List of the 20 Highest Scoring Games in PBA history

PBA since its inception has been a source of entertainment for basketball lovers over the years. Its popularity has seen rapid growth due to top athletes from the Philippines and all over the world having graced the leagues and were part of some of the highest scoring games in PBA.

In this blog, we will discuss some of the most exciting and high-scoring basketball games in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) alongside the teams that participated in those matches and the winners.

Top 20 Highest Scoring Games in PBA History

1. Great Taste 157 vs Ginebra San Miguel 147 (OT)

• Match Date: November 20, 1985

Ginebra San Miguel holds the PBA record for most points scored by a team in a single game (197 points vs Great Taste 168).

And more than 50% of the team's points were scored by Michael Hackett who scored a total of 103 points out of 197 of the total team points.

2. Ginebra San Miguel 151 vs Manila Beer 147

• Match Date: October 23, 1986 

In this game, Ginebra and Manila Beer competed fiercely, with both teams scoring a lot of points in those games. However, Ginebra San Miguel came out on top with a total of 151 points.

3. Magnolia Ice Cream 149, Great Taste 144 (OT)

• Match Date: December 13, 1985

Magnolia and Great Taste played an intense game that drew in the normal time and the match went into overtime. Magnolia walked away with the victory with a final score of 149-144.

4. Presto 168, Ginebra San Miguel 166 (2OT)

• Match Date: October 21, 1989

This was not only one of the highest scoring games in PBA but also among the most thrilling games of the competition. Ginebra San Miguel competed against each other and the match went into extra time twice. Finally, Presto managed to win by a slim margin, with a combined score of 334 points against Ginebra.

5. Purefoods 144, Shell 143 (OT)

• Match Date: February 3, 1989

Purefoods and Shell engaged in a close game that went into overtime. Purefoods secured the victory with a final score of 144-143.

6. Great Taste 157 vs Presto 154

• Match Date: March 22, 1987 

Great Taste and Presto showcased incredible offense in this game, combining for a total score of 311 points.

7. Ginebra San Miguel 148, Great Taste 144

• Match Date: October 31, 1985

Ginebra and Great Taste had another high-scoring clash, and Ginebra emerged as the winner with 148 points.

8. Shell 160, Purefoods 156

• Match Date: November 26, 1988

Shell and Purefoods faced each other in one of the highest scoring games in PBA. Shell secured the win with a total score of 160-156.

9. Presto 160, Ginebra San Miguel 154

• Match Date: February 16, 1990

Presto and Ginebra treated fans to a high-scoring game, and Presto emerged victorious with a score of 160-154.

10. Purefoods 156, Alaska 153

• Match Date: October 30, 1988

Purefoods and Alaska had a close matchup, with Purefoods coming out on top with a final score of 156-153.

11. Shell 156, Purefoods 154

• Match Date: October 29, 1989

Shell and Purefoods had another exciting game, with Shell securing the win with a total score of 156-154.

12. Swift 158, Purefoods 155

• Match Date: November 10, 1991

Swift and Purefoods battled it out on the court, and Swift emerged victorious with a final score of 158-155.

13. Presto 156, Ginebra San Miguel 152

• Match Date: October 23, 1988

In this game, Presto managed to outscore Ginebra with a final score of 156-152.

14. Ginebra San Miguel 155, Shell 152

• Match Date: November 16, 1990

Ginebra and Shell engaged in a close contest, with Ginebra securing the win with a total score of 155-152.

15. Ginebra San Miguel 155, Manila Beer 152

• Match Date: September 20, 1985

Ginebra and Manila Beer had a high-scoring game, and Ginebra emerged victorious with 155 points.

16. Purefoods 154, Shell 151

• Match Date: February 2, 1991

Purefoods and Shell had a close matchup, and Purefoods secured the win with a final score of 154-151.

17. Shell 154, Purefoods 150

• Match Date: October 28, 1988

Shell and Purefoods competed with each other and showcased their attacking skills in this match. However, Shell won the game with a total score of 154-150.

18. Purefoods 153, Alaska 150

• Match Date: November 20, 1988

Purefoods and Alaska engaged in a close battle, and Purefoods emerged victorious with a final score of 153-150.

19. Ginebra San Miguel 153, Presto 150

• Match Date: October 8, 1989

Ginebra and Presto had an exciting and thrilling game and that went to the wire and Ginebra secured the win with a total score of 153-150.

20. Ginebra San Miguel 152, Purefoods 149

• Match Date: November 29, 1987

Ginebra and Purefoods faced each other in one of the highest scoring Games in PBA History, and Ginebra emerged as the winner with a final score of 152-149.

These were some of the high-scoring games, and you might have noticed most of these games were played almost 30 years ago as basketball was more of an offensive game. However, with time the players and playing conditions have seen major transitions, and teams now work on both the defensive and attacking aspects of the games.

Furthermore, the competition has grown over the years and only top teams with excellent and professional players take part in the PBA competitions, this helps in keeping the balance between the scoring of both teams.

That's why, we do not often witness high-scoring games in the PBA Competitions whether it’s the Commissioner’s Cup, Governor’s Cup, or the Philippine Cup. But one thing is clear, these games have contributed a lot to the overall growth and popularity of this league.