MANILA, Philippines – They will be the final teams to play in their second conference, most likely two weeks after the tournament’s Sept. 21 opening day, in order to qualify for the Philippine Cup finals. 

After that, they worked extremely hard for the remainder of the season, juggling games in their home league and the East Asia Super League for a short while during the Commissioner’s Cup.

Before being invited back to participate in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, San Miguel Beer and TNT Tropang Giga, the leaders of the ALL FILIPINO title, will have some downtime.

Leo Austria, the coach of San Miguel, described the remainder of the season as “like seven straight months of basketball” as they compete in the Commissioner’s Cup, the EASL, and the Governors’ Cup. 

The Tropang Giga are facing a difficult journey as the recent Philippine Cup runners-up to the Beermen.

Then, for those called to Gilas duty, add the November and February windows of the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. 

The PBA board of governors authorized continuing assistance for Gilas during a meeting on Thursday, including loan players for the upcoming FIBA windows. 

However, in order to minimize attention from the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, coach Chot Reyes would only choose two to three teams. 

The path ahead for the Tropang Giga and the Beermen is already difficult. Not to mention that what both teams have been through has truly been challenging as well.

Thomas Robinson will bolster San Miguel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, and Marcus Weathers will partner with Robinson in TNT’s EASL campaign.

The only other NBA draft pick to play in the PBA was Dennis Hopson (New Jersey, third overall, 1987), who played for Purefoods in 1996. Robinson (Sacramento, fifth overall, 2012) is the second-highest NBA draft pick to play in the PBA. 

Cameron Oliver will be relied upon by TNT in the interim. 

Starting on October 12, eight teams in the inaugural EASL home-and-away season will face off against The Beermen and the Tropang Giga.

San Miguel Beermen Games and Standing

Last 8 games:

August 17, 2022 – Win against Meralco 100 – 89 Semi Final

August 21, 2022 – Lose against TNT Katropa 86 – 84 Final

August 24, 2022 – Win against TNT Katropa 109 – 100 Final

August 26, 2022 – Win OT against TNT Katropa 108 – 100 Final

August 28, 2022 – Lose against TNT Katropa 100 – 87 Final

August 31, 2022 – Lose against TNT Katropa 102 – 93 Final

September 2, 2022 – Win against TNT Katropa 114 – 96 Final

September 4, 2022 – Win against TNT Katropa 119 – 97 Final

Standing:

	GP	W	L	Pts +	Pts –	Diff
San Miguel Beer Men	11	9	2	1119	1042	77
TNT Katropa	11	8	3	1021	963	58

San Miguel Beermen

In the Philippine Basketball Association, there is a professional basketball team called the San Miguel Beermen. Along with the Magnolia Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, it is one of three PBA teams that are owned by the San Miguel Corporation group of enterprises.

Owner: Ramon Ang

Ownership: Ramon S. Ang

Head coach: Leo Austria

Founded: 1975

Team manager: Gee Abanilla; Daniel Henares (assistant)

Company: San Miguel Brewery

TNT Tropang Giga

Also known as Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters – Since 1990, Smart Communications, a division of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, has been the owner of the TNT Tropang Giga, a professional basketball club competing in the Philippine Basketball Association. When Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. purchased a PBA franchise, the franchise officially started in 1990.

Head coach: Chot Reyes

Founded: 1990

Team manager: Jojo Lastimosa; Miguel Fernandez (assistant)

Company: Smart Communications