Leo Austria admits San Miguel’s bench struggles contributed to its Game 1 loss to TNT

For three quarters, TNT Tropang Giga appeared to be firmly in control, dictating the pace and building what looked like a commanding cushion in the opening game of the Philippine Cup Finals. But as championship basketball often reminds, early dominance alone is rarely enough. When the pressure mounted and the margin for error shrank, it was TNT’s composure, discipline, and timely execution that ultimately sealed the result.

The Tropang Giga survived a furious late rally by the San Miguel Beermen to escape with a 96–91 victory in Game 1 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday, January 21, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The win handed TNT a 1–0 lead in the best-of-seven series and immediately underscored the tone of what promises to be a grueling, tightly contested championship duel.

TNT leaned on a collective offensive effort throughout the night, placing six players in double figures and consistently punishing San Miguel whenever defensive breakdowns occurred. While the scoring was spread evenly, it was veteran forward Kelly Williams who quietly anchored TNT’s performance on both ends of the floor. The former PBA Most Valuable Player finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, numbers that only partially reflected his influence.

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.

Williams’ most pivotal contributions came in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, when San Miguel was threatening to complete a dramatic comeback. With the Beermen gaining momentum, Williams calmly orchestrated the offense from the high post, delivering back-to-back drop passes to Aaron Ganuelas-Rosser for two crucial interior baskets. Those plays stretched TNT’s lead to 90–83, momentarily halting San Miguel’s surge and giving the Tropang Giga just enough breathing room to steady themselves down the stretch.

After the game, San Miguel head coach Leo Austria pointed to the early stages of the contest as the decisive factor, particularly the inability of his second unit to match TNT’s energy and production.

“I think it’s very clear, you know, the first quarter or the first half you know is the culprit. Because we didn’t play the way we played before. They have a very clear game plan to stop our bench, especially ‘yung mga perimeter shooters namin,” Austria said post the game.

#WATCH: THE FIRST QUARTER WAS THE CULPRIT 🏀

Leo Austria laments San Miguel’s poor start in Game 1 of the #PBA50 Finals#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/zCatwAS4gR

📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/BhEvKJS0Ay

— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) January 21, 2026

The numbers backed up Austria’s assessment. TNT’s bench poured in a decisive 48 points, nearly doubling the 27 produced by San Miguel’s reserves. Don Trollano, typically the catalyst of the Beermen’s second unit, was effectively neutralized for most of the night and did not score until the final quarter.

“Credit to the game plan of TNT, they were able to contain our shooters. If you noticed, ang gumawa sa amin ay puro big me. But our wingmen, especially the bench namin hindi sila masyado nag-score,” Austria added.

Despite the struggles from the perimeter, San Miguel still found production from its frontline. June Mar Fajardo, Mo Tautuaa, and Rodney Brondial carried much of the offensive load, repeatedly scoring inside and controlling stretches of the rebounding battle. However, the limited output from veteran guards Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter, coupled with the bench’s quiet night, proved costly against a TNT side that rarely let its focus waver.

Even so, the Beermen showed exactly why they are the defending champions. After trailing by as many as 19 points in the first half, San Miguel clawed its way back with improved defensive pressure and sharper execution in the second half, eventually cutting the deficit to just one possession in the final moments.

“The mere fact na we are able to get that kind of production in the second half, the chance is still there. It’s a matter of mindset. This is a championship game. Every possession is very important, especially in the first quarter.

“I think next time siguro mai-address namin lahat and we should have a better plan. This is a best of seven and we have to adjust,” Austria concluded.

With adjustments expected on both sides, Austria will be banking on a stronger showing from Trollano and the rest of San Miguel’s bench when the series resumes. Game 2 is set for Friday, January 23, once again at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, where the Beermen will look to respond and level the Finals, while TNT aims to build on its early momentum and tighten its grip on the championship series.

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

📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and join the community of passionate sports fans.