annashay 
- The PBA Philippine Cup Finals opens with TNT Tropang 5G looking to get a headstart in their Grand Slam bid and San Miguel Beermen shooting for an early lead in their search for return to the throne.
IN PHOTOS: PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 1
San Miguel Beermen’s Mo Tautuaa dunks the basket during a play in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against TNT Tropang 5G. The basket was later overturned. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The PBA said it made the right call on nullifying Mo Tautuaa’s dunk that eventually benefited TNT in its 99-96 victory over San Miguel Beer in a shocking start to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Deputy commissioner Eric Castro explained that Tautuaa pulled the rim after converting a slam that initially bounced off the rim with 56 seconds left which appeared to have put the Beermen up 98-97.
But it took the last five seconds, when a deadball ensued due to a jumpball, for the coliseum announcer to confirm the reversal, much to the dismay of the Beermen, particularly team governor Robert Non.
San Miguel Beermen’s Mo Tautuaa dunks the basket during a play in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against TNT Tropang 5G. The basket was later overturned. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–San Miguel Beer center Mo Tautuaa was visibly and justifiably frustrated after Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday night.
TNT escaped with a 99-96 win after squandering a 24-lead lead to draw first blood, but the game was not without controversy.
With the Beermen holding a slim 98-97 edge in the dying seconds, an official review of a jump ball between Chris Ross and Jordan Heading led to the referees overturning a dunk by Tautuaa at the 56-second mark of the fourth quarter.
Jordan Heading and Chris Ross scramble for a loose ball during a play that led to the reversal of Mo Tautuaa’s dunk late in the fourth during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 1. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT benefited from a Mo Tautuaa dunk that was later nullified because of an offensive goaltending through a review and escaped with a 99-96 win over San Miguel Beer in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen were left aghast after the converted slam of Tautuaa, which initially put them up 98-97 with 56 seconds left, was reversed after a deadball situation, restoring the Tropang 5G’s lead.
The game clock had five seconds left following a jumpball when the coliseum announcer announced the decision.
WATCH: San Miguel Beermen react to controversial call in Game 1
WELL… WHAT DO Y’ALL THINK?
Here’s Mo Tautuaa’s dunk earlier that was later called for an offensive interference. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/Ehr1LWIt4o
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 13, 2025
San Miguel Beer team manager Gee Abanilla and governor Robert Non exit the commissioner’s office after Game 1. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/o6WCy9SBKB
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 13, 2025
San Miguel team governor Robert Non confronts PBA officials after Mo Tautuaa’s dunk was nullified due to an offensive goaltending in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/wg6pmcTART
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 13, 2025
‘THAT WAS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF A RIGHT CALL’
Mo Tautuaa airs his side on the basket interference ruled to him late in the fourth quarter. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/Lh7Av2u39I
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 13, 2025
Fans were irate after Game 1 of the #PBAFinals’ final buzzer. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/Q39KfUw9l7
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 13, 2025
Coach Alfrancis Chua and the San Miguel Beer coaching staff discuss Mo Tautuaa’s “basket interference.” #pbafinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/fzB3in3Qrd
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 13, 2025
FIREWORKS AFTER GAME 1
Fans boo TNT and Calvin Oftana after Game 1 following the unexpected overturning of two points from Mo Tautuaa. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/BHxjxDNy0Q
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 13, 2025
LIVE UPDATES: San Miguel Beermen vs TNT Tropang 5G PBA Finals Game 1
- FINAL: TNT beats San Miguel Beer in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
- That offensive interference in the 56.1 mark of the fourth was seen after a review in the dying seconds of the fourth.
- Mo Tautuaa’s basket earlier was called as offensive interference… and NOW TNT is up by one, 97-96, with 6.2 remaining
- Moala Tautuaa gets the lucky bounce. San Miguel 98, TNT 97.
- Roger Pogoy launches a 3 of his own and it’s good! TNT back in the lead again, 1:04 left.
