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GMA Network
a day ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Cheers! San Miguel's Tiongson, Cahilig, Rosales, Calma celebrate first PBA title
It took them a while, but finally, they can call themselves PBA champions. Last Friday, Juami Tiongson, Andreas Cahilig, Kris Rosales, and JM Calma relished their first title as the San Miguel Beermen defeated TNT in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals. Tiongson, Cahilig, and Rosales have been in the PBA for quite a while. Tiongson was drafted in 2014, while Rosales made his PBA debut in 2016. Cahilig, meanwhile, entered the league in 2017. "It means more to me. Obviously, with everything I went through in my career. Baka nung nag-start ang career ko, nawala ako sa PBA," Tiongson said. "I made it back and glory to God, and hopefully, win more championships," he added. ? Cahilig, who was also Tiongson's teammate back in Terrafirma, echoed the same sentiment. "It feels very good, I'm very happy. It's been a hard couple of years but it finally paid out," he said. Although Cahilig was able to play in two games only because of his hyperextended knee, the Filipino-Swedish big man said he is now more motivated after winning his first title. "I'm very hungry to play in the finals again," he added. Andreas Cahilig also won his first title @gmasportsph — JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) July 25, 2025 Rosales, meanwhile, won his first title against his former team TNT. "It's been like 10 years, four or five teams, so this one means a lot to me," Rosales said. "This is one of my goals in my career and I'm able to achieve it with San Miguel." "There's a lot of stuff that I did behind the scenes to get to this point and for me to get this, it really means a lot," Rosales said, especially after revealing he almost retired during the pandemic. "It's really dear to my heart and hopefully I can get some more." ? Kris Rosales, also a first time champion @gmasportsph — JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) July 25, 2025 Calma, while relatively new in the league being drafted in 2022, said this is the first trophy in his career. "Unang-una, sobrang saya, di mo ma-express 'yung feeling, sobrang sarap," the former San Sebastian big man said. "First time ko rin mag-champion sa career ko. Thank you sa San Miguel, binigyan ako ng opportunity para mag-champion." ? San Sebastian product JM Calma wins his first ever PBA title @gmasportsph — JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) July 25, 2025 This is San Miguel's 30th overall title in the PBA and 11th All-Filipino trophy. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
From college teammates to foes in the pros, Jeron Teng and Almond Vosotros are both just proud of each other
From shared beginnings at De La Salle University, Jeron Teng and Almond Vosotros have carved their own respective paths as professionals in the sport of basketball. Both part of the 2013 championship team of the green-and-white squad in the UAAP, it was Vosotros who first turned pro in 2015 while Teng followed suit two years after. But while Teng has had a relatively stable career, playing for Alaska and Converge before eventually landing in San Miguel in 2023, Vosotoros brought his talents to different clubs and different leagues before he found his nice in the 3x3 competitions, particularly with TNT. And when TNT needed some backcourt help for its PBA squad, they turned to the 3x3 specialist Vosotros and he's made the most of the opportunity. Despite their different journeys, the two former teammates found themselves sharing the court once again in the PBA Philippine Cup finals of the league's 48th season, this time as opponents vying for the championship. In the end, it was Teng who emerged victorious for the second title of his career. "I'm super happy because this time it's the All-Filipino. Last time, my first championship was with an import so it's more meaningful na All-Filipino," Teng told GMA News Online. During the finals, he had his moments in helping San Miguel get past TNT and even scored 10 points in Game 2 of the series. "My goal is [that] each conference, I try to improve and I try to help the team more and more so I'm staying patient and at the same time I'm also learning and improving," he added. Vosotros, meanwhile, has been a valuable spark off the bench for TNT. He had actually parted ways with the squad back in April but the Tropang 5G called him up for another tour of duty. And he just proved they made the right decision. In the finals, Vosotros had averages of 10.25 points per game. "Sobrang thankful ako kay Coach Chot [Reyes] kasi honestly since na-draft ako ng 2015, ngayon lang ako nabigyan ng consistent minutes, tapos sa finals pa," Vosotros told reporters. [I'm so thankful to Coach Chot because honestly since I was drafted in 2015, this was the first time I received consistent minute, and it's in the finals no less.] His old teammate had nothing but good words for Vosotros. "I'm just so proud of Almond, he played well the whole series," Teng said. "He was my teammate in college and 'di ako nagugulat sa anong kaya niya dahil he has shown that to me since we were in college. He's a hooper." [He was my teammate in college and I'm not surprised by what he can do because he has shown that to me since we were in college. He's a hooper.] Vosotros, meanwhile, was also proud of his fellow Green Archer. "Lumapit siya sa'kin kasi sabi niya 'Congrats bro ang galing mo.' Sabi ko 'No, congrats sa'yo kasi kayo nanalo ang champion. I'm so proud of you.'" [He came to me and he said 'Congrats bro, you played so well.' I said 'No, congrats to you because you won, you are the champion. I'm so proud of you.'] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Juami Tiongson wins his first PBA title and Arra San Agustin is one proud girlfriend
