HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 5 – TNT vs San Miguel

On the cusp of the title, the San Miguel Beermen go for the jugular vs TNT Tropang 5G in Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday.

July 23, Wednesday – Smart Araneta Coliseum

7:30pm – TNT Tropang 5G vs San Miguel Beermen

IN PHOTOS: TNT routs San Miguel in Game 5 of PBA Philippine Cup Finals

TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between the Tropang 5G and San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa laughed off the jeers he received from the San Miguel Beer faithful during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lastimosa seemed undeterred by the boos during halftime of the Tropang 5G’s eventual 86-78 victory, days after the official criticized the Beermen’s Jericho Cruz and Chris Ross following Game 4.

Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine CUp Finals between TNT Tropang 5G and San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT spoiled San Miguel Beer’s coronation while keeping its Grand Slam ambitions alive with an 86-78 victory on Wednesday that extended the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Kelly Williams and Almond Vosotros were among those who led the way in the Tropang 5G’s triumph, which reduced the Beermen’s lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-2.
Ganuelas-Rosser had 18 points, five rebounds, three steals and five blocks even as Williams posted 14 points and seven rebounds, the two stepping up in the absence of Poy Erram.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between TNT Tropang 5G and San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—TNT coach Chot Reyes asked Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser to show up big in Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
That’s exactly what the bruiser did to help the Tropang 5G beat San Miguel Beer, 86-78, and live another day in the best-of-seven series.
“Early on, I just let the game come to me, crashing the boards and making sure I was at the right position,” said Ganuelas-Rosser.

LIVE UPDATES: San Miguel vs TNT PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 5

Reyes says Poy Erram and Simon Enciso may possibly not return for the #PBAFinals. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/DMhy6KRN83
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 23, 2025

TNT’s Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and coach Chot Reyes after staying alive in the #PBAFinals. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/jDjQ4XW8TY
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 23, 2025

FINAL: TNT beats San Miguel Beer in Game 5, 86-78, to force a Game 6 in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

FINAL: TNT beats San Miguel Beer in Game 5, 86-78, to force a Game 6 in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
TNT hanging on to an 86-76 lead with 43 seconds to play.
But quick response from TNT to push the lead back to 13, 83-71. 2:24 4Q.
Don Trollano with a four, Jericho Cruz with a 2! San Miguel down 80-71, 3:15 4Q
Jordan Heading for 3! 77-59 lead for the Tropang 5G. Only six points so far for the Beermen in the fourth.
Vosotros attacks the basket, and TNT builds its biggest lead, 72-55, 8:14 4Q
Vosotros for 3! Back to a 15 point lead for TNT, 70-55.
Jordan Heading cleans up Vosotros’ miss. TNT still leads 64-55.
END OF THIRD: TNT 59, San Miguel 53.
Jericho Cruz launches from 4 and it’s good! He had 10 points in that late third SMB run.
A 6-0 rally for the Beermen. They’re down 55-47, less than 2 minutes in the third.
Jericho Cruz and Don Trollano help San Miguel cut into TNT’s lead, 55-45.
Kim Aurin makes 2 freethrows to give TNT a 55-41 advantage, 3:39 3Q.
Lassiter gets the 3! San Miguel within 51-41 6:38 3Q.
Third quarter underway. TNT still very much in the lead, 51-36, 8:24 3Q.

😁❗️
On the way to the dugout for halftime, TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa was bombarded by jeers from San Miguel fans.
Lastimosa responded by simply smiling at the Beermen fans’ section. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/N89jfS2cKo
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 23, 2025

HALFTIME: The Tropang 5G are doing what they can to keep the grand slam bid alive, leading San Miguel Beer, 41-31.
Kelly Williams left open and swishes another 3! TNT still well ahead, 41-29. 1:08 2Q

More bodies on the floor now. Concern rises for San Miguel Beer as June Mar Fajardo, who has been nursing a hurt right calf, holds on to the same calf after a collision with Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/X5KIIXNWEW
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 23, 2025

San Miguel still firing blanks here in the second quarter. TNT still ahead 38-27, under 2 minutes before halftime.

Kelly Williams is being attended to after absorbing a hit from Rodney Brondial on the rebound play.
TNT still leads, 36-26, with 3:22 to go in the second. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/rMGyq5UiQs
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 23, 2025

