“Have some pride”: Rensy Bajar sparks Titan Ultra stunner over champs San Miguel

For Titan Ultra, the turnaround didn’t begin with tactics—it began with a message. New head coach Rensy Bajar challenged his players to look inward, to rediscover something deeper than schemes and adjustments. Against the defending champions San Miguel Beermen, that challenge finally translated into something tangible—a stunning 119-112 victory in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center.

Coming off two demoralizing losses by an average of 30.5 points, the Giant Risers entered the game with little external expectation. Internally, however, the tone had already been set.

“Challenge lang namin siguro, especially sa akin challenge ko sa mga players, have some pride. Number one on their jobs, on this team, because this Titan team can beat anybody,” related Bajar, still an assistant when SMB gave Titan a 41-point beatdown in the last Philippine Cup.

That belief showed from the opening stretch, as Titan Ultra dictated pace and attacked with confidence. Joshua Munzon led the charge with 29 points, while import Michael Gilmore battled through foul trouble to deliver 28 points and 13 rebounds. More than the numbers, though, it was the team’s collective poise that stood out, especially when momentum began to shift.

After falling behind by as much as 21, San Miguel clawed its way back into the contest, trimming the deficit to just four points twice in the fourth quarter. Each time the Beermen threatened, Titan responded with timely execution. Munzon delivered seven of his 11 fourth-quarter points in the final 5:54, steadying the team and keeping control within reach.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

FIRST ULTRA WIN

Joshua Munzon and the Titan Ultra Giant Risers score their first win in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup after surviving San Miguel’s late rally.#PBA50 #PBA50LID pic.twitter.com/k0sQuIeQVt

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) March 21, 2026

Bajar believed the opportunity had always been there—his team simply needed to recognize and seize it.

“So ang gameplan lang namin, since San Miguel is coming off a championship last conference siguro medyo nasa cloud nine pa sila tsaka at the same time medyo kumbaga baka hindi pa nila kami sineryoso,” added Bajar. “So iyun nga, tinake advantage lang namin ‘yung opportunity that San Miguel gave us.”

For Munzon, the result was not just about pulling off an upset, but about proving a point.

“We just wanted to show that we could compete,” said Munzon. “Tonight we showed that we could compete in this league and we could compete against anybody.”

On the other side, San Miguel looked far from the dominant squad that ruled the previous conference. Turnovers disrupted their rhythm, committing 21 overall, while cold shooting in the first half left them chasing the game early. Import Marcus Lee struggled throughout, finishing with just four points on 1-of-4 shooting, forcing the Beermen to rely on an all-Filipino lineup down the stretch.

CJ Perez tried to spark a comeback with 27 points after a quiet start, while Don Trollano added 21. Mo Tautuaa and June Mar Fajardo contributed 18 and 15 points, respectively, with Fajardo also hauling down 17 rebounds. Still, the damage had already been done, particularly during Titan’s explosive 41-point third quarter that created the cushion they would ultimately protect.

For Titan Ultra, the victory carried meaning beyond the final score. It was a response to their early struggles, a rejection of the narrative built around their lopsided losses, and, most importantly, an answer to their coach’s challenge. On this night, pride wasn’t just emphasized—it was embodied.

Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

  Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!