The 2025 PBA Philippine Cup Finals opened with a bang as TNT Tropang Giga edged out the San Miguel Beermen in a thrilling 99–96 victory in Game 1. Held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on July 13, the match delivered everything fans could hope for: dominant runs, emotional swings, and a controversial finish that’s sure to be talked about for the rest of the series.

TNT came out firing, establishing a huge lead early in the game. With sharpshooter R.R. Pogoy returning to action, the Tropang Giga built a strong rhythm on offense. Pogoy poured in 23 points in limited minutes, while Jordan Heading added 19 and helped orchestrate TNT’s ball movement. Their outside shooting overwhelmed San Miguel in the first half, leading to a commanding 61–42 halftime advantage.

At that point, it looked like TNT might cruise to an easy win. But San Miguel, a team built on championship experience, had other plans. Led by the ever-reliable June Mar Fajardo, who finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds, and the energetic CJ Perez, the Beermen mounted a furious comeback in the fourth quarter. San Miguel unleashed a 19–0 run that erased the 24-point deficit and even gave them a brief lead late in the game.

As the clock ticked down, the intensity ramped up. After TNT regained a slim edge, San Miguel’s Mo Tautuaa appeared to slam home a go-ahead dunk with under a minute remaining. Initially counted as a basket, the referees reviewed the play and ruled it offensive basket interference—a highly controversial decision that nullified the score and turned the tide back in TNT’s favor.

From there, TNT held its ground. Calvin Oftana calmly hit clutch free throws, and the team’s defense forced a crucial stop in the final seconds to seal the win. While the ending left San Miguel fans frustrated, TNT walked away with the all-important first win in the best-of-seven series.

Aside from Pogoy and Heading, Oftana also stepped up for TNT with key plays down the stretch. For San Miguel, Fajardo and Perez were outstanding in the comeback attempt, and their fourth-quarter run showed that this team is far from out of the fight.

What made this game so memorable wasn’t just the score or the stats—it was the emotion and the momentum swings that kept fans on the edge of their seats. TNT looked unbeatable early, then suddenly vulnerable. San Miguel looked finished, then nearly pulled off one of the great Finals comebacks.

Game 1 set the tone for what promises to be a hard-fought series. TNT now holds a 1–0 advantage, but San Miguel showed enough heart and fire to suggest this Finals is far from over. With Game 2 coming up on July 16, both teams will be looking to make adjustments and gain the upper hand in what already feels like a classic in the making.

The Scores

TNT 99 – Pogoy 23, Heading 19, Oftana 13, Ganuelas-Rosser 13, Williams 9, Erram 9, Enciso 6, Khobuntin 5, Heruela 2, Aurin 0.

San Miguel 96 – Fajardo 26, Perez 19, Trollano 10, Cruz 8, Lassiter 7, Ross 7, Tiongson 4, Brondial 2, Teng 0, Rosales 0.

Quarter Scores: 28-22; 61-41; 85-66; 99-96.