberXers 130, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 125, final. Nocum set Rain or Shine’s franchise record with 18 assists.
Important Games to Watch This Week
All dates and tipoff times are Philippine time.
NBA
- Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10 AM: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, United States
Why watch: NBA Cup group play opens with a rematch of the Lakers’ opening night victory.
PBA
- Saturday, October 31, 2026, 5:15 PM: NLEX Road Warriors vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters
Location: Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila, Philippines
Why watch: NLEX can complete a quarterfinal sweep. - Saturday, October 31, 2026, 7:30 PM: Magnolia Hotshots vs. TNT Tropang 5G
Location: Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila, Philippines
Why watch: Magnolia must solve TNT’s offensive counters to avoid elimination. - Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 5:15 PM: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Converge FiberXers
Location: City of Dasmariñas Arena, Dasmariñas, Philippines
Why watch: Nocum and Gomez de Liaño lead the creation battle with the series tied. - Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 7:30 PM: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. San Miguel Beermen
Location: City of Dasmariñas Arena, Dasmariñas, Philippines
Why watch: San Miguel needs a defensive response to prevent a sweep.
Watch how San Miguel changes its coverage when the series resumes in Dasmariñas. Should the Beermen first prioritize disrupting Murphy’s passing or staying closer to Ginebra’s perimeter shooters?