Latest news with #Beermen
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GMA Network
a day ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
San Miguel still optimistic despite Game 5 loss
PBA Philippine Cup. July 23, 2025. June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen against Kelly Williams of the TNT Tropang 5G. (Photo: PBA Media) The San Miguel Beermen vowed to bounce back despite falling short of closing out the series against TNT in Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals. San Miguel lost to TNT, 86-78, which extended the best-of-seven series to Game 6. "Sobrang flat ng start namin, dami naming lapses," 12-time Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo said. "Up pa rin naman kami sa series so positive lang kami," he added as the Beermen hold a 3-2 lead. For Jericho Cruz, however, TNT seemed to be the hungrier team as the Tropang 5G went all out against the Beermen. "Pinakakulang namin 'yung effort talaga kasi 'yung effort namin, walang-wala sa effort nila. Kumbaga 'yung effort namin to the highest level. Kami parang up and down, up and down," Cruz said. Fajardo, meanwhile, said TNT should not be taken lightly, especially with their Grand Slam hopes still alive. "Hindi mo basta babalewalain 'yung TNT. Champion team 'yan, back-to-back champion, 'di mo talaga sila puwede maliitin. Kailangan talaga ilabas namin ang 100% sa games." Game 6 of the series will be played on Friday. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
PBA: Game 1 loss sparked San Miguel finals fightback vs. TNT
Stung by a heartbreaking loss in Game 1, San Miguel flipped the script against TNT to move to within a win of ruling the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup. The Beermen were able to erase a 24-point deficit in the series opener, but an offensive basketball interference call on a Mo Tautuaa dunk attempt spoiled their comeback bid as TNT eked out a 99-96 victory to draw first blood. But since dropping Game 1, San Miguel strung together three consecutive wins to move to the brink of the title. In doing so, they also come closer to ending TNT's Grand Slam hopes. "The biggest impact is our first game — it fuels our grit. You can see naman sa mga players na on their eyes, makikita mo 'yung fire. They want to win," San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said. [The biggest impact is our first game — it fuels our grit. You can see it in the players, in their eyes, you can see the fire. They want to win.] Jericho Cruz echoed Austria sentiments, though he stressed that they have already moved on from that controversial Game 1 affair. Instead, they just regrouped and played as one in the succeeding games. The veteran shooting guard stepped up in Game 4, erupting for 23 points on 5-of-7 shooting from downtown to help the Beermen pull away late en route to a 105-91 romp on Sunday. "Sayang 'yung pagkatalo namin no'n kasi akala namin we have a chance to win the game, ayun nga lang na-minus 'yung points at natalo kami pero tapos na 'yun e. Naka-move on na kami do'n," Cruz shared. "Tulad ng sinasabi ni coach, paglaro namin talagang put in your head na parang every game is your last game. Kaya ako, specifically sinasabihan ni Boss Al, na laruin ko lang 'yung laro ko. Let it be." [It was too bad, that loss of ours because we thought we had a chance to win the game. And there, the points were subtracted and we lost the game. But that's in the past. We've moved on from that… Like coach said, when we play, put in your head that every game is your last game. For me specifically, Boss Al said to just play my game. Let it be.] Cruz's display also proved the depth of San Miguel as the likes of Don Trollano, Jeron Teng, Juami Tiongson, and Rodney Brondial giving the Beermen a huge lift against an injury-riddled TNT. Aside from Cruz's game-high output, Trollano chipped in 11 points in Game 4 while also grabbing six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. "Stepping up lang naman 'yung ginagawa ko. Kumbaga kung panget 'yung or 'di masyadong nilalaro ng first group, nandito kami ni Don to step up sa second group," Cruz added. "'Yun lang 'yung ginagawa namin. Binibigyan din namin sila ng motivation. Gusto ko rin mag-thank you kay coach dahil sa tiwala na binibigay niya sa akin, hanggang ngayon meron pa rin." [What I'm doing is just stepping up. If for example, the first group didn't play so well, Don and I are here to step up with the second group… That's all we're doing. We're giving them motivation. I also want to say thank you to coach because of the trust he gives me. Until now, he continues to give it.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