- Chris Ross pulls up for a 3! San Miguel 96, TNT 93. 1:45 to go.
- BGR attacks the baseline and finishes with a flush. TNT back in the lead, 94-93, 1:52.
- June Mar Fajardo with a fallaway! And after training the entire game, San Miguel takes the lead, 93-92, 2;14 to play.
- San Miguel now only down by 1, 92-91 with a little over 3 minutes to play! What a run by the Beermen.
- Back to back baskets from San Miguel makes it a 1-point ball game, 92-82, 6:40.
- San Miguel still trailing, 92-76, with 8 minutes left to play.
- END OF THIRD: TNT continues to sizzle from downtown to lead San Miguel, 85-66, at the end of three PBA Finals.
- Simon Enciso joins the fray! TNT leads balloons back to 85-63.
- Glenn Khobutin left wide open for 3! TNT leads 79-61, 1:35 3Q.
- June Mar Fajardo muscles his way down low. The Beermen slowly chipping away at Tropang 5G’s lead, down 74-59, 2:38 3Q.
LALANGAWIN DAW?
Good-sized crowd for Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between TNT and San Miguel Beer #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/QNewuumayB
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 13, 2025
- Jericho Cruz with a one hander! CJ Perez for 2! San Miguel trails 74-57, over 3 minutes in the third.
- TNT maintaining its stranglehold of San Miguel here in the third with a 69-49 lead in the third.
TNT in control of San Miguel after two quarters #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/Z03kAvhAC1
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 13, 2025
- HALFTIME: Incredible shooting by TNT to take a 61-41 halftime lead over San Miguel Beer in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
- Two freethrows from CJ Perez trim TNT lead to 40-31 with under 5 minutes before halftime.
- BGR gives TNT a double digit lead, 32-22.
- TNT opens a 30-22 lead to start the second quarter.
- END OF FIRST: A returning Roger Pogoy scores eight points off the bench to help give TNT the 28-22 lead at the end of the first quarter vs. San Miguel.
- Poy Erram from deep! TNT leads 20-17, 3:09 1st Q.
- June Mar Fajardo puts the Beermen up 13-12 5:40 1st Q.
- TNT with an 12-11 lead over San Miguel midway through the first quarter.
- STARTERS FOR GAME 1 of PBAFinals:
- SMB – Juami Tiongson, CJ Perez, Rodney Brondial, Marcio Lassiter and June Mar Fajardo.
- TNT – Brian Heruela, Jordan Heading, Kelly Williams, Calvin Oftana, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
ON THE OTHER SIDE
Standing opposite of the Beermen tonight? The TNT Tropang 5G, who are four wins away from clinching a historic grand slam feat. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/Y6YpO18NoX
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 13, 2025
AWAITING GAME TIME
The San Miguel Beermen are primed and ready to start off Game 1 of the #PBAFinals against a grand slam seeking TNT. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/1EEttCd7SM
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 13, 2025
June Mar Fajardo takes some jumpers before Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between San Miguel Beer and TNT @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/FQFFXxwKZe
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 13, 2025
RR Pogoy warming up before Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. Will the TNT star, saddled in the tailend of the semis with a hamstring injury, finally return? @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/rMySZOtF7h
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 13, 2025
Good afternoon from Smart Araneta Coliseum and it’s few hours away from Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between TNT and San Miguel Beer @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/sU3Ye3HS9U
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 13, 2025
July 13, Sunday – Smart Araneta Coliseum
- 7:30pm – TNT Tropang 5G vs San Miguel Beermen
Coach Chot Reyes offered to provide facts rather than clap back at those doubting TNT’s capability of winning another PBA title—the third this season to complete a Grand Slam—without Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
“I think I’m tied with [San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria] for the most number of all-Filipino championships among active coaches, right?” Reyes, who has won the Philippine Cup six times, asked. “That answers your question.”
