Noah Barro

The TNT Tropang 5G survived a furious fourth-quarter comeback and a disputed ending to edge against the San Miguel Beermen, 99-96, to take Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, July 13.

Photo Courtesy of PBA Images.

Despite holding a commanding 24-point lead, TNT found itself on the ropes late in the game after a surging 30-14 fourth-quarter run by San Miguel. The Beermen nearly stole the game with Moala Tautuaa’s dunk attempt, which appeared to bounce in for a 98-97 lead.

However, officials ruled the bucket as basket interference, stating Tautuaa pulled down the rim before the ball dropped through the net. The call was made nearly a minute later, during a dead ball resulting from a jump ball situation between Chris Ross and Jordan Heading.

Because of the call, the Tropang 5G was pushed back ahead, 97-96. The men in red and white were forced to play the fouling game as Calvin Oftana calmly sank both free throws, 99-96.

CJ Perez had 3.6 ticks remaining in the fourth frame but ultimately missed the tightly contested three, as the Tropang 5G escaped with the win.

Tautuaa’s overruled basket scraped off an exhilarating offensive comeback by the Beermen in the fourth, even outgunning the Tropang 5G 30-14 in the final quarter.

"Well, just when it happened, we were already saying that it looked like offensive interference. So good thing that there was a break on that jump ball that they were able to review it," TNT head coach Chot Reyes expressed.

Returning from a hamstring injury, RR Pogoy immediately reinforced TNT’s offensive prowess, contributing 23 points constructed on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc.

Pogoy delivered a buzzer-beating four-point bank shot to lift his squad up by 20 points before halftime, 61-41.

Jordan Heading provided solid support with 19 markers, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds, while Oftana chipped in 13 points and 9 boards.

Veteran big man Kelly Williams is also back in action for the grand-slam-seeking TNT after sustaining an ankle injury in Game 4 of the semifinals, pitching in nine points, seven boards, and five dimes.

Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo also performed a strong double-double performance: 26 points, 15 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.

TNT now holds a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and will look to move two wins closer to completing a rare PBA Grand Slam when the finals resume on July 16, at the same venue.