5 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Jericho Cruz, CJ Perez heat up late as San Miguel nears return to PBA Philippine Cup throne
PBA Philippine Cup. July 20, 2025. Jericho Cruz of the San Miguel Beermen against RR Pogoy and the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 4 of the finals. (Photo: PBA Media) Jericho Cruz and CJ Perez plotted San Miguel's fourth quarter surge as the Beermen carved out a 105-91 win against injury-riddled TNT in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Cruz waxed hot from downtown while Perez provided timely baskets as the Beermen seized a commanding 3-1 series lead to move a victory away from reclaiming the All-Filipino crown. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
15-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
PBA: San Miguel not filing a protest after controversial Game 1 call
San Miguel is moving on from a controversial call in the Beermen's Game 1 loss to TNT in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals. 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
GMA Network
13-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
PBA explains late offensive basket interference call on Mo Tautuaa in Game 1
The series opener between TNT and San Miguel in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup finals on Sunday saw its share of controversy. With 56 seconds left in the game, San Miguel big man Mo Tautuaa missed a slam dunk attempt, but got the lucky bounce to give the Beermen a 98-97 lead after trailing by as much as 24 earlier in the game. But after an official review during a dead ball situation, the made shot was ruled as offensive basketball interference, leading to the two points being deducted from San Miguel's score. That turned a 98-97 lead for the Beermen into a one-point deficit, 97-96, at the 6.2-second mark of the fourth period. TNT, despite going scoreless for more than eight minutes in the final period, was able to salvage a 99-96 win to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals. PBA explains call According to PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro, the call made was based on a league rule that states that when a player causes vibration to the backboard, the basket will be deemed illegal. "As you've seen in the replay, when Mo dunked in the last 56 seconds, nahila niya 'yung ring pababa but the contention of the coaching staff was 'yung bola was straight and entered the ring," Castro told members of the media minutes after the match. "Regardless kung may tamaan siyang part ng ring, the fact na nahila niya 'yung ring pababa is a violation already. Considered na offensive basketball interference." [As you've seen in the replay, when Mo dunked in the last 56 seconds, he pulled the ring down but the contention of the coaching staff was the ball went straight and entered the ring... Regardless of if he hit part of the ring, the fact that he pulled the ring down is a violation already, it's considered offensive basketball interference.] Castro also explained why the call was made late, saying they had been reviewing the shot while the game was ongoing but was only able to announce the correction during the dead ball situation when Chriss Ross and Jordan Heading figured in a jump ball. "It so happened na tuloy-tuloy 'yung game, there was no dead ball. And then around five seconds remaining, there was a jump ball between Heading and Chris Ross," Castro added. [It so happened that the game kept going, there was no dead ball. And then around five seconds remaining, there was a jump ball between Heading and Chris Ross.] "So that was the only time that we could review, but we're reviewing it, but it was just the time that we're able to announce it through our barker." 'Let the game decide the game' Tautuaa, though, criticized the call, especially as it spoiled San Miguel's comeback effort after the Beermen unleashed a wild 19-0 run late in the fourth. "That's the exact opposite of a right call. Let the game decide the game. It's simple," Tautuaa said. "Last series, we thought a goaltending happened and they didn't review it because we stole the ball right after. We feel like it's very subjective. They kinda decided that one for us." From his perspective, Tautuaa felt he simply missed the dunk, and stressed the touch of the rim was no different to how he did dunks in the past. "It's just a missed shot. People touch the rim all the time, especially on a dunk. That's what happens when you dunk, you touch the rim. And by the time it went in, I was already on the floor," he added. "Everything was done. I feel like that sucks. That's a sucky way to lose." —JMB, GMA Integrated News
