TNT and San Miguel start their quest for the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup crown on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
For this finals series, there’s a lot more at stake for the Tropang 5G, as they go for a rare Grand Slam. The Beermen also have a lot to play for, as they seek to regain the all-Filipino title after settling for a runner-up finish last season against Meralco.
Here’s a quick rundown about Game 1, what to expect, and some keys to victory.
TNT VS. SAN MIGUEL
When: Sunday, July 13. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
How important is Game 1
The last four winners of Game 1 in the finals went on to win the crown. That includes TNT’s crowns in this season’s Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup over Barangay Ginebra, the 2023-24 Comm’s Cup crown of San Miguel against Magnolia, and even the 2024 Philippine Cup title of the Bolts at the expense of the Beermen.
The last time a Game 1 winner didn’t claim the championship was in the 2023 Governors’ Cup when the Gin Kings lost to the Tropang 5G.
TNT hasn’t lost to San Miguel this season
In the few times that they faced each other in the 49th Season, TNT won all of its games against San Miguel.
In the Comm’s Cup, the Tropang 5G defeated the Beermen, 115-97, last January 26. The more important of the two victories was their May 4 encounter in the Philippine Cup when TNT defeated SMB, 94-89, a result that ended its 0-3 slide. It could be safe to assume that if the Tropang 5G didn’t win that game against the Beermen, they won’t be here in the finals.
June Mar faces BGR for the first time this season
In the two times the two teams battled this season, June Mar Fajardo took on Poy Erram and Kelly Williams in the center match-up. This time around, Fajardo will be up against Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who after coming off an ACL injury, has emerged as an integral part of TNT, especially in the semifinals against Rain or Shine.
Status of RR Pogoy, Kelly Williams
Williams and RR Pogoy have been dealing with injuries and their status remains unclear for Game 1.
Of the two players, Pogoy appears to be getting closer to a return after sustaining a hamstring injury in Game 2 of the semifinals vs. the Elasto Painters. Williams, on the other hand, looks doubtful for the series-opener due to a sprained ankle.
TNT gets more rest than SMB
By winning Game 6 of the semifinals against Rain or Shine, TNT got the benefit of a full week to rest, recover, and prepare for their finals opponents that turned out to be San Miguel, which dispatched Ginebra in Game 7 only last Friday. Will those additional days be beneficial for the Tropang 5G?
Change in persona?
During the semifinals, TNT and San Miguel seemed to have taken on different personas.
Usually known for its defense, TNT was the No. 1 team on offense among the semifinalists with an average of 99.83 points per game. On the other hand, San Miguel, known for its offense, was the team that gave up the least points during the semifinals with an average of 87.29. Will that trend continue?
Turning the ball over
Turnovers became an issue for TNT in the semifinals and they averaged the most among the Final Four squads with an average of 16.67. In contrast, San Miguel coughed up the ball the least with an average of 11.29.
Bench must deliver
The semifinals saw the emergence of the benches of San Miguel and TNT, both of which averaging a shade over 43 per game.
While the likes of Fajardo, Cjay Perez, Calvin Oftana, and Pogoy will gain most of the attention in the finals, players such as Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano, Kim Aurin, and Glenn Khobuntin will also need to contribute in order to win not just Game 1, but the full series.
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