Latest news with #SanMiguel
GMA Network
19 hours ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
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
a day ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
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
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GMA Network
4 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
June Mar Fajardo drops 33 as San Miguel dominates TNT for 2-1 lead in finals
PBA Philippine Cup. July 18, 2025. June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen against the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 3 of the finals. (Photo: PBA Media) June Mar Fajardo dropped 33 points to tow San Miguel past TNT, 108-88, in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. With the win, the Beermen took a 2-1 lead in the series. Scores: San Miguel 108 – Fajardo 33, Ross 15, Cruz 13, Perez 12, Trollano 10, Tautuaa 9, Lassiter 6, Brondial 6, Rosales 2, Teng 2, Tiongson 0, Calma 0. TNT 88 – Pogoy 16, Offtana 15, Vosotros 14, Khobuntin 13, Williams 11, Heading 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Enciso 3, Galinato 3, Heruela 0, Variila 0, Aurin 0. Quarters: 22-25, 59-52, 86-70, 108-88. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
15-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
PBA: San Miguel not filing a protest after controversial Game 1 call
San Miguel is moving on from a controversial call in the Beermen's Game 1 loss to TNT in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals. SMB team manager Gee Abanilla confirmed that the team's management has decided not to file a protest before the league following an offensive basketball interference call on Mo Tautuaa that ultimately paved the way for a Tropang 5G victory. Abanilla said the decision came after PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro held a spontaneous press conference just hours after their 96-99 loss to TNT. READ MORE | PBA explains late offensive basket interference call on Mo Tautuaa in Game 1 "No more. We think it's an exercise in futility since they had a press conference already last night," Abanilla told GMA News Online in a message on Monday afternoon. "They didn't even give us a chance to discuss our grievances even if they knew we have 24 hours to file a protest." To recall, Tautuaa attempted a one-handed dunk that bounced off the rim before dropping in late in the fourth period to give the Beermen a slim 98-97 lead with 56 seconds left after they trailed for as many as 24. However, officials ruled his contact with the rim as offensive goaltending during a dead ball 50 seconds later. Calvin Oftana sank a pair of freebies that allowed TNT to salvage the victory. San Miguel head coach Leo Austria initially bared that the team will protest the call in hopes to seek clarification on the call. However, Castro already spoke to the members of the media, citing a league rule that states 'interference occurs during a shot when an offensive player causes the backboard to vibrate or grasp the basket in such a way that, in the judgement of the official, the ball has been caused to enter the basket.' —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- 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
