The TNT Tropang 5G are three wins away from that coveted Grand Slam after surviving the San Miguel Beermen, 99-96, in Game of the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, which was marred by controversy after a late basket by Mo Tautuaa was waived off at a most crucial time.
TNT actually looked headed for an easy win, building as much as a 24-point lead in the third on the heels of some red-hot shooting from downtown led by RR Pogoy and Jordan Heading. But San Miguel came storming back in the fourth quarter, feeding June Mar Fajardo inside repeatedly, harassing TNT into turnovers and missed jumpers, and hitting timely baskets as well—including one from Mo Tautuaa where his dunk attempt bounced off the rim and back in to give San Miguel a 97-96 lead with 56 ticks left.
San Miguel was still ahead by the same score two misses later—a three-point try from Pogoy and a jumper by Chris Ross—when Heading lost his balance trying to set up what would’ve been TNT’s final shot in regulation. Ross tied up Heading in the ensuing loose ball, setting up a crucial jump ball with a shade under six seconds remaining. Then, controversy erupted.
After a minutes-long lull, the technical committee announced that Mo Tautuaa’s dunk that gave San Miguel their 97-96 lead was ruled as basket interference and therefore nullified. Heading then won the jump ball, Calvin Oftana sank two free throws, and CJay Perez missed his game-tying three attempt to wrap up what was a wild and wooly Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Mo Tautuaa, San Miguel Fall Short of Furious Rally
That endgame turn of events all but prevented San Miguel from completing their furious fight back in the fourth, as they came alive just in time after TNT’s masterclass in the first three quarters.
Pogoy, who played his first game since Game 2 of the Tropa’s semis series with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, led the way, firing 23 points in just 18 minutes and hitting a huge triple in the last two minutes that gave TNT a 96-95 lead going into the final minute of regulation. Heading added 19 point and 6 assists, while Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had 13 apiece.
Fajardo took charge for the Beermen, dropping a game-high 26 points with 15 rebounds but missed five of his nine free throws, including three in the fourth. CJay Perez added 19 points and 11 boards, while Don Trollano chipped in 13 off the San Miguel bench. Mo Tautuaa also came off the bench to score 10 points and grab 7 boards.
The scores:
TNT (99) – Pogoy 23, Heading 19, Oftana 13, Ganuelas-Rosser 13, Williams 9, Erram 9, Enciso 6, Khobuntin 5, Heruela 2, Aurin 0
San Miguel (96) – Fajardo 26, Perez 19, Trollano 13, Tautuaa 10, Cruc 8, Ross 7, Lassiter 7, Tiongson 4, Brondial 2, Teng 0, Rosales 0
2025 PBA Philippine Cup Finals Continue
Game 2 of the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup Finals will continue on Wednesday, also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game time is set at 7:30 p.m.
