STILL, a Grand Slam wasn't meant to be for TNT.
Bowing to redemption-focused San Miguel in Game 6 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup finals, the Tropang 5G will have to go on missing the all-Filipino jewel for their crown that already had the Governors' and Commissioner's Cup championships.
READ: SMB reclaims PBA Philippine Cup title, denies TNT a grand slam
This is the second time the franchise just fell short of a Grand Slam, with the first being back in 2010-11 when it was denied by Petron - then the name carried by the Beermen.
Still, team owner Manny V. Pangilinan himself told TNT it had nothing to be ashamed of.
"Nakakaiyak, pero hindi naman nakakahiya. Yes, hindi nakakahiya," he told players, coaches, and staff inside the dugout following their finals loss.
"Sabi nga, the heads tonight are bowed in sorrow, but not in shame. But not in shame. Hindi nakakahiya ang performance niyo, so maraming salamat."
Injury bug feasts on TNT
Indeed, the Tropang 5G can move forward as defending champions in two of the three conferences. The last time that happened was in 2019 when San Miguel won the Philippine and Commissioner's Cups.
Even more, they were just two wins shy of a Grand Slam against a SMB side led by Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo, whom they had to game plan for with lacking personnel.
"We understand why we lost. Too many players (were injured). We also know you gave it your all, your best, so thank you for that. Thank you," said Pangilinan.
In the title series alone, TNT lost Poy Erram and Simon Enciso to injuries, as they were already without all of Jayson Castro, Rey Nambatac, and Jielo Razon.
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