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San Miguel Beermen Back In The Finals; Poised As TNT's Biggest Roadblock To A Grand Slam Dream
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The San Miguel Beermen are right where they believe they belong — back in the PBA finals — and standing squarely in the way of TNT’s ambitious bid for a historic Grand Slam.
Before a roaring Big Dome crowd of over 12,000 on Wednesday night, the Beermen dug deep and delivered a gritty 100–93 win over Barangay Ginebra in a classic knockout duel, earning the right to challenge the Tropang Giga in what promises to be a colossal title showdown.
The win was more than just a ticket to the championship series. For San Miguel, it was a statement — a sign that the proud franchise, humbled in the past three conferences, is firmly back on the redemption path.
It didn’t come easy. The Beermen had to claw back from an 11-point deficit late in the third quarter before unleashing a fourth-quarter surge that left the Gin Kings stunned and their own “Last Dance” with TNT foiled.
June Mar Fajardo, as steady as ever in the middle, anchored San Miguel with a commanding 21-point, 19-rebound double-double, while Chris Ross — riding the bench for all of Game 6 — returned with a vengeance, posting 19 points, seven assists, four steals, and three rebounds in a vintage all-around performance.
CJ Perez (15 points) and Moala Tautuaa (14) lent crucial support, while fellow Adamson alumni Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano, and Rodney Brondial provided timely energy and scoring to fuel the rally.
Ross and Fajardo then imposed their will in the closing minutes, combining defensive grit and offensive poise to seal the win and crush Ginebra’s hopes of another finals dance with TNT.
“It’s very clear they never gave up, especially in the fourth,” said head coach Leo Austria after the game. “They all realized they need to step up — and they did.”
Indeed, it was vintage San Miguel playoff basketball — relentless on the boards, opportunistic on defense, and unshaken by adversity. They outrebounded Ginebra, 13–2, on second-chance points and stood strong even as the Kings rained down threes in the first half to keep it close.
Jamie Malonzo paced Ginebra with 22 points, while Scottie Thompson (16), Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos (15 each), and veterans Stephen Holt and Japeth Aguilar (12 each) all pitched in. But in the end, the Kings simply couldn’t match San Miguel’s resolve in the final quarter.
Now, with Ginebra out of the way, the stage is set for a titanic clash. On one side, coach Chot Reyes and TNT, chasing the rare and coveted Grand Slam. On the other, coach Austria’s battle-tested Beermen, eager to reclaim the championship they last held in 2022 and prove they remain the league’s gold standard.
For TNT, San Miguel represents the final and biggest obstacle to history. And for San Miguel, nothing could be sweeter than playing spoiler to a Grand Slam — while reclaiming their own throne in the process.
The finals begin with both teams carrying the weight of legacy and expectation. And if this semifinals classic was any indication, fans can expect nothing less than another unforgettable series.
Before a roaring Big Dome crowd of over 12,000 on Wednesday night, the Beermen dug deep and delivered a gritty 100–93 win over Barangay Ginebra in a classic knockout duel, earning the right to challenge the Tropang Giga in what promises to be a colossal title showdown.
The win was more than just a ticket to the championship series. For San Miguel, it was a statement — a sign that the proud franchise, humbled in the past three conferences, is firmly back on the redemption path.
It didn’t come easy. The Beermen had to claw back from an 11-point deficit late in the third quarter before unleashing a fourth-quarter surge that left the Gin Kings stunned and their own “Last Dance” with TNT foiled.
June Mar Fajardo, as steady as ever in the middle, anchored San Miguel with a commanding 21-point, 19-rebound double-double, while Chris Ross — riding the bench for all of Game 6 — returned with a vengeance, posting 19 points, seven assists, four steals, and three rebounds in a vintage all-around performance.
CJ Perez (15 points) and Moala Tautuaa (14) lent crucial support, while fellow Adamson alumni Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano, and Rodney Brondial provided timely energy and scoring to fuel the rally.
Ross and Fajardo then imposed their will in the closing minutes, combining defensive grit and offensive poise to seal the win and crush Ginebra’s hopes of another finals dance with TNT.
“It’s very clear they never gave up, especially in the fourth,” said head coach Leo Austria after the game. “They all realized they need to step up — and they did.”
Indeed, it was vintage San Miguel playoff basketball — relentless on the boards, opportunistic on defense, and unshaken by adversity. They outrebounded Ginebra, 13–2, on second-chance points and stood strong even as the Kings rained down threes in the first half to keep it close.
Jamie Malonzo paced Ginebra with 22 points, while Scottie Thompson (16), Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos (15 each), and veterans Stephen Holt and Japeth Aguilar (12 each) all pitched in. But in the end, the Kings simply couldn’t match San Miguel’s resolve in the final quarter.
Now, with Ginebra out of the way, the stage is set for a titanic clash. On one side, coach Chot Reyes and TNT, chasing the rare and coveted Grand Slam. On the other, coach Austria’s battle-tested Beermen, eager to reclaim the championship they last held in 2022 and prove they remain the league’s gold standard.
For TNT, San Miguel represents the final and biggest obstacle to history. And for San Miguel, nothing could be sweeter than playing spoiler to a Grand Slam — while reclaiming their own throne in the process.
The finals begin with both teams carrying the weight of legacy and expectation. And if this semifinals classic was any indication, fans can expect nothing less than another unforgettable series.
Jul 10, 2025
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