- San Miguel Beermen look to take the lead for the first time in the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup Finals against a TNT Tropang 5G side looking to get back on track after a Game 2 setback. The best-of-seven series is tied at 1-1.
PBA Philippine Cup Finals Schedule Game 3
July 18, Friday – Smart Araneta Coliseum
- 7:30pm – TNT Tropang 5G vs San Miguel Beermen
IN PHOTOS: San Miguel Beermen take 2-1 lead over TNT Tropang 5G
PBA Finals: Poy Erram doubtful for TNT’s must-win Game 4
TNT Tropang 5G’s Poy Erram in street clothes during the PBA Philippine Cup Game 3 against San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—TNT is down, 2-1, in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals to San Miguel Beer, with its chances of completing just the league’s sixth Grand Slam now greatly depending on a Game 4 victory on Sunday.
That’s not the bad news.
Poy Erram, a big piece to why the Tropang 5G have a shot at completing the Grand Slam, is listed as doubtful for that critical game, and if one hears Erram speak, he’s out of it in all likelihood.
PBA Finals: No answers for June Mar Fajardo in San Miguel’s blowout
San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 3 against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—It’s a tale as old as time. When the San Miguel Beermen need a reliable performance to take it to the finish line, they turn to June Mar Fajardo.
While that cliche may take a turn for the worse some days, in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, the success was like clockwork.
The Beermen took a pivotal 2-1 lead over TNT after a statement 108-88 win at Araneta Coliseum on Friday night where, in usual fashion, Fajardo dominated and refused to take credit.
PBA Finals: San Miguel repeats over TNT for 2-1 series lead
San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 3 against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
San Miguel Beer defeated TNT for the second straight time, 108-88, to take a 2-1 lead in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
June Mar Fajardo’s 33 points helped instigate the Beermen to victory over a Tropang 5G side that was forced to play minus Poy Erram due to an ankle injury sustained in Game 2.
The Beermen also leaned on a four-point shot by CJ Perez to end the second quarter before taking control following the break with usual suspects Chris Ross, Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano and Mo Tautuaa.
33 points. 11 rebounds. Gives San Miguel Beer a 2-1. Reigning MVP for a reason. #PBAFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ
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— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 18, 2025
San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria and June Mar Fajardo after the Game 3 win vs. TNT. #PBAFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ
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— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 18, 2025
LIVE UPDATES: TNT vs San Miguel – PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 3
- FINAL: San Miguel Beer wins two straight in the PBA Philippine Finals after taking Game 3 over TNT, 108-88, for the 2-1 lead.
- Chris Ross with another 3! 1 minute left to play and a 104-88 San Miguel lead.
- Big 3 for Chris Ross! The Beermen push their lead to 97-84 with 2:55 to play.
Jericho Cruz had some words with the TNT bench after committing a foul on Calvin Oftana.
He was also whistled for a technical foul for second motion.
Beermen still up, 90-83, with 5:00 to go in fourth. #PBAFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/B207IdA6rN
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 18, 2025
- San Miguel holding on to a 90-83 lead vs TNT with 5 minutes to play.
- Magic bunot Almond Vosotoros is carrying TNT here! TNT down by just 8, 88-80.
- TNT chipping away at San Miguel’s lead, 86-77. 9-0 run for Tropang 5G thanks to Almond Vosotoros.
- END OF THIRD: San Miguel dominates the third quarter with an 68-70 lead over TNT.
- San Miguel still in control here in the fourth quarter with an 82-66 advantage with 1:31 left in the third.
- Don Trollano with a finish off the break. San Miguel with its biggest lead, 78-63.
- Back to a double digit lead for San Miguel, 74-63, as the Beermen get multiple attempts during that one possession. 5:07 3Q.
- Calvin Oftana with another 3. TNT down 67-58.
- Chris Ross for 3! CJ Perez with a putback! San Miguel opens its biggest lead of the game, 67-54, 8:59 3q.
- June Mar Fajardo quickly responds with a drop step on the other end! He has 23 points so far. San Miguel 61, TNT 54.
- Calvin Oftana takes it strong to the hoop! TNT trails San Miguel, 59-54.
- Third quarter underway.
SAINT DWIGHT AND KKD IN ATTENDANCE FOR GAME 3 💫
WATCH: Dwight Ramos and Kianna Dy are in the building for Game 3 of the #PBAFinals here at the Big Dome. | @MeloFuertesINQ
· Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/rigkOGSgeI pic.twitter.com/bjGzKPqccG
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 18, 2025
- HALFTIME: San Miguel Beer with a 59-52 lead over TNT in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals
- CJ Perez unleashes a four! San Miguel holding on to 59-52 lead just before halftime.
- Back to a four-point lead, 54-50, for San Miguel after 2 freethrows from June Mar Fajardo.
PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro and referees supervisor Bong Pascual are noticeably absent from the technical committee table for Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum | @jonasterradoINQ
· Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/rigkOGRIpa pic.twitter.com/YyUgttyL6r
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 18, 2025
- San Miguel back in the lead 48-47 as CJ Perez finally joins the scoring fray.
- Kelly Williams makes his third 3 of the game. TNT 47, San Miguel 42.
