Tropang 5G stay alive, force Game 6 with gutsy Game 5 win
The TNT Tropang 5G refused to go down quietly as they kept their Grand Slam aspirations alive with a crucial 86-78 victory over the San Miguel Beermen in Game 5 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday night, July 23, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With their backs against the wall and the championship on the line, the Tropang 5G came out firing, displaying urgency and hunger from the opening tip. TNT quickly established control behind a strong first-quarter performance, jumping to a 27-20 lead. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser spearheaded the early assault, dropping 14 of his 18 points in the opening frame. The athletic big man also tallied five rebounds, one assist, three steals, and a game-high five blocks in a dominant all-around showing.
It was a total team effort from TNT, with several players stepping up to deliver in the do-or-die game. The ageless Kelly Williams showed flashes of his former MVP form, finishing with 14 markers, seven boards, and two assists. Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading provided steady contributions with 13 points apiece, while RR Pogoy and Almond Vosotros chipped in 11 markers each. Vosotros, in particular, delivered clutch baskets and energy plays that turned the tide in TNT’s favor, earning recognition as the x-factor of the night.
The Beermen, who were aiming to close out the series and clinch their 30th PBA title, found themselves playing catch-up for most of the contest. Jericho Cruz once again led San Miguel with a game-high 20 points and four rebounds, continuing his string of strong performances in the finals.
Marcio Lassiter and June Mar Fajardo tried to rally the Beermen back, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively. Fajardo, the 12-time Best Player of the Conference, also anchored the paint, but San Miguel struggled to find consistency on both ends, especially in crunch time when TNT’s defense clamped down.
Despite several attempts to mount a comeback, the Beermen were unable to overtake the Tropang 5G, who displayed poise, hustle, and defensive tenacity to protect their lead until the final buzzer.
The win breathes new life into TNT’s grand slam bid—having already captured the Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup earlier this season. A win in this Philippine Cup would secure the franchise’s first-ever Grand Slam and only the sixth in PBA history.
Game 6 is now set for Friday, July 25, at 7:30 PM at the Philsports Arena, with the momentum slightly shifting in favor of TNT. Another win would push the series to a thrilling Game 7, while a San Miguel victory would seal yet another championship for the storied franchise.
One thing is certain: with the stakes higher than ever, Game 6 promises fireworks as two of the league’s powerhouses battle it out for PBA supremacy.
The scores:
TNT 86 – Ganuelas-Rosser 18, Williams 14, Oftana 13, Heading 13, Vosotros 11, Pogoy 11, Aurin 4, Khobuntin 2, Heruela 0.
SMB 78 – Cruz 20, Lassiter 15, Fajardo 13, Tautuaa 9, Trollano 8, Ross 6, Perez 5, Rosales 2, Brondial 0, Teng 0, Tiongson 0.
Quarter Scores: 27-20; 41-31; 59-53; 86-78.
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It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for NLEX, which found itself down by 11 early in the game. But the tide shifted in the second quarter, where the Road Warriors erupted for a 34-12 run behind the efforts of Robert Bolick, Dominic Fajardo, Tony Semerad, and Xyrus Torres to seize a 52-36 halftime lead.
Blackwater attempted a late push, cutting the gap to 76-65 in the fourth quarter, but NLEX responded with a 12-5 counter that put the game out of reach. Semerad, who buried three triples in the payoff period, earned Finals MVP honors with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Torres topped the scoring for NLEX with 19 markers, while Bolick came close to a triple-double with eight points, six boards, and nine assists. JB Bahio and Fajardo chipped in 12 and 10 markers, respectively. As a team, the Road Warriors torched the net from beyond the arc, going 18-of-34, with Semerad and Torres sinking four each.
Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 15 points, while Richard Escoto added 14. The Bossing, despite falling short in the finals, had an impressive run in the preliminaries, including a comeback win over NLEX, 95-90, earlier in the tournament.
The championship serves as a timely boost for NLEX heading into the new PBA season. Last year, the Road Warriors finished second in the Philippine Cup eliminations before bowing out in the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine. Deputy mentor Adonis Tierra called the shots in their last two games, steering the team to become the second straight PBA squad to lift the Kadayawan crown, following Rain or Shine’s sweep in 2024. NLEX closed the tournament with a 3-1 card, their lone loss coming at the hands of Blackwater.
In the battle for third place, Phoenix avoided a winless campaign with a convincing 101-81 rout of Converge. Raffy Verano led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay contributed 17 and 15 markers, respectively. The win marked the first for new head coach Willy Wilson, who took over during the offseason. Coincidentally, Phoenix also defeated Converge for third place in last year’s edition of the tournament.
The NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Bossing opened their campaigns in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational with victories in their respective first games on Thursday, August 21, at the USEP Gym in Davao City.
In the first game, Sedrick Barefield made an immediate impact for the Bossing. The 2024 second overall pick erupted for 28 points, including six triples. Three of those came in succession in the fourth quarter, turning a slim 72-66 lead into a more comfortable 81-68 cushion.
Troy Mallillin contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while newcomer Jed Mendoza impressed in his debut with 16 points.
For the Phoenix Fuel Masters, Jason Perkins and Kai Ballungay scored 12 points apiece in their first game under new head coach Willie Wilson, who took over from Jamike Jarin after he was moved to a team consultant role.
The East Asia Super League (EASL) is officially set to raise the curtain on its new season with a twin opening in Taipei and Tokyo on October 8, 2025 — a move that reflects the league’s expanding reach and growing stature as Asia’s premier basketball competition.
All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
Game schedule (HKT):
- Utsunomiya vs. Taipei Fubon – 6:30 PM
- Taoyuan vs. Ryukyu – 8:30 PM