Kelly Williams knocks down another 3! The Tropang Giga are now ahead 34-21. 7:08 2Q
Ganuelas Rosser still with the hot hand! He gives TNT a 31-21 lead.
Pogoy heads back to the bench after picking up his third foul. Jericho Cruz splits the freebies. TNT 29, San Miguel 21.
More than 2 minutes have passed and San Miguel still scoreless here in the second.
TNT now with its biggest lead of the game, 29-20, early in the second quarter.
END OF FIRST: TNT, which is fighting to stay alive, is looking good after the first quarter of Game 5 with a 27-20 lead over San Miguel Beer.
Ganuelas Rosser with another bucket as TNT takes a 26-20 lead. BGR already has 14 here in the first.
BGR with another putback! He’s making a big impact early for TNT.
Calvin Oftana caps off a 5-0 run for TNT, which is now back in the lead, 22-20.
BGR scores his 10th point of the game for TNT. San Miguel 20, TNT 19.
Marcio Lassiter from top of the key this time. 20-17 lead for San Miguel, 3:22 1Q
Marcio Lassiter knocks down a 3! Tied game at 17, 3:41 1Q.
Kelly Williams with back-to-back 3s! Lead swings to TNT, 15-13. 4:52 1Q.
June Mar Fajardo with another putback. San Miguel 13, TNT 9.
Quick four-point spurt for San Miguel pushes its lead to 11-8.
Pogoy picks up his second foul with 7:25 to play in the opening quarter.
Early 3 from Chris Ross. San Miguel back in the lead, 7-6. 8:09 1Q.
BGR gives TNT its first lead of the game, 4-2. 9:30 1Q
Calvin Oftana puts TNT on the board. San Miguel 2, TNT 2.
First two points of the game courtesy of CJ Perez. San Miguel 2, TNT 0.
San Miguel starting 5: Chris Ross, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Mo Tautuaa, June Mar Fajardo.
TNT starting 5: Jordan Heading, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas Rosser.

The San Miguel Beermen, who are one win away from winning the Philippine Cup, warm up before Game 5 of the #PBAFinals. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/GxzCcj8Nvf
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 23, 2025

Glenn Khobuntin gets some early shots up before Game 5 of the #PBAFinals.
Khobuntin and TNT have their backs against the wall as one loss today will end their grand slam bid successfully. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/wzsLx4VHaA
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 23, 2025

TNT’s RR Pogoy is refusing to give up despite a 3-1 deficit and his team’s chances of winning a Grand Slam slipping away. Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals later tonight @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/eOziqh06DG
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 23, 2025

June Mar Fajardo is joined by his brother as he arrives for Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals with the possibly of getting his 11th ring tonight @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/UotNTmkvtn
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 23, 2025

Coach Leo Austria in deep thoughts as he seeks to win his 10th PBA title as coach of the San Miguel Beermen tonight @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/LLCL3F4UX6
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 23, 2025

WATERPROOF TAYO
Calvin Oftana still in good spirits as TNT tries to extend the PBA Philippine Cup Finals that will be played tonight despite the inclement weather @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/gjLBXJinrg
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 23, 2025

Jericho Cruz arrives at Smart Araneta Coliseum still wary of TNT despite the potential title-clincher of San Miguel Beer tonight in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/fG8uHbN8yZ
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 23, 2025

Hours before Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals here at Smart Araneta Coliseum with San Miguel looking to hoist the Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy and end TNT’s Grand Slam dream @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ZwdAoH6uYr
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 23, 2025

Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals will push through tonight at Smart Araneta Coliseum despite the bad weather. San Miguel Beer will look to finish off TNT and end Season 49 with the all-Filipino title @INQUIRERSports
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 23, 2025

San Miguel Beermen in Game 4 of thje PBA Philippine CUp FInals against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Monsoon rains haven’t stopped pummeling the country the past days, leaving cities and municipalities flooded and scores forced to evacuate their homes.

It’s the same kind of walloping that San Miguel Beer has dealt TNT in the past three games, with the Beermen—weather permitting, of course—out to play possibly the last game of its redemption tour, when they try to close out the hobbling Tropang 5G in an emotion-filled PBA Philippine Cup title series at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“The killer instinct, that’s what’s most important,” San Miguel coach Leo Austria said of what’s needed as they take the floor at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in search of the franchise’s record-extending 30th title while also denying the Tropang 5G a Grand Slam that looked so promising when all of this started.

Marcio Lassiter

Right in the middle of all the tension after Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Marcio Lassiter looked the same player that he has always been throughout his career.

He was silent—no celebration, no angst and complaints—despite moving within a win from his 11th PBA championship.

“I think of the next play mentality,” Lassiter told the Inquirer when asked of his demeanor after the Beermen notched a 105-91 win over TNT.

“I’m not too high, not too low and that’s kind of what helped me throughout my career,” he said. “We’re veterans. We know how to control it and when it gets too much, our game does the talking.”

San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup FInals against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—June Mar Fajardo had plenty to celebrate on Sunday night.

Not only did he push San Miguel Beer to the brink of a PBA Philippine Cup title, he also took home his 12th Best Player of the Conference award.

But ever the stoic big man, Fajardo swept the celebrations aside, saying the goal of the squad has yet to be accomplished.

Jericho Cruz

For the second straight Sunday, action in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between San Miguel Beer and Grand Slam-chasing TNT has somewhat taken a backseat to things said and done off the court.

They’re just the very things both teams don’t need—but what the league can benefit from—as the Beermen try to finally end the challenge of the Tropang 5G and deal them a world of hurt for the second time in the last 14 years with another denial of their Triple Crown dreams.

Though officiating was not the center of controversy this time, with Jericho Cruz and Chris Ross becoming the target of irate Tropang 5G team manager Jojo Lastimosa, who felt that the two were “arrogant” during the latter moments of the Beermen’s 105-91 Game 4 win at SM Mall of Asia Arena.

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