MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer defeated TNT Tropang Giga in a close game at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo during the PBA Philippine Cup, winning 91-89 in the end. In the last seconds of play, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser’s possible game-winning three-pointer nearly missed, sealing the victory for the Beermen and setting up a frantic finish to the game.

Both sides showed resiliency and drive throughout the game, even though they faced a suspenseful conclusion. In the end, though, San Miguel Beer prevailed, demonstrating their resilience and poise under duress.

The Beermen opened their conference debut with a dominant 109-97 victory against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, setting the stage for their matchup with TNT. Their league season is off to a strong start with their back-to-back victories.

Together with Magnolia, San Miguel Beer is one of the two teams still in the competition with a perfect record after three straight wins. The Beermen’s play thus far places them as strong favorites in the season-ending all-Filipino tournament as they prepare for a well-earned rest before All-Star Week and Lent.

With a 2-0 record versus the Hotshots, the Beermen are currently atop the rankings, demonstrating their will to win the fiercely tough league. Coach Jorge Gallent was pleased with his team’s performance despite tough competition, while also recognizing the difficulties they had and the areas they still needed to improve.

The Beermen’s early success is a tribute to their skill, resiliency, and persistent dedication to greatness on the basketball court as the PBA Philippine Cup progresses. San Miguel Beer looks forward to further wins and a prosperous league season with momentum on their side.

After Ganuelas-Rosser, a recent TNT hire, missed the mark from beyond the arc on a feed from Jayson Castro, the Beermen blew a 15-point advantage and just avoided defeat.

With only fifteen seconds remaining in the game, the TNT Tropang Giga was behind by just two points (89-91) in a dramatic closing minute of play. The squad was counting on seasoned veteran Jayson Castro to either arrange a game-winning play or secure an equalizer as the pressure mounted. Castro was forced into a forced pass by the San Miguel Beermen’s strong defense, which effectively stifled TNT’s attacking attempts.

During a crucial play, Castro passed the ball to Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who tried a catch-and-shoot move while Jericho Cruz applied tremendous defensive pressure. The shot was eventually unsuccessful, ensuring the Beermen’s win and keeping them ahead in the league despite the heroic effort of the Tropang Giga.

With a remarkable effort by top player June Mar Fajardo, San Miguel Beer won for the second time in a row. Fajardo had a rare appearance off the bench, and it paid off as he posted an astounding double-double, helping the Beermen to victory with 15 points and 17 rebounds.

Ganuelas-Rosser’s try at a buzzer-beater came up just short, but the Beermen’s unwavering defense and Fajardo’s outstanding play guaranteed their league-long triumph. San Miguel Beer is still a strong team to be reckoned with as the season goes on, ready to build on their previous successes and compete for the PBA Philippine Cup championship.

With 12 points apiece in the fierce contest, Marcio Lassiter, Jericho Cruz, and Don Trollano all contributed significantly to the San Miguel Beermen’s triumph. As the game neared its conclusion, Trollano’s three-pointer proved to be crucial, giving the Beermen a lead of 89-84.

Both teams performed admirably, but they had trouble from the free-throw line.

In the last two minutes and 69 seconds of play, every player missed two vital free throws, making it more difficult for his side to narrow the deficit and win. 

Scores at the end of the match

SAN MIGUEL with 91 points for the win

Individual scores: Fajardo 15, Lassiter 12, Trollano 12, Cruz 12, Romeo 9, Enciso 9, Perez 9, Ross 6, Teng 5, Tautuaa 2, Brondial 0.

TNT with 89 points

Individual scores: Castro 20, Pogoy 15, Oftana 14, K.Williams 14, Aurin 10, Heruela 4, Ganuelas-Rosser B. 4, Ebona 4, Khobuntin 2, Ponferrada 2, Reyes 0, Varilla 0, Montalbo 0, Ganuelas-Rosser M. 0.

Scores per quarter

25-23, 52-39, 72-70, 91-89