LIVE UPDATES: San Miguel vs TNT – PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Game 5

San Miguel leads the PBA Philippine Cup finals 3-1 over TNT and aims to win the championship in Game 5 at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, July 23. TNT seeks to extend the best-of-seven series to keep its Grand Slam hopes alive.

San Miguel secured their pivotal 3-1 advantage with a convincing 105-91 victory in Game 4 on Sunday, July 20, marking their third consecutive win after initially trailing the series 0-1. Jericho Cruz was instrumental in this win, scoring a team-high 23 points fueled by hitting 5 out of 7 three-point attempts. Cruz delivered crucially in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his points during that period.

Anticipating a highly motivated TNT team in Game 5, tensions are high following criticism from TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa. Lastimosa called out Cruz and Chris Ross for showboating, specifically criticizing Cruz for faking a throw at TNT's Almond Vosotros late in the decided Game 4 and for Cruz exchanging words with Ross near the injured Poy Erram after the final buzzer. Lastimosa labeled Cruz as "arrogant" and having "problems," stating "He’s just like a little boy."

TNT faces a significant challenge as their top center, Poy Erram, likely remains unavailable for Game 5. Erram suffered a hamstring tear in Game 4, adding to the ankle injury he sustained earlier in Game 2. The decisive Game 5 is scheduled for 7:30 pm.