Reviving the rivalry

Defending champion San Miguel Beer and challenger TNT are back to dispute the PBA trophy in their third Philippine Cup Finals matchup with the seething rivalry between two opposing flagship franchises providing a dramatic backdrop to the best-of-seven series starting at the Ynares Center Antipolo tonight.

- By JOAQUIN M. HENSON

It just isn’t about SMB against TNT. The Last Dance also features a rematch between coaches Leo Austria and Chot Reyes. In the 2022-23 Philippine Cup, Austria won it for SMB, 4-3 but Reyes was absent in Games 2 and 3 while coaching Gilas in the FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window and in Game 7 because of COVID protocols. TNT lost those three contests with Reyes out. In the 2024-25 Philippine Cup, Austria once again clinched it, 4-2 but TNT struggled without injured Rey

Nambatac and Poy Erram was sidelined in three of the last four contests, including the final two. Reyes’ setback was particularly painful as it robbed TNT of a Grand Slam.