LIVE: PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 2 – San Miguel vs TNT

After a controversial finish to Game 1, TNT Tropang 5G and San Miguel Beermen are set to figure in what is expected to be another tough showdown in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven Finals.

July 16, Wednesday – Smart Araneta Coliseum

7:30pm – San Miguel Beermen vs TNT Tropang 5G

The San Miguel Beermen gave it all they could on the floor in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against TNT.

And while team officials were fuming at the end of that last Sunday night after the Beermen absorbed a 99-96 defeat, coach Leo Austria was anything but irate.

The veteran tactician was almost calm, cool and collected despite the bedlam that occurred at Araneta Coliseum.

For Austria, lingering on the offensive basket interference that ultimately led to the loss was useless. He’d much rather tip his hat to the Beermen, who almost clawed their way up from what looked like an insurmountable deficit.

San Miguel Beermen reacts after a controversial review that nullified Mo Tautuaa’s dunk and led to TNT win in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

San Miguel Beer has opted not to lodge a formal protest over the PBA’s decision to call Mo Tautuaa’s dunk as basket interference during Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals that gave TNT a 99-96 win on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Team manager Gee Abanilla confirmed on Monday that the Beermen have instead asked for clarification as to why the slam, which in the naked eye seemed harmless, was a violation as far as the league’s technical committee was concerned.

San Miguel Beermen’s Chris Ross during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 1 against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Chris Ross was expectedly furious after Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Just a few hours removed from TNT’s 99-96 win over San Miguel Beer at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Ross took to social media to air his grievances about the game-altering call.

“We don’t want to hear any other explanation on what happened last night,” wrote the veteran guard on X (formerly Twitter). “Anyone that plays ball knows that it was the wrong call but they will keep trying to explain why they are the only ones in the world that thinks otherwise. Delusional is the word. One foot in front of the other.”

TNT Tropang 5G during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 1 vs San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—TNT’s massive lead over San Miguel Beer may have looked insurmountable at one point, but coach Chot Reyes knew nothing was safe.

The Tropang Giga had been expecting a San Miguel Beer fightback, and that’s exactly what they got in a tense finish to Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

“We had no illusions that San Miguel would just roll over and lay down so we knew that they were going to mount a fight back,” said Reyes after their controversial 99-96 win over the Beermen at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night.

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