PBA: San Miguel not filing a protest after controversial Game 1 call
SMB team manager Gee Abanilla confirmed that the team's management has decided not to file a protest before the league following an offensive basketball interference call on Mo Tautuaa that ultimately paved the way for a Tropang 5G victory.
Abanilla said the decision came after PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro held a spontaneous press conference just hours after their 96-99 loss to TNT.
READ MORE | PBA explains late offensive basket interference call on Mo Tautuaa in Game 1
"No more. We think it's an exercise in futility since they had a press conference already last night," Abanilla told GMA News Online in a message on Monday afternoon.
"They didn't even give us a chance to discuss our grievances even if they knew we have 24 hours to file a protest."
To recall, Tautuaa attempted a one-handed dunk that bounced off the rim before dropping in late in the fourth period to give the Beermen a slim 98-97 lead with 56 seconds left after they trailed for as many as 24. However, officials ruled his contact with the rim as offensive goaltending during a dead ball 50 seconds later.
Calvin Oftana sank a pair of freebies that allowed TNT to salvage the victory.
San Miguel head coach Leo Austria initially bared that the team will protest the call in hopes to seek clarification on the call.
However, Castro already spoke to the members of the media, citing a league rule that states 'interference occurs during a shot when an offensive player causes the backboard to vibrate or grasp the basket in such a way that, in the judgement of the official, the ball has been caused to enter the basket.'
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
From college teammates to foes in the pros, Jeron Teng and Almond Vosotros are both just proud of each other
From shared beginnings at De La Salle University, Jeron Teng and Almond Vosotros have carved their own respective paths as professionals in the sport of basketball. Both part of the 2013 championship team of the green-and-white squad in the UAAP, it was Vosotros who first turned pro in 2015 while Teng followed suit two years after. But while Teng has had a relatively stable career, playing for Alaska and Converge before eventually landing in San Miguel in 2023, Vosotoros brought his talents to different clubs and different leagues before he found his nice in the 3x3 competitions, particularly with TNT. And when TNT needed some backcourt help for its PBA squad, they turned to the 3x3 specialist Vosotros and he's made the most of the opportunity. Despite their different journeys, the two former teammates found themselves sharing the court once again in the PBA Philippine Cup finals of the league's 48th season, this time as opponents vying for the championship. In the end, it was Teng who emerged victorious for the second title of his career. "I'm super happy because this time it's the All-Filipino. Last time, my first championship was with an import so it's more meaningful na All-Filipino," Teng told GMA News Online. During the finals, he had his moments in helping San Miguel get past TNT and even scored 10 points in Game 2 of the series. "My goal is [that] each conference, I try to improve and I try to help the team more and more so I'm staying patient and at the same time I'm also learning and improving," he added. Vosotros, meanwhile, has been a valuable spark off the bench for TNT. He had actually parted ways with the squad back in April but the Tropang 5G called him up for another tour of duty. And he just proved they made the right decision. In the finals, Vosotros had averages of 10.25 points per game. "Sobrang thankful ako kay Coach Chot [Reyes] kasi honestly since na-draft ako ng 2015, ngayon lang ako nabigyan ng consistent minutes, tapos sa finals pa," Vosotros told reporters. [I'm so thankful to Coach Chot because honestly since I was drafted in 2015, this was the first time I received consistent minute, and it's in the finals no less.] His old teammate had nothing but good words for Vosotros. "I'm just so proud of Almond, he played well the whole series," Teng said. "He was my teammate in college and 'di ako nagugulat sa anong kaya niya dahil he has shown that to me since we were in college. He's a hooper." [He was my teammate in college and I'm not surprised by what he can do because he has shown that to me since we were in college. He's a hooper.] Vosotros, meanwhile, was also proud of his fellow Green Archer. "Lumapit siya sa'kin kasi sabi niya 'Congrats bro ang galing mo.' Sabi ko 'No, congrats sa'yo kasi kayo nanalo ang champion. I'm so proud of you.'" [He came to me and he said 'Congrats bro, you played so well.' I said 'No, congrats to you because you won, you are the champion. I'm so proud of you.'] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
13 hours ago
- GMA Network
'Unexpected' Finals MVP award just a bonus for Jericho Cruz
PBA Philippine Cup. July 25, 2025. Jericho Cruz (39) of the San Miguel Beermen against Calvin Oftana of the TNT Tropang 5G. (Photo: PBA Media) San Miguel's Jericho Cruz has been one of the names usually heard over the course of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals series. His name has been involved in a post-game fuss back in Game 3 of the finals where he was allegedly 'showboating' in which he denied. But more than that, Cruz has been one of the consistent players for the Beermen for the finals series as he finished with 13.83 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.33 assists per game to help San Miguel win the All-Filipino crown. With his strong showing in the series, Cruz was named as the Most Valuable Player of the finals which is the first in his career. For him, it was an unexpected one and was just cherry on top of the championship. "Yung championship na 'to, sobrang sarap kasi kakabalik lang ni Coach Leo [Austria]. Nanalo rin ako ng award which is bonus lang naman. 'Di ko maisip, 'di ko maipinta ang words na dapat sabihin ko ngayon," Cruz said in the post-game conference. "'Di ko in-expect pero binigay sa akin kaya maraming salamat," he said in a separate interview. He also clarified that there is no bad blood with him and TNT officials such as manager Jojo Lastimosa. "Shoutout pa rin sa Talk 'N Text kasi hard fought series. Shout out din kay Coach Jolas, alam niya naman na mahal ko 'yan, and Coach Chot [Reyes]... At the end of the day, it's just basketball. Tapos na 'yun, move on na and prepare for the next conference," he said. After a grueling series, Cruz is also expected to join Guam in the FIBA Asia Cup. However, he revealed having some knee issues and will still determine if he will join the tournament. "Pag-isipan ko in the next two days if papahinga ako or tutuloy ako," he said. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
_2025_07_25_20_46_00_2.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
GMA Network
16 hours ago
- GMA Network
San Miguel reclaims PBA Philippine Cup crown, ends TNT's Grand Slam bid
PBA Philippine Cup. July 25, 2025. June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen against the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 6 of the finals. (Photo: PBA Media) The San Miguel Beermen are once again kings of the PBA Philippine Cup. San Miguel reclaimed the All-Filipino crown after dispatching TNT in Game 6 of the finals, 107-96, on Friday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig. The victory also officially ended TNT's bid for a Grand Slam season. The Beermen led 52-47 at the half before eventually pulling away in the second half as they outscored the Tropang 5G, 34-20. In the said quarter alone, June Mar Fajardo scored 10 points, while Jericho Cruz drilled two from beyond the arc to build on his nine points in the said frame. San Miguel then continued to hold off the Tropang 5G en route to the title. The Beermen last won the All-Filipino crown in 2022 as they fell to the Meralco Bolts in the 2024 season. This is also San Miguel's 30th overall title in the PBA. —GMA Integrated News
