Game 1 was a nip-and-tuck battle, with TNT eking out a thrilling 96-91 victory over San Miguel in the PBA 50 Philippine Cup Finals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

 

Despite Tropang 5G surviving the Beermen’s late-game surge, a single rebound or a costly turnover could have easily flipped the outcome of the series opener.

 

With the matchup shaping up to be a tightly contested duel between two PBA powerhouses, here are three key departments to watch out for in Game 2 of the Finals. 

 

 

TNT head coach Chot Reyes openly acknowledged that turnovers plagued his squad in Game 1, with miscommunication and sloppy ball handling contributing to a 19-12 deficit against San Miguel. The miscues proved costly, as the Beermen converted those mistakes into 25 points, causing the Tropang 5G to nearly squander their 19-point halftime lead.

 

Calvin Oftana, one of TNT’s primary ball handlers, was a notable culprit with five turnovers. For Tropang 5G to maintain control in Game 2, Oftana must take better care of the basketball, especially when he's orchestrating TNT’s offense.

 

For San Miguel, June Mar Fajardo committed the most turnovers for the Beermen with four. As San Miguel's primary scoring option, Fajardo’s ability to maximize points when in possession will be key.

 

 

Despite Fajardo’s imposing presence in the paint, TNT outrebounded San Miguel 55-42 in Game 1, proving that dominance on the boards isn’t just about one superstar.

 

Tropang 5G’s balanced attack extended to the glass, with Oftana leading the charge with 10 rebounds. Kelly Williams chipped in nine, while Jordan Heading pulled down eight, giving TNT a clear edge in controlling second-chance opportunities.

 

For San Miguel, the rebounding deficit wasn’t for lack of effort from Fajardo, who hauled in 17 boards—nearly as many as the rest of his teammates combined. CJ Perez added seven, while Mo Tautuaa, expected to provide relief as the backup big man, managed just four rebounds.

 

 

Tropang 5G’s bench came through in a big way, outscoring San Miguel’s reserves 48-27 and proving that depth could be the difference-maker in this series.

 

Three TNT reserves finished in double figures in Game 1. Heading led with 13 points despite being a game-time decision due to illness. Henry Galinato added 12 points in just 13 minutes, while Rey Nambatac dropped 11 off the bench.

 

In stark contrast, San Miguel’s second unit struggled to keep pace. Rodney Brondial led the Beermen’s reserves with 10 points, while Don Trollano had a rough outing, scoring only four points in 21 minutes. If SMB’s bench can’t turn things around in Game 2, TNT’s depth advantage may prove decisive.