San Miguel Beermen on Verge of Philippine Cup Finals Victory

The San Miguel Beermen are on the brink of clinching the 2025 Philippine Cup title after a commanding 105-91 victory against the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 4 of the finals held on July 21, 2025. Led by the electrifying performance of Jericho Cruz, who scored 23 points, the Beermen extended their series lead to 3-1, positioning themselves for a potential championship win in Game 5.

The Beermen's triumph was characterized by their depth and tactical flexibility, key elements that Head Coach Leo Austria leveraged effectively throughout the match. Following a sluggish start, where TNT built a 12-point lead in the first quarter, Austria's adjustments bore fruit as San Miguel ramped up their defensive intensity and offensive execution.

"We made necessary adjustments to counter TNT's initial strategy, and our players executed the game plan effectively," stated Coach Austria in a post-game interview. The team's ability to switch defensive assignments and utilize a small-ball lineup with Jeron Teng playing at the four spot was pivotal in regaining momentum during the second quarter, where they outscored TNT 24-14.

Despite a strong performance from TNT's Jordan Heading, who scored 23 points and provided five assists, the Beermen's resilience shone through. San Miguel's shooting accuracy reached an impressive 54.2% from beyond the arc, with key contributions from Juami Tiongson and CJ Perez, who added 16 points on 67.3 true shooting percentage.

The victory places San Miguel just one win away from securing the Philippine Cup, a title they last held in 2019. A win in Game 5 would not only mark their return to championship glory but also symbolize their resurgence as a dominant force in Philippine basketball.

As the series heads into its final game, the pressure now shifts to the TNT Tropang 5G, who must rally to stave off elimination and keep their grand slam aspirations alive. Historically, teams facing a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series have a challenging path ahead, with only a handful managing to overcome such odds.

The upcoming Game 5 promises to be a riveting encounter as both teams vie for supremacy in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Fans eagerly await to see if San Miguel can finish the job or if TNT will force a decisive Game 6, keeping the championship battle alive.