Latest news with #PBASeason49PhilippineCup
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
TNT's Chot Reyes on offensive interference call: 'We're very fortunate that that was reversed'
Even before an official review was made on a one-handed slam by Mo Tautuaa late in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup finals between TNT and San Miguel, Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes already felt like it might have been offensive interference. Reyes turned out to be right as the shot was ruled by officials as a violation, which reversed the two points that gave the Beermen a slim 98-97 lead in the final 56 seconds of the game. TNT eventually took the win as the Tropang 5G inched closer to a historic Grand Slam. "Just when it happened, we were already saying that it looked like an offensive interference," Reyes said after their 99-96 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. "Good thing that there was a break on that jump ball that they were able to review it and we're very fortunate that that was reversed." TNT was on the verge of losing a game that once seemed firmly in their grasp. The Tropang 5G torched San Miguel from downtown in the first half, burying nine triples and three four-point shots to mount a huge 61-41 lead thanks to the backcourt tandem of Jordan Heading and the returning RR Pogoy. Back-to-back three-pointers from Kelly Williams and Calvin Oftana even gave TNT a comfortable 67-43 cushion early in the third. But a momentum shift saw Beermen unleashing a wild 19-0 blast in the fourth, which allowed San Miguel to take the lead at 93-92. The two teams traded baskets in the succeeding plays before Tautuaa received a dish from CJ Perez then drew the defense of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and soared for a one-handed dunk attempt over Kelly Williams. The seasoned big man, though, failed to complete the jam but would get a lucky bounce that sent the ball through the net, giving the Beermen a one-point advantage. On the next dead ball, officials made a review and deemed the shot illegal due to offensive goaltending. Reyes welcomed their lucky break as TNT was still able to draw first blood despite losing steam in the second half. "It could have been a different story if not so that's part of the game, I know the opposite sides of those breaks in the past. It's just that we're very fortunate," he said. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
PBA explains late offensive basket interference call on Mo Tautuaa in Game 1
The series opener between TNT and San Miguel in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup finals on Sunday saw its share of controversy. With 56 seconds left in the game, San Miguel big man Mo Tautuaa missed a slam dunk attempt, but got the lucky bounce to give the Beermen a 98-97 lead after trailing by as much as 24 earlier in the game. But after an official review during a dead ball situation, the made shot was ruled as offensive basketball interference, leading to the two points being deducted from San Miguel's score. That turned a 98-97 lead for the Beermen into a one-point deficit, 97-96, at the 6.2-second mark of the fourth period. TNT, despite going scoreless for more than eight minutes in the final period, was able to salvage a 99-96 win to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals. PBA explains call According to PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro, the call made was based on a league rule that states that when a player causes vibration to the backboard, the basket will be deemed illegal. "As you've seen in the replay, when Mo dunked in the last 56 seconds, nahila niya 'yung ring pababa but the contention of the coaching staff was 'yung bola was straight and entered the ring," Castro told members of the media minutes after the match. "Regardless kung may tamaan siyang part ng ring, the fact na nahila niya 'yung ring pababa is a violation already. Considered na offensive basketball interference." [As you've seen in the replay, when Mo dunked in the last 56 seconds, he pulled the ring down but the contention of the coaching staff was the ball went straight and entered the ring... Regardless of if he hit part of the ring, the fact that he pulled the ring down is a violation already, it's considered offensive basketball interference.] Castro also explained why the call was made late, saying they had been reviewing the shot while the game was ongoing but was only able to announce the correction during the dead ball situation when Chriss Ross and Jordan Heading figured in a jump ball. "It so happened na tuloy-tuloy 'yung game, there was no dead ball. And then around five seconds remaining, there was a jump ball between Heading and Chris Ross," Castro added. [It so happened that the game kept going, there was no dead ball. And then around five seconds remaining, there was a jump ball between Heading and Chris Ross.] "So that was the only time that we could review, but we're reviewing it, but it was just the time that we're able to announce it through our barker." 'Let the game decide the game' Tautuaa, though, criticized the call, especially as it spoiled San Miguel's comeback effort after the Beermen unleashed a wild 19-0 run late in the fourth. "That's the exact opposite of a right call. Let the game decide the game. It's simple," Tautuaa said. "Last series, we thought a goaltending happened and they didn't review it because we stole the ball right after. We feel like it's very subjective. They kinda decided that one for us." From his perspective, Tautuaa felt he simply missed the dunk, and stressed the touch of the rim was no different to how he did dunks in the past. "It's just a missed shot. People touch the rim all the time, especially on a dunk. That's what happens when you dunk, you touch the rim. And by the time it went in, I was already on the floor," he added. "Everything was done. I feel like that sucks. That's a sucky way to lose." —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
11-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
TNT chases history, San Miguel out for redemption in Philippine Cup finals duel
