TNT is presently trailing in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup Finals after its defeat to San Miguel in Game Three last Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Tropang 5G suffered a deflating 95-89 loss to San Miguel after Cjay Perez delivered seven straight points to claim the come-from-behind win for the Beermen.
All, however, isn’t lost for the Tropang 5G in the finals as they once trailed 2-1 before winning the championship.
Here are the times that TNT was able to overhaul a 2-1 deficit to capture the title.
2023 GOVERNORS’ CUP
The last time TNT came back from 2-1 down to win the championship was in the 2023 Governors’ Cup when it defeated Barangay Ginebra in the finals with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Mikey Williams towing their team to victory.
TNT won the next three games after being down in Game 3 with Hollis-Jefferson practically taking over the series. RHJ had 36 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in the Tropang Giga’s 116-104 win in Game 4, which was followed by a triple-double in Game 5 with Hollis-Jefferson registering 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists.
It was Williams’ turn to take over in Game 6, winning the Finals MVP after a 38-point explosion in the 97-93 win that handed Justin Brownlee his first defeat in the PBA championship round.
2015 COMMISSIONER’S CUP
Talk ‘N Text was also down, 2-1, against Rain or Shine during the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup but found a way to win the championship in a Game 7 through the efforts of Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro, and import Ivan Johnson.
De Ocampo had 33 points in Talk ‘N Text’s 99-92 win to even the series, with RDO also topscoring alongside Johnson with 27 in the Tropang Texters’ 103-94 win over the Elasto Painters in Game 5.
Rain or Shine forced a decider with a 101-93 win, but Talk ‘N Text took Game 7 in overtime with a 121-119 decision behind De Ocampo's 34 points. RDO went on to take home the Finals MVP award.
2003 ALL-FILIPINO CUP
For the all-local conference, the last time TNT overcome a 2-1 deficit to win the championship was in the 2003 All-Filipino Cup.
The Phone Pals were actually down 0-2 in the series when it swept the remainder of the finals to capture the title.
Talk ‘N Text captured Game Three with a 67-59 win over Coca-Cola, and it was able to even things up in Game 4 after a 99-91 victory behind Jimmy Alapag's 27 points. The Phone Pals moved one win away from a title when they beat Coca Cola in overtime, 97-92, through key hits by Victor Pablo and Patrick Fran.
Asi Taulava then carried Talk ‘N Text in Game Six , leading to a 78-76 win that ended a 14-year title drought. Bong Ravena drained a three to tie the game at 71, before Taulava and Alapag nailed crucial baskets in the end. Taulava was adjudged as the Finals MVP in what turned out to be his first and only taste of a PBA title.
So for TNT fans, there is still hope that the Tropang 5G can bounce back from this deficit.
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