San Miguel disconnects TNT to defend PBA PHL Cup crown

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The culmination is complete.

No matter how tough the challenges were, the San Miguel Beermen proved that they are still the barometer of the league after successfully defending their PBA Philippine Cup championship title by repelling the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 6, 92–77, on Feb. 1, 2026, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Powered by a momentum-boosting 20–2 start in the opening quarter, the back-to-back PBA PHL Cup kings never looked back and outworked the Tropang 5G—especially in the shaded lane, where June Mar Fajardo feasted and dominated.

However, the Tropang 5G showed some signs of life when they came back and retook the lead, 68–65, courtesy of a Jordan Heading three-pointer at the 1:59 mark of the third quarter.

From facing a 21-point deficit, TNT clawed its way back, spearheaded by Calvin Oftana’s explosive second-quarter performance and the team’s improved ball movement in the third frame.

Little did the Tropang 5G know that it would be the only brief period in the game they would taste the lead, as San Miguel came storming back in the fourth with a demoralizing avalanche led by Fajardo, Rodney Brondial, Marcio Lassiter, and CJ Perez.

The Beermen unleashed their most dominant two-way performance of the entire grand finals series, limiting TNT to just nine points in the fourth quarter while ballooning their cushion back to as much as 17 points.

With TNT still putting up a valiant effort in hopes of a miraculous comeback, Perez officially shut the door after sinking a dipsy-doo layup, which proved to be the dagger inside the final 1:18 of the wild Game 6.

Fajardo was brilliant during San Miguel’s Game 6 closeout masterclass, schooling the TNT frontcourt for four full quarters.

After cashing in back-to-back perimeter jumpers that kicked off San Miguel’s first-quarter rampage, TNT knew it was in for a long night, as the league’s only nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player wrapped up the six-game series with 29 points and 23 rebounds.

Aside from the Cebuano’s legendary stats, Perez also helped steer the ship for the Beermen, dropping 19 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while Brondial continued his magical finals stint with 15 points and 13 boards.

“Thank you sa TNT sa magandang series na ipinakita nila sa atin,” said Fajardo after receiving the Ramon Fernandez PBA Finals MVP award.

“Sa mga fans na nandito, maraming salamat sa inyo. Isang karangalan na makakuha ng Ramon Fernandez PBA Finals MVP trophy. Salamat sa PBA, at sa lahat ng media, sa teammates ko, at sa coaching staff.”