San Miguel denies history anew. The Beermen once again crushed TNT Tropang 5G's Grand Slam dreams, pulling off a commanding 107-96 victory in Game 6 of the finals to capture the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup crown.
The win not only gave another Philippine Cup championship but also served as sweet redemption after falling short in last year's finals to the Meralco Bolts.
This latest championship is San Miguel's 30th overall and 11th in the Philippine Cup, solidifying their status as the league's most decorated franchise. Their mastery over TNT continues, now boasting a 6-1 record in finals matchups against their longtime rivals.
Back at the helm, head coach Leo Austria reminded everyone why he's one of the PBA's greatest minds.
Austria clinched his 10th title with San Miguel, steering a core led by June Mar Fajardo, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter -- pillars of the legendary "Death Five" era -- back to the summit.
San Miguel's championship DNA once again proved too much for a TNT side chasing history.
Jericho Cruz was hailed as the Finals MVP with averages of 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in six games.
From the onset, both teams looked determined to impose their styles of play.
TNT leaned on its perimeter-oriented offense, which clicked early behind Calvin Oftana's hot hand -- scoring 14 quick points in the first quarter. San Miguel, meanwhile, kept things simple but brutal, attacking relentlessly inside and exploiting their size advantage in the paint.
With San Miguel nursing just a five-point lead at halftime, the second half became a battle of control -- who could dictate the tempo, pace, and shot quality. That battle was decisively won by San Miguel. Their commitment to generating consistent paint touches -- whether through post-ups, duck-ins, or drives - opened up clean looks and eventually broke the game wide open.
CJ Perez rose to the occasion with his most assertive performance of the series, relentlessly attacking downhill and creating off the dribble. He finished with 24 points, six assists, and three rebounds on an ultra-efficient 78.3 TS%.
Cruz was equally instrumental -- bringing energy on both ends, knocking down timely shots, and acting as a secondary playmaker. His 13 points, six assists and four rebounds underscored his all-around impact, especially when TNT's defense overcommitted on Perez or Fajardo.
The real separation, however, was in the rebounding battle.
San Miguel pounded the glass for a massive 48-25 edge, including a 17-8 advantage on offensive boards that led to multiple second-chance points.
Fajardo was dominant as ever, nearly flawless from the field with 24 points on 11-of-12 shooting, while also grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing three assists. Mo Tautuaa complemented him seamlessly, contributing 10 points on 62.5% shooting.
Their interior synergy gave TNT fits -- when one drew a post touch, the other hovered in the dunker spot, forcing TNT into single coverage situations with minimal help. That spacing and timing allowed San Miguel's bigs to operate with precision and power.
TNT, meanwhile, looked worn down -- both physically and mentally. Their defensive rotations grew slower as San Miguel's offensive pressure kept hammering away at the rim. All five of TNT's starters still managed to score in double figures, showing their competitive spirit, and Almond Vosotros gave a solid lift off the bench with 13 points.
But the fatigue from a long, injury-riddled campaign was evident. They simply couldn't match San Miguel's depth and inside presence for a full 48 minutes.
Even though TNT came just two wins short of completing a historic Grand Slam, there's nothing to hang their heads about.
Their Philippine Cup run was a testament to resilience, grit, and heart. They fought through brutal injuries, played without multiple key players, and still reached the finals with a chance to make history.
In the end, it wasn't a lack of will or talent that ended the run -- but the toll of a long, punishing season. And for that, TNT leaves with pride, battle scars, and the respect of a league that saw them give everything they had.