The PBA Finals are no stranger to marquee names, legacy matchups, and championship pressure. When San Miguel Beer and TNT Tropang 5G collide, the margin for error shrinks, and individual brilliance often decides everything. While systems, schemes, and coaching adjustments will matter, this series—like so many before it—will likely turn on the performances of a few key players on each side.
Here are three players to watch for each team as the Beermen and the Tropa renew their rivalry for the PBA Philippine Cup crown.
SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN
June Mar Fajardo
The nine-time MVP will always be a player to watch in any series because he’s the PBA’s great equalizer. His unique combination of sheer size, great footwork, and elite hands makes him an impossible matchup and the focal point of every defense. That, in turn, opens the floor for everyone else. And if all else fails, he’ll grab offensive boards and give the Beermen multiple possessions in these PBA Finals.
Don Trollano
CJay Perez may have the numbers and notoriety, but Trollano is San Miguel’s silent killer and most reliable shotmaker. Trollano’s 33-point explosion in Game 3 and his remarkable closeout of Ginebra in Game 6 prove unequivocally the caliber of player he is, and he will be counted on in these PBA Finals to soften up TNT’s usually unforgiving defense.
Jericho Cruz
San Miguel’s abundance of weapons means Cruz is usually the fourth or fifth option. That’s a scary proposition for opposing teams because the Fil-Hawaiian has the arsenal of a first or second option. He can shoot, slash, and set the table with ease and deadly precision, and TNT found that out the hard way in the last Philippine Cup, where Cruz put up 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists and often served as San Miguel’s catalyst on his way to winning the PBA Finals MVP.
TNT TROPANG 5G
Kelly Williams
Williams will be turning 44 in February, yet he’ll have the Herculean task of matching up with Fajardo for stretches in these PBA Finals. And if the last Philippine Cup Finals are any indication, he’ll give The Kraken a good fight. The one-time MVP, despite his advancing age, is strong as an ox and has proven capable of at least making Fajardo work hard for position. His vastly improving outside shot and ability to put the ball on the floor will also be critical in forcing the nine-time MVP to expend energy on defense.
Calvin Oftana
Oftana’s talent is undeniable, but his consistency can be maddening. One game he looks like the PBA’s best player; the next, he looks average. He’ll have to play like the superstar that he is if TNT is to flip the script against San Miguel this time. The good news for Tropang 5G fans is that he has shown he can be that kind of player—he’ll just need to be it for at least four games in these PBA Finals.
Rey Nambatac
Sting-Rey was out of commission when San Miguel outlasted TNT in last season’s Philippine Cup Finals. Now, he’s back in harness, and his presence should fortify the Tropa. Nambatac emerged as a big-time player when he led TNT to the Commissioner’s Cup title, where he was named PBA Finals MVP after posting per-game averages of 17.85 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, looking every bit the crunch-time scorer a championship-aspiring team needs.
Final Word
Championship series often come down to execution, poise, and who rises when the stakes are highest. San Miguel’s stars know how to finish, while TNT’s core has proven it can break through when healthy and whole. With proven Finals performers on both sides, this Philippine Cup showdown promises not just elite basketball, but defining moments—and the players above are the ones most likely to create them.