- Roger Pogoy 3! TNT leads 44-40, a little over 5 minutes left before halftime.
- Calvin Oftana from the left corner! Game is tied again at 36. 7:14 2Q.
- Glenn Khobutin also peaking for TNT. He has 11 points so far. San Miguel 34, TNT 33.
- Jericho Cruz is heating up! He makes back to back triples. San Miguel now ahead, 31-27. 9:02 2Q.
- San Miguel ties the game at 25 early in the second quarter.
- END OF FIRST QUARTER: Game 3 of the #PBAFinals is off to a hot start but TNT has the 25-22 lead over TNT after the first 12 minutes.
- But TNT responds with a quick 5-0 run capped by a 3 from Jordan Heading from top of the key. TNT 25, San Miguel 20.
- Jericho Cruz with a 3 and San Miguel ties the game at 20 all with a minute left in the first quarter.
Poy Erram not seeing action tonight for TNT after twisting his right ankle in Game 2 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/YSL2RmQnzF
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) July 18, 2025
- June Mar Fajardo with a putback off Juami Tiongson’s miss. TNT 16, San Miguel 11.
- San Miguel coming alive! A defensive stop + a tough turnaround jumper from Trollano pulls the Beermen within 15-11.
- Tautuaa ends the drought for the Beermen with an and-1. San Miguel still down 15-8.
- San Miguel stuck on offense as TNT continues to push its advantage to 15-5. 6:10 1Q
- Another 3 from Kelly Williams, this time from the left corner! TNT builds a 12-5 lead with 7:32 in the first. San Miguel calls for time.
- Offense starting to pick up for both sides. TNT leads 9-5, after a 3 from Kelly Williams. 8:10 1Q
- Tautuaa with a 3 from top of the key to get San Miguel on the board. TNT 4, San Miguel 3.
- 4-0 start for TNT after a floater from Pogoy.
- TNT with the first lead with a quick basket from Roger Pogoy. 2-0.
- PBA Finals Game 3 starters
- San Miguel Beermen: Chris Ross, Cj Perez, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter and Mo Tautuaa
- TNT Tropang 5G: Brian Heruela, Oftana, Ganuelas-Rosser, Pogoy, Kelly Williams
ONLY 1 WILL BE UP 2-1.
The TNT Tropang 5G and the San Miguel Beermen warm up just minutes before tip-off of the #PBAFinals’ Game 3 here at Araneta Coliseum. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/eO6bIK9VaS
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 18, 2025
Chris Ross takes some time to reflect before Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/Hcg6zuLZJe
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 18, 2025
TNT’s Calvin Oftana will look to put his team back in the driver seat in Game 3 | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/6kA5ME3yyu
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 18, 2025
MAGANDANG HAPON
San Miguel Beer’s CJ Perez after arriving at Smart Araneta Coliseum for Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/2xD9VvHrJv
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 18, 2025
2 1/2 hours before Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals tips off here at Smart Araneta Coliseum | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/voSJ3zP6Gs
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 18, 2025
PBA: Beermen veteran hoping to prick Tropang 5G again
Chris Ross and San Miguel Beermen during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 2 against TN Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Chris Ross is making sure that he walks the talk in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals as San Miguel Beer tries to repeat over TNT and take the series lead.
“I was kinda begging them to play more during the season, so I gotta make plays,” Ross said after leaving an imprint in the Beermen’s bounce-back Game 2 victory that evened the series at 1-1 two nights earlier.
Game 3 is set on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. inside Smart Araneta Coliseum, with Ross expected to build on his important presence since the semifinal decider against crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra.
PBA: Tropang 5G likely another good man down for Game 3
Poy Erram suffers an ankle injury during Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
From one hobbling TNT Tropang 5G star to another, Calvin Oftana is hoping Poy Erram all the best.
The Tropang 5G saw a scary sight—just another one out of a handful for them in their PBA Grand Slam chase—in Game 2 of the Philippine Cup Finals when Erram was practically carried off the floor.
Oftana, who’s been fighting through nagging ankle pain since the semifinals, explained that Erram’s state after the series got tied at 1-1 with a 98-92 San Miguel Beer victory on Wednesday night was a point of concern.
PBA Finals: Don Trollano heats up at perfect time for San Miguel
San Miguel Beermen’s Don Trollano and Jericho Cruz during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 2 against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Don Trollano served as San Miguel Beer’s much-needed spark plug to tie the PBA Philippine Cup Finals series at 1-1.
On Wednesday at Araneta Coliseum, Trollano fueled the Beermen to a 98-92 win over TNT in Game 2 that brough the best-of-seven affair to a deadlock.
For Trollano, it was all about shaking off his cold spell from the previous game and building momentum to even the series.
PBA Finals: TNT awaits Poy Erram’s status after injury in Game 2 loss
Poy Erram suffers an ankle injury during Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT is holding high hopes that another injury could be avoided after Poy Erram went down in the second half of Wednesday’s PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Erram was seen leaving the venue on a wheelchair due to an injured right leg during the third quarter of the Tropang 5G’s 98-92 loss to the San Miguel Beermen in Game 2 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I’ll undergo an X-ray tomorrow,” Erram told a few reporters in Filipino while being wheeled to his car.