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Ross, Fajardo power San Miguel past Barangay Ginebra, sets up Philippine Cup finals duel vs TNT
San Miguel turned to its veterans in Chris Ross and June Mar Fajardo as they powered the Beermen past Barangay Ginebra, 100-93, on Wednesday in Game 7 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the victory, the Beermen set up a duel against Grand Slam-seeking TNT in the Finals which will open on Sunday.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
a day ago
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PBA: Game 1 loss sparked San Miguel finals fightback vs. TNT
Stung by a heartbreaking loss in Game 1, San Miguel flipped the script against TNT to move to within a win of ruling the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup. The Beermen were able to erase a 24-point deficit in the series opener, but an offensive basketball interference call on a Mo Tautuaa dunk attempt spoiled their comeback bid as TNT eked out a 99-96 victory to draw first blood. But since dropping Game 1, San Miguel strung together three consecutive wins to move to the brink of the title. In doing so, they also come closer to ending TNT's Grand Slam hopes. "The biggest impact is our first game — it fuels our grit. You can see naman sa mga players na on their eyes, makikita mo 'yung fire. They want to win," San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said. [The biggest impact is our first game — it fuels our grit. You can see it in the players, in their eyes, you can see the fire. They want to win.] Jericho Cruz echoed Austria sentiments, though he stressed that they have already moved on from that controversial Game 1 affair. Instead, they just regrouped and played as one in the succeeding games. The veteran shooting guard stepped up in Game 4, erupting for 23 points on 5-of-7 shooting from downtown to help the Beermen pull away late en route to a 105-91 romp on Sunday. "Sayang 'yung pagkatalo namin no'n kasi akala namin we have a chance to win the game, ayun nga lang na-minus 'yung points at natalo kami pero tapos na 'yun e. Naka-move on na kami do'n," Cruz shared. "Tulad ng sinasabi ni coach, paglaro namin talagang put in your head na parang every game is your last game. Kaya ako, specifically sinasabihan ni Boss Al, na laruin ko lang 'yung laro ko. Let it be." [It was too bad, that loss of ours because we thought we had a chance to win the game. And there, the points were subtracted and we lost the game. But that's in the past. We've moved on from that… Like coach said, when we play, put in your head that every game is your last game. For me specifically, Boss Al said to just play my game. Let it be.] Cruz's display also proved the depth of San Miguel as the likes of Don Trollano, Jeron Teng, Juami Tiongson, and Rodney Brondial giving the Beermen a huge lift against an injury-riddled TNT. Aside from Cruz's game-high output, Trollano chipped in 11 points in Game 4 while also grabbing six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. "Stepping up lang naman 'yung ginagawa ko. Kumbaga kung panget 'yung or 'di masyadong nilalaro ng first group, nandito kami ni Don to step up sa second group," Cruz added. "'Yun lang 'yung ginagawa namin. Binibigyan din namin sila ng motivation. Gusto ko rin mag-thank you kay coach dahil sa tiwala na binibigay niya sa akin, hanggang ngayon meron pa rin." [What I'm doing is just stepping up. If for example, the first group didn't play so well, Don and I are here to step up with the second group… That's all we're doing. We're giving them motivation. I also want to say thank you to coach because of the trust he gives me. Until now, he continues to give it.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
2 days ago
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Jojo Lastimosa on SMB's Jericho Cruz after heated Game 4: 'He was showboating'
Emotions ran high in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup finals between TNT and San Miguel, and Tropang 5G manager Jojo Lastimosa didn't hold back when addressing San Miguel guard Jericho Cruz's on-court behavior. Lastimosa called out Cruz for what he described as 'showboating' during the heated matchup, which saw San Miguel eking out a 105-91 win to move up 3-1 in the series. The loss dealt a major blow to TNT's Grand Slam hopes, as they now need to win three straight games to clinch their third title of the season READ MORE | Jericho Cruz, CJ Perez heat up late as San Miguel nears return to PBA Philippine Cup throne "Lahat naman tayo naglalaro ng basketball. He was showboating," an irate Lastimosa told reporters on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena. "The guy has problems, I know he has problems [at] dinadala niya na lang sa court. Wala munang kaibigan dito. He's just acting up. He's just like a little boy." [We all play basketball. He was showboating… The guy has problems. I know he has problems and he's bringing it onto the court. Let's set friendships aside first. He's just acting up. He's just like a little boy.] Cruz — who unleashed 15 of his 23 points in a fourth quarter surge — was animated all game long as he led San Miguel to within one win of the title. Cruz, though, was surprised by the remarks from Lastimosa, especially given the history between them. Cruz and Lastimosa were both with NLEX in the past. "Wala naman akong ginagawang masama e tsaka patapos na 'yung laro, syempre tumatalon ako kasi masaya ako kasi panalo kami e. Hindi naman showboating 'yun," Cruz said. "Hindi ko nga alam 'yun, ang alam ko nga si Chris Ross 'yung inaaway nila at hindi ako. Ako, wala talaga akong alam. Kilala ko naman 'yan, kilala ako niyan kaya nagulat ako nu'ng sinabi niya na ako." [I didn't do anything bad and the game was ending, of course I was jumping because I was happy that we won. That's not showboating… I didn't even know that, I know they were going at Chris Ross, not me. I didn't know anything. I know him, he knows me, so I was surprised that he said it was me.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
2 days ago
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What did Alex Eala improve ahead of historic run this year?
Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala has been on an historic run this year as she had some impressive campaigns and even some prominent debuts in Grand Slam tournaments. In the Miami Open last March, Eala reached the semifinals, dispatching several Grand Slam champions in Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko, and Iga Swiatek, on her way there. Meanwhile, in the Eastbourne Open last June, she made her first-ever finals appearance in a WTA tournament. She also made her main draw debuts in Grand Slam tournaments Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and is set to enter the US Open as well. But what did Eala improve on to achieve better results this year? "I think I've been working on a lot of aspects of my game individually and this year, talagang nag-click. For one example, was my fitness. Mas fit ako ngayon, mas tumatagal ako sa court and I'm able to maintain the level for a longer period of time that's why sometimes I can hang with these top players," she said in a Globe meet and greet event last Friday. "And the movement, also part of that, my forehand [serve]. So, everything, little adjustments in everything and this year, medyo nag-click." ? What part of her game did Alex Eala improve on during the last year? @gmasportsph @gmanews — JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) July 18, 2025 Eala also said she learned a lot for herself this year as she went against higher-ranked players. "I learned my takes, I learned what keeps me going, I learned how to manage my nerves, and I learned to be brave and channel the boss, like try to be the boss of me," she said. ? Alex Eala shares the lessons she learned from playing against higher ranked players @gmasportsph @gmanews — JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) July 18, 2025 With her spectacular campaigns this year, Eala reached her career-high ranking of no. 56 last June 30. As of writing, Eala is ranked no. 69 by the WTA. Eala is expected to compete in tournaments in Canada and Mexico before heading to the US Open. She will then take her games to Asia in the latter part of the year. —JMB, GMA Integrated News