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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider SMB, TNT go for jugular in crucial Game 6 showdowns

SMB, TNT go for jugular in crucial Game 6 showdowns

Published Jul 5, 2025 01:41 pm

At A Glance

  • San Miguel isn't about to let the opportunity to secure a spot in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals slip away, but head coach Leo Austria knows that closing out the series against Barangay Ginebra won't come easy, especially against a team known for its iconic 'Never-Say-Die' spirit.
CJ Perez is expected to steer San Miguel past Ginebra. (PBA Images)
CJ Perez is expected to steer San Miguel past Ginebra. (PBA Images)
San Miguel isn’t about to let the opportunity to secure a spot in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals slip away, but head coach Leo Austria knows that closing out the series against Barangay Ginebra won’t come easy, especially against a team known for its iconic ‘Never-Say-Die’ spirit.
The Beermen go for the jugular in Game 6 of their best-of-seven semifinals series against the Gin Kings on Sunday, July 6, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Tip-off is at 5 p.m., with San Miguel aiming to advance to its third straight All-Filipino conference Finals.
Like San Miguel, TNT also attempts to punch its ticket to the Finals in Game 6 of their own semis series against Rain or Shine at 7:30 p.m.
The Tropang 5G failed to secure the spot in Game 5 after the Elasto Painters pulled off a dominant 113-97 win to stay alive.
A veteran of many playoff battles, Austria understands that closeout games are often the most difficult—especially against a Ginebra squad that thrives with its back against the wall.
“This team, Ginebra, you can’t count them out because we all know their heart and their ‘Never-Say-Die’ attitude,” said Austria after San Miguel claimed the first back-to-back wins in the series to take a 3-2 lead.
“We have a chance to close out the series, but I’m sure it won’t be easy. Expect a hard-fought game from both teams,” he added.
The Beermen had to dig deep for their 103-92 Game 5 victory, especially after a sluggish start that saw them score just 12 points in the opening quarter. Jericho Cruz and CJ Perez led the comeback, sparking an offensive surge that Ginebra struggled to contain.
Cruz poured in 27 points off the bench, while Perez exploded for 31 points which served as key performances that gave SMB the upper hand in the pivotal matchup.
In the nightcap, the Tropang Giga, meanwhile, >>font-family: Gilroy; display: inline !important;>will be boosted by the return of head coach Chot Reyes, who missed Game 5 due to a one-game suspension after receiving his fifth technical foul in Game 4.
His absence, combined with injuries to key veterans RR Pogoy and Kelly Williams, opened the door for the Elasto Painters to capitalize and extend the series.
Now with momentum and confidence, ROS, which finally claimed a second win in a semifinal series against TNT after years of frustration, is eyeing a deciding Game 7.
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