SPORTS
Advocates Philippines
TNT Survives San Miguel's Late Surge In Finals Opener
Photo credit: PBA
TNT came out firing, bent but didn’t break in the closing minutes, and walked away with a hard-earned 96-91 win over defending champion San Miguel Beer in Game 1 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
The Tropang 5G looked in full control early, even building a 19-point lead, but the Beermen made it a nerve-wracking finish. What seemed like a comfortable night turned into a dogfight in the fourth quarter, yet TNT held its ground to grab the early edge in the race-to-four series.
“Obviously, we’re happy with the win but we have so much to work on,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes. “We have one day to correct our mistakes,” he added, pointing to costly turnovers that allowed San Miguel to creep back into a game TNT led from start to finish.
The pressure peaked when TNT’s lead shrank to just one, 92-91, after back-to-back turnovers late in the game. That’s when Jordan Heading calmly stepped up, sinking four straight free throws to finally put the game out of reach.
Still, this was very much a team win.
Kelly Williams led the charge with 15 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, pacing six TNT players in double figures. The veteran big man also had his hands full battling San Miguel star June Mar Fajardo, who finished with a massive 24 points and 17 rebounds, while Moala Tautuaa added 22 points of his own.
“It’s just one game,” said Williams. “We’ll take the same approach—one game at a time—for the whole series,” as he once again proved he can still go toe-to-toe with “The Kraken.”
Calvin Oftana delivered a solid double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Heading also chipped in 13 points to go with eight boards. Henry Galinato scored 12, Rey Nambatac had 11, and Simon Enciso added 10 for the Tropa.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser may have finished with just eight points, but six of those came in the homestretch, helping TNT stay steady when the game threatened to slip away.
TNT appeared ready to cruise at 92-87 with possession of the ball, but turnovers by Oftana and Nambatac gave San Miguel a lifeline, pulling them within one. Still, the Tropang 5G refused to fold.
From the opening tip, TNT played with purpose. They dominated the boards, outrebounding the Beermen 31-19, and took control early, racing to a big lead and heading into halftime up 53-36. Working as a cohesive unit, the Tropa led by as many as 19 and never relinquished the advantage, even as San Miguel mounted a fierce late rally.
In the end, TNT proved tougher in crunch time—and in the Finals, that’s all that matters.
The Tropang 5G looked in full control early, even building a 19-point lead, but the Beermen made it a nerve-wracking finish. What seemed like a comfortable night turned into a dogfight in the fourth quarter, yet TNT held its ground to grab the early edge in the race-to-four series.
“Obviously, we’re happy with the win but we have so much to work on,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes. “We have one day to correct our mistakes,” he added, pointing to costly turnovers that allowed San Miguel to creep back into a game TNT led from start to finish.
The pressure peaked when TNT’s lead shrank to just one, 92-91, after back-to-back turnovers late in the game. That’s when Jordan Heading calmly stepped up, sinking four straight free throws to finally put the game out of reach.
Still, this was very much a team win.
Kelly Williams led the charge with 15 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, pacing six TNT players in double figures. The veteran big man also had his hands full battling San Miguel star June Mar Fajardo, who finished with a massive 24 points and 17 rebounds, while Moala Tautuaa added 22 points of his own.
“It’s just one game,” said Williams. “We’ll take the same approach—one game at a time—for the whole series,” as he once again proved he can still go toe-to-toe with “The Kraken.”
Calvin Oftana delivered a solid double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Heading also chipped in 13 points to go with eight boards. Henry Galinato scored 12, Rey Nambatac had 11, and Simon Enciso added 10 for the Tropa.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser may have finished with just eight points, but six of those came in the homestretch, helping TNT stay steady when the game threatened to slip away.
TNT appeared ready to cruise at 92-87 with possession of the ball, but turnovers by Oftana and Nambatac gave San Miguel a lifeline, pulling them within one. Still, the Tropang 5G refused to fold.
From the opening tip, TNT played with purpose. They dominated the boards, outrebounding the Beermen 31-19, and took control early, racing to a big lead and heading into halftime up 53-36. Working as a cohesive unit, the Tropa led by as many as 19 and never relinquished the advantage, even as San Miguel mounted a fierce late rally.
In the end, TNT proved tougher in crunch time—and in the Finals, that’s all that matters.
Jan 22, 2026
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