Finally, Juami Tiongson is now a PBA champion. After being a four-time champion in the UAAP with Ateneo de Manila University, it took Tiongson more than a decade to win his first PBA title. Tiongson and the San Miguel Beermen defeated TNT, 107-96, on Friday in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals. "Surreal, I'm lost for words," Tiongson said after the game. He was drafted by Blackwater in 2014 where he played until 2016 before he joined a PBA D-League squad in 2017. Eventually, he was picked up by NLEX before he landed with Terrafirma in 2019. In Terrafirma, he eventually became one of the faces of the franchise and was even named Most Improved Player in 2022. Then in 2024, Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig were traded to the San Miguel Beermen for Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel. "It means more to me. Obviously, with everything I went through in my career. Baka nung nag-start ang career ko, nawala ako sa PBA. I made it back and glory to God, and hopefully, win more championships," he said. But what made it sweeter is that his girlfriend, Sparkle artist Arra San Agustin, was on the sidelines as Tiongson won his first chip. "It's nice that she's here," Tiongson said. San Agustin, meanwhile, said she is just proud of Tiongson's achievement. "I'm really proud and happy because I've been with him for a long time because I've seen hardships, I know how hard he works. When I see Juami, I always tell him na he's the most disciplined, most hardworking person I've ever known and he deserves his first ever championship," San Agustin said. "I'm really happy for him kasi at least, now nag-pay off lahat ng sipag niya, lahat ng ginagawa niya." Sparkle artist Arra San Agustin on Juami Tiongson's first championship @gmasportsph — JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) July 25, 2025 Tiongson and San Agustin's love story has been quite publicized as well. It was previously reported that the two broke up in October 2022 after being together for around four years. Early this year, San Agustin confirmed they were together again. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
'Unexpected' Finals MVP award just a bonus for Jericho Cruz
PBA Philippine Cup. July 25, 2025. Jericho Cruz (39) of the San Miguel Beermen against Calvin Oftana of the TNT Tropang 5G. (Photo: PBA Media) San Miguel's Jericho Cruz has been one of the names usually heard over the course of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals series. His name has been involved in a post-game fuss back in Game 3 of the finals where he was allegedly 'showboating' in which he denied. But more than that, Cruz has been one of the consistent players for the Beermen for the finals series as he finished with 13.83 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.33 assists per game to help San Miguel win the All-Filipino crown. With his strong showing in the series, Cruz was named as the Most Valuable Player of the finals which is the first in his career. For him, it was an unexpected one and was just cherry on top of the championship. "Yung championship na 'to, sobrang sarap kasi kakabalik lang ni Coach Leo [Austria]. Nanalo rin ako ng award which is bonus lang naman. 'Di ko maisip, 'di ko maipinta ang words na dapat sabihin ko ngayon," Cruz said in the post-game conference. "'Di ko in-expect pero binigay sa akin kaya maraming salamat," he said in a separate interview. He also clarified that there is no bad blood with him and TNT officials such as manager Jojo Lastimosa. "Shoutout pa rin sa Talk 'N Text kasi hard fought series. Shout out din kay Coach Jolas, alam niya naman na mahal ko 'yan, and Coach Chot [Reyes]... At the end of the day, it's just basketball. Tapos na 'yun, move on na and prepare for the next conference," he said. After a grueling series, Cruz is also expected to join Guam in the FIBA Asia Cup. However, he revealed having some knee issues and will still determine if he will join the tournament. "Pag-isipan ko in the next two days if papahinga ako or tutuloy ako," he said. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
5 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
San Miguel reclaims PBA Philippine Cup crown, ends TNT's Grand Slam bid
PBA Philippine Cup. July 25, 2025. June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen against the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 6 of the finals. (Photo: PBA Media) The San Miguel Beermen are once again kings of the PBA Philippine Cup. San Miguel reclaimed the All-Filipino crown after dispatching TNT in Game 6 of the finals, 107-96, on Friday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig. The victory also officially ended TNT's bid for a Grand Slam season. The Beermen led 52-47 at the half before eventually pulling away in the second half as they outscored the Tropang 5G, 34-20. In the said quarter alone, June Mar Fajardo scored 10 points, while Jericho Cruz drilled two from beyond the arc to build on his nine points in the said frame. San Miguel then continued to hold off the Tropang 5G en route to the title. The Beermen last won the All-Filipino crown in 2022 as they fell to the Meralco Bolts in the 2024 season. This is also San Miguel's 30th overall title in the PBA. —GMA Integrated News
