PBA Philippine Cup Quarterfinals: June 21, 2025 – Do-or-Die showdowns

The 2025 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals continue today, June 21, with two highly anticipated do-or-die Game 2 matchups at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. After thrilling openers where the lower-seeded teams forced rubber matches, the stakes couldn’t be higher as TNT Tropang Giga battles the Magnolia Hotshots, and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters face off against the NLEX Road Warriors.

Both games are scheduled as “if necessary” contests, meaning the lower-seeded teams successfully overcame the twice-to-beat advantage of their higher-ranked opponents in Game 1. This sets the stage for an intense Saturday, with only two teams advancing to the semifinals.

Game 1: TNT Tropang Giga vs. Magnolia Hotshots (5:00 PM PST)

The TNT Tropang Giga, the sixth seed, will once again go head-to-head with the third-seeded Magnolia Hotshots. TNT enters this Game 2 with immense momentum after surviving a nail-biting Game 1, defeating Magnolia by a slim margin to keep their Grand Slam bid alive.

• TNT’s Outlook: Led by the explosive RR Pogoy, who delivered a 30-point performance in Game 1, TNT has shown remarkable resilience. They fought back from a double-digit deficit in the opener, with key contributions from Calvin Oftana, Kelly Williams, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser. 

Their ability to execute in the clutch and their hunger for a rare Grand Slam will be their driving force. Coach Chot Reyes emphasized their determination to play on Saturday, having already set their practice schedule with a Game 2 in mind.

• Magnolia’s Outlook: The Hotshots, armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, surprisingly fell in Game 1. They will be looking to bounce back with ferocity, leaning on players like Paul Lee, Zav Lucero, and William Navarro. 

Magnolia will need to shore up their defense and find consistent offensive rhythm to prevent TNT from ending their Philippine Cup campaign prematurely. This is uncharted territory for them in this series, as they now face a win-or-go-home situation despite being the higher seed.

This promises to be a battle of wills, with TNT aiming to continue their improbable run and Magnolia desperate to avoid a shocking exit.

Tropa survive tough game, stay in chase of slamhttps://t.co/dFedgDxiWk

— PBA (@pbaconnect) June 18, 2025

Game 2: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. NLEX Road Warriors (7:30 PM PST)

In the second do-or-die encounter of the day, the seventh-seeded Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will challenge the second-seeded NLEX Road Warriors. Rain or Shine pulled off an upset in Game 1, forcing this sudden-death match.

• Rain or Shine’s Outlook: The Elasto Painters are riding high on confidence after their Game 1 victory, where Jhonard Clarito delivered a monstrous 20-point, 21-rebound performance to keep their season alive. 

This “buwis-buhay” (risk-life) effort epitomizes Rain or Shine’s determination. They will rely on their gritty defense and collective effort to once again upset the Road Warriors and secure a spot in the semifinals.

• NLEX’s Outlook: The NLEX Road Warriors, who held the twice-to-beat advantage, will be keen to avoid a repeat of Game 1. Led by Robert Bolick, NLEX needs to re-establish their dominance and take care of business on their home court. 

They will need to contain Clarito and the rest of the Elasto Painters’ energized squad to prevent an early elimination.

Clarito, ROS send quarterfinals duel versus NLEX to sudden-deathhttps://t.co/rA35yNz0P3

— PBA (@pbaconnect) June 18, 2025

This matchup is set to be a test of mental fortitude and execution under pressure, with both teams fighting for their tournament lives.

Basketball fans can expect a thrilling Saturday packed with high-stakes action as two more teams punch their tickets to the semifinals of the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup.

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