Manila, Philippines—During the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippines Cup Finals press conference presented by ArenaPlus, two of the best teams in the league faced each other once again as a preparation for the upcoming best-of-seven series this January 21 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The last time Talk and Text Tropang 5G faced the San Miguel Beermen in the Finals, SMB ended the series in game 6 (4-2) with a score of 107-96 that clinched them the 2025 Philippines Cup title, crushing TNT’s dream of a grand slam championship.
However, at the finals press conference held last January 19, TNT’s head coach, Chot Reyes, said that the upcoming battle against San Miguel is not about getting even with them; it’s about assessing his capabilities against SMB’s head coach, Leo Austria, on more equal ground.
The Tropang 5G already faced the Beermen in the finals twice, and twice Austria walked off with the title because of TNT’s lingering injuries. This time, they are healthier and more ready to battle once again in the league’s biggest stage.
Conversely, Austria said that SMB is more than ready to defend their title against TNT. He considers his bench to have more depth, and he believes it is crucial to have good players starting and coming off it.
“It’s a very important factor, yung bench,” said Austria. “Since the start of the conference, that’s been my goal. As mentioned during the semifinals, different individuals stepped up as the best players in our four wins,” he added.
Another highlight of the press conference is the introduction of the Ramon Fernandez Finals MVP trophy as a tribute to Ramon Sadaya Fernandez, a former Filipino professional basketball player and former commissioner of the Philippines Sports Commission. The Kraken, June Mar Fajardo, a nine-time PBA MVP, expressed his respect to the former PBA legend.
“Dapat lang, siya ‘yung barometer sa mga players. Siya ‘yung nilu-look up namin. Deserve niya ‘yun, walang doubt.”
Moreover, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial gave his appreciation to ArenaPlus for their unending support for the league. “Bago ko makalimutan ang lahat, napaka-importante nito. Nagpapasalamat ako sa ArenaPlus, kung hindi dahil sa ArenaPlus, wala tayong presscon, kaya palakpakan naman natin ang ArenaPlus.”
As both teams prepare for another chapter of their growing rivalry, PBA, together with ArenaPlus, has set the stage for a battle that will go down in history. The only question remains, sino ang mas magiging-astig? a healthier Tropang 5G looking to end the streak or a prepared Beermen ready to defend their title?
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About ArenaPlus
ArenaPlus is the #1 PAGCOR licensed online sportsbook in the Philippines, providing a secure and engaging sports betting and streaming experience. Launched in 2023, ArenaPlus features live streams of PVL, PBA and NBA games along with a wide range of local and international sports.