The mercurial coach simply gave his take, as critics have been quick to say that the Tropang 5G’s previous titles were due solely through the skills and talents of Hollis-Jefferson.
Roger Pogoy during Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Rain or Shine. – MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The status of TNT’s RR Pogoy for the opener of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel Beer is still a question mark, with the prolific forward opting to play it coy when asked of the progress of his recovery from a hamstring injury.
“We will know tomorrow (Saturday) if I can play on Sunday,” Pogoy said during the pre-Finals press conference held at Chardonnay Events Hall in Pasig City.
Pogoy has been sidelined since Game 2 of the semifinal series with Rain or Shine after aggravating the injury, and TNT opted to take things on a day-to-day basis.
While San Miguel Beer was in a tough process of finishing off Barangay Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night, the whole TNT squad turned the boardroom of the PLDT offices in Makati City into a proverbial situation room.
That was where the Tropang 5G not only met with their big bosses for a pre-Finals dinner, they also used the gathering to watch the Game 7 semis decider before making initial plots for the upcoming PBA Philippine Cup championship series against the Beermen.
“We didn’t want to end the night or go our separate ways without knowing who our opponent is,” said coach Chot Reyes, who has this chance to complete a Grand Slam 14 seasons from his last shot—and against the same franchise. “We made [the night hitting] two birds with one stone.”
TNT guard Jordan Heading hopes to keep up his fine play in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Jordan Heading has some huge shoes to fill for TNT in the upcoming PBA Finals.
The Tropang 5G will enter their third straight Finals appearance with different elements from their previous trips to the league’s grandest stage.
TNT will have to make do without two of its previous Finals MVPs in Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac.
San Miguel Beer’s Jericho Cruz and Don Trollano celebrate during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Ginebra.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–San Miguel Beer’s “Adamson Boys” will look to win another PBA championship at the expense of Grand Slam-seeking TNT, this time with old mentor Leo Austria calling the shots.
Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano and Rodney Brondial are seen as crucial pieces in the Beermen’s quest to wrest back dominance of the all-Filipino tournament, especially after they play crucial roles in the Game 7 semifinal decider against crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra.
“I’m so happy because back in our college days, we couldn’t compete for a Final Four spot,” Trollano said in Filipino. “Fast forward here in the professional ranks, the highest level you can play in the Philippines, and we’re competing for a championship, so it’s a great honor for me and for us.”
TNT center Poy Erram during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Rain or Shine.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Poy Erram has shown some notable changes in his character inside the court.
Little do onlookers know, the TNT big man has also undergone an immense change outside of basketball.
Before the Tropang 5G’s best-of-seven affair with San Miguel Beer in the PBA Finals begins this Sunday, Erram said he not only improved his mental fortitude but also found great resolve in the spiritual aspect of his life.
San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang 5G during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals press conference. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—There’s no doubt in San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria’s mind that they have a daunting task ahead in the PBA Philippine Finals, even with a shorthanded TNT squad standing in the way.
During the Finals press conference in Pasig on Friday, Austria gave credit to the Tropang Giga before their best-of-seven clash for the all-Filipino crown.
“We know everybody’s thinking that San Miguel is really a mighty team. I’ve heard that always among the commentators but the other team is equally talented,” said Austria.
TNT Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals press conference with San Miguel Beermen. –PBA IMAGES
TNT coach Chot Reyes insisted that completing a historic Grand Slam is not on his mind as the Tropang 5G go for glory against the San Miguel Beermen for the PBA Philippine Cup trophy.
Reyes echoed the same sentiment when asked about his failed bid for a trifecta in 2011 when TNT fell one win shy of getting the job done, ironically against the same San Miguel franchise.
“Nalimutan ko na nga yan eh (I’ve forgotten about that),” Reyes said during Friday’s pre-Finals press conference at Chardonnay Events Hall in Pasig City.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Read Next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
