The TNT Tropang 5G followed up their stunning upset of the Converge FiberXers with a 93-89 shocker over the San Miguel Beermen on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. TNT, now 3-2 in the PBA Governors’ Cup, won without Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, Jordan Heading, and RR Pogoy, and with a limited Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser. San Miguel, now 4-2, played without CJ Perez, who is nursing microtears in his groin.
What Happened?
TNT came out like a team with their backs against the wall, playing with unmatched energy and intensity in a 25-15 opening frame dominated by the Tropa’s swarming defense. The Tropang 5G continued their sterling defense in the second quarter, limiting the Beermen to 19 points while scoring 21 of their own to take a 46-34 lead at the break.
The Tropa continued to impose their will and defensive pressure in the third, where the Beermen could only chip away two points off the TNT lead to enter the final frame down, 65-52. TNT still controlled most of the fourth quarter and was ahead, 69-59, at the halfway mark when San Miguel made a final push, eventually catching up with the Tropa at 73 on a Don Trollano basket with 57 seconds remaining. Both teams missed potential game winners to send the game to OT.
In extra time, the Beermen finally nudged ahead, 85-83, on two freebies by George King. Kim Aurin gave TNT back the lead, 86-85, with a triple from straightaway before hitting another triple, this time from the right corner, while getting fouled by King. Aurin missed the bonus freebie but tracked the rebound himself, paving the way for the comebacking Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson to hit a difficult lay-in that gave the Tropa a 91-87 cushion.
Who Stood Out?
Aurin had his best game as a ka-Tropa, pouring in 22 points spiked by six triples on top of 8 rebounds. Rey Nambatac continued his solid showing this conference, tallying 21 points on 10-for-10 shooting from the charity stripe. RHJ, meanwhile, had an all-around debut with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Poy Erram returned from injury to score 12 points off the bench.
San Miguel, in contrast, struggled for much of the game and had to rely on King to rally in regulation and OT. King finished with 35 points, 16 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. June Mar Fajardo had 14 points and 12 boards, while Don Trollano added 12 off the bench.
3 Keys to the Game
- Defense. While the Beermen missed some shots they’d normally make, part of it had something to do with the Tropa’s aggressive, on-point defense that made it difficult for San Miguel to execute. In the end, TNT held mighty San Miguel to just 34.5% from the field overall.
- Three-point shooting. In a game where both TNT and SMB shot poorly, the former made just enough triples—none bigger than Aurin’s back-to-back treys in OT—to secure the win. Overall, the Tropa shot 10-for-30 from distance, while the Beermen went 4-for-18. That’s a 24-point difference in a four-point game.
- Resilience. TNT had no business beating San Miguel with five of its best players out. And yet the Tropa showed incredible fight and resilience, relying on their defense and championship pedigree to battle the Beermen all throughout.
Next Up for the PBA
Sunday, August 2, 2026 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Meralco Bolts (5:15 p.m.)
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. Magnolia Hotshots (7:30 p.m.)