The TNT Tropang 5G and the San Miguel Beermen will chase different stories when they duke it out in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup finals. The Tropang 5G will be gunning to complete their date with a Grand Slam — a feat no team has accomplished in more than a decade — while the Beermen are out to prove they remain a formidable team despite missing the playoffs altogether last conference. But the two squads are taking it one game at a time, especially with both teams coming off grueling semifinals series. TNT is facing adversity particularly when it comes to health. The Tropang 5G are already without the backcourt tandem of Rey Nambatac (groin) and Jayson Castro (knee) while RR Pogoy also went down with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss most of the semifinals against Rain or Shine. Kelly Williams also hurt his ankle in Game 4, leaving TNT with a depleted roster. But head coach Chot Reyes believes the fact that they still made it to the finals is a testament to their resilience. "The adversity that we went through was really a testament to the fighting spirit of the players. They just refused to give up. Ayaw tayalag bumigay e, miski na pwede na we could have called it a day," Reyes said. "We will just do what we've been doing in the past two conferences, we will just keep fighting." San Miguel, meanwhile, isn't thinking of being the team standing in the way of TNT's Grand Slam hopes. For the Beermen, they just hope to get back on top of the league. "They are strong, they won two championships in the last two conferences. But our team is here to redeem ourselves, especially the last conference na we're not able to make it to the playoffs," San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said. "It's enough for the players to realize na it's hard to be at the bottom of the standings. We're here not to stop their ambition." —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
PBA: Yeng Guiao says semis loss to TNT still a 'victory' for ROS
Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao remains optimistic that their recent series loss to TNT is simply another step toward shaping Elasto Painters into becoming a legit title contender in the years to come. The outspoken head coach, though, admitted feeling disappointed as he was confident that they had the potential to push the Tropang 5G to at a winner-take-all Game 7 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals. Still, he stressed that reaching Game 6 is already a significant win for the franchise. "It's disappointing. We felt na this was a big chance for us to at least take it to a Game 7, but wala e. Last three minutes, we missed some shots, we made some turnovers," Guiao said. "Again, it's closing out games, 'yun pa rin 'yung problema namin. We could not close it out, we couldn't make big plays when we needed them most. But we still look at it as a positive development for the team." The recent loss marked Rain or Shine's third straight playoff defeat at the hands of TNT as they also bowed to them in the semifinals stages of both the Season 49 Governors' Cup and Commissioners' Cup. But Guiao was steadfast in his belief that that they can finally get over the hump when they begin a new campaign later this year. "We still look at it as victory overall for us. The consistency of the team of making four semifinals stints, going through all of that, tingin ko nag-a-add doon sa experience, sa knowledge 'yung mga batang players namin," he said. "I think they need to experience disappointments, they need to experience playing with the good teams and closing out games. Overall, it's still a positive conference for us." Right now, all Guiao and the Elasto Painters could do is improve individually and as one unit. Guiao shared they are hoping to have a healthy roster back come their next campaign with veteran big man Beau Belga as well as young ballers Luis Villegas and Felix Lemetti all expected to join the squad. Belga was earlier diagnosed with vertigo while Villegas and Lemetti sustained an ACL and hand injury, respectively. "Tingin ko, hindi naman kailangan ng malaking overhaul 'yung team e. Ang importante lang sa amin ay makabalik si Beau, makalaro si Luis, and then makabalik si Felix. And then maybe we can think of an upgrade after that." —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
07-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Gilas Pilipinas begins FIBA Asia Cup build-up, but Cone not expecting full attendance yet
Gilas Pilipinas will hit the ground running in its preparation for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup with head coach Tim Cone convening the national team starting today at the Upper Deck in Pasig. But the multi-titled tactician isn't expecting to have a full attendance on the first day of practice, especially since most of the players are either not in the country yet or are still suiting up for their mother teams in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup. The Monday practice will mark the national team's first meeting one month before the Asia Cup slated on August 5 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "It's not going to be a heavy, long practice, obviously. I'm not even sure if everybody is going to show up, especially the guys in the playoffs," Cone said on Sunday after steering Barangay Ginebra to a Game 6 win over San Miguel in the semifinals. "We got a Game 7 on Wednesday so asking the guys to come to practice is kind of hard." Most of the members of the Gilas pool are currently in the PBA playoffs with Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, and Jamie Malonzo playing for Cone's Gin Kings, who dragged the San Miguel Beermen to a do-or-die Game 7 on Wednesday. The Beermen, meanwhile, also have active Gilas players in June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez. National team gunner Calvin Oftana is also still with a TNT tem that had already clinched a ticket to the finals to keep its bid for a Grand Slam alive. Meanwhile, several other players are still overseas. Justin Brownlee and AJ Edu expected to arrive soon from the United States while Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo are currently in the US and South Korea, respectively. "Like I said, I don't even know who's showing up at this point. We're grasping at straws just like we did tonight in terms of trying to figure out how to get practices," Cone added. "But if we can get a core of six or seven or eight guys, that would be good for now." Gilas is in Group D of the Asia Cup alongside New Zealand, Iraq, and Chinese Taipei. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
