2021 PBA Philippine Cup finals

The 2021 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup finals was a best-of-7 championship series of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup, and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The TNT Tropang Giga and the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots competed for the 43rd Philippine Cup championship and the 129th overall championship contested by the league.

2021 PBA Philippine Cup finals

Team Coach Wins (1) TNT Tropang Giga Chot Reyes 4 (3) Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots Chito Victolero 1
Dates	October 20–29, 2021
MVP	Mikey Williams (TNT Tropang Giga)
Television	Local: One Sports TV5 PBA Rush (HD) International: AksyonTV International
Announcers	see Broadcast notes
Radio network	Radyo5 (DWFM)
Referees
Game 1: J. Mariano, M. Flordeliza, A. Nubla, J. Tantay Game 2: N. Quilingen, R. Gruta, J. Baldago, B. Peclaro Game 3: P. Balao, S. Pineda, J. Nicandro, K. Hallig Game 4: N. Quiliguen, R. Gruta, A. Nubla, J. Baldago Game 5: J. Mariano, S. Pineda, R. Gruta, M. Flordeliza

This was the first time that the two teams meet in the finals since the 2014 Commissioner's Cup, where Magnolia (named as San Mig Super Coffee Mixers during that time) won the championship against TNT (named as Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters during that time), three games to one.^[1]

TNT defeated Magnolia, four games to one, to win the franchise's sixth Philippine Cup (8 years after their last Philippine Cup championship in 2013) and their 8th title overall. This was the first PBA title by a franchise not owned by the San Miguel Corporation since the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup. Mikey Williams was named the finals' MVP.^[2]

Background

Road to the finals

Main article: 2021 PBA Philippine Cup

TNT Tropang Giga		Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots
Finished 10–1 (.909) in 1st place	Elimination round		Finished 8–3 (.727) in 3rd place
Def. Barangay Ginebra in one game (twice-to-beat advantage)	Quarterfinals		Def. Rain or Shine, 2–0 (best-of-three)
Def. San Miguel, 4–3	Semifinals		Def. Meralco, 4–2

Head-to-head matchup

One Sports

September 5 4:35 pm

Box score

TNT Tropang Giga 83, Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots 76
Scoring by quarter: 15–15, 20–17, 24–20, 24–24
Pts: Castro 17 Rebs: K. Williams 15 Asts: M. Williams 5		Pts: Abueva 23 Rebs: Sangalang 10 Asts: Jalalon 4

DHSVU Gym, Bacolor, Pampanga Referees: Nol Quilinguen, Janine Nicandro, Joel Baldago

Series summary

Game	Date	Venue	Winner	Result
Game 1	October 20	DHSVU Gym	TNT	88–70
Game 2	October 22			105–93
Game 3	October 24		Magnolia	106–98
Game 4	October 27		TNT	106–89
Game 5	October 29			94–79

Game summaries

Game 1

One Sports

October 20 6:00 pm

Box score

TNT Tropang Giga 88, Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots 70
Scoring by quarter: 24–14, 29–20, 21–14, 14–22
Pts: M. Williams 21 Rebs: M. Williams 10 Asts: M. Williams 5		Pts: Corpuz, Lee 12 Rebs: Abueva, Corpuz 11 Asts: Jalalon 3
TNT leads series, 1–0

DHSVU Gym, Bacolor, Pampanga Referees: Jimmy Mariano, Mike Flordeliza, Albert Nubla, Jeffrey Tantay

Game 2

One Sports

October 22 6:00 pm

Box score

TNT Tropang Giga 105, Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots 93
Scoring by quarter: 40–27, 26–23, 20–29, 19–14
Pts: M. Williams 28 Rebs: Erram 12 Asts: M. Williams 6		Pts: Sangalang 25 Rebs: Abueva 11 Asts: Jalalon 8
TNT leads series, 2–0

DHSVU Gym, Bacolor, Pampanga Referees: Nol Quilingen, Rommel Gruta, Joel Baldago, Brian Peclaro

Game 3

One Sports

October 24 4:35 pm

Box score

TNT Tropang Giga 98, Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots 106
Scoring by quarter: 20–26, 26–26, 31–30, 21–24
Pts: M. Williams 39 Rebs: Erram 11 Asts: Heruela 5		Pts: Lee 21 Rebs: Reavis 9 Asts: Sangalang 5
TNT leads series, 2–1

DHSVU Gym, Bacolor, Pampanga Referees: Peter Balao, Sherwin Pineda, Janine Nicandro, Kenny Hallig

Game 4

One Sports

October 27 6:00 pm

Box score

TNT Tropang Giga 106, Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots 89
Scoring by quarter: 24–24, 33–15, 25–28, 24–22
Pts: M. Williams 26 Rebs: K. Williams 7 Asts: M. Williams 7		Pts: Abueva 28 Rebs: Sangalang 10 Asts: Jalalon 8
TNT leads series, 3–1

DHSVU Gym, Bacolor, Pampanga Referees: Nol Quiliguen, Rommel Gruta, Albert Nubla, Joel Baldago

Prior to the game, Magnolia's Calvin Abueva was awarded his second Best Player of the Conference award, beating TNT's Mikey Williams and Abueva's teammate, Ian Sangalang, to the award.^[3]

Game 5

One Sports

October 29 6:00 pm

Box score

TNT Tropang Giga 94, Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots 79
Scoring by quarter: 21–14, 26–19, 25–20, 22–26
Pts: M. Williams 24 Rebs: Erram 10 Asts: M. Williams 4		Pts: Sangalang 18 Rebs: Reavis 10 Asts: Barroca 6
TNT wins series, 4–1

DHSVU Gym, Bacolor, Pampanga Referees: Jimmy Mariano, Sherwin Pineda, Rommel Gruta, Mike Flordeliza

Rosters

TNT Tropang Giga roster

• v
• t
• e

Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 5 Williams, Mikey (R) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1991–10–27 Cal State Fullerton C 7 Erram, John Paul 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 227 lb (103 kg) 1989–07–07 Ateneo G 8 Exciminiano, Chris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1988–11–17 Far Eastern G 10 Reyes, Ryan (C) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1983–08–10 Cal State Fullerton F 12 Khobuntin, Glenn 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1991–09–07 National-U G 13 Heruela, Brian 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1989–04–13 Cebu G 15 Montalbo, Kib 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1995–04–02 De La Salle G/F 16 Pogoy, Roger 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1992–06–16 Far Eastern G 17 Castro, Jayson 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1986–06–30 Philippine Christian F 18 Rosario, Troy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 1992–01–20 National-U G 20 Alejandro, Jjay 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1995–04–13 National-U F/C 21 Williams, Kelly 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1982–02–07 Oakland F/C 22 Marcelo, Dave 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 223 lb (101 kg) 1989–02–22 San Beda F/C 23 Washington, Jay (IN) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1981–10–10 Eckerd F/C 28 Javier, Chris 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1992–12–06 UE G 29 Mendoza, Gryann 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1990–09–09 Far Eastern	Head coach Chot Reyes Assistant coach(es) Bong Ravena (1st assistant) Joshua Reyes Ranidel de Ocampo Yuri Escueta Mau Belen Alton Lister Team manager Gabby Cui Miguel Fernandez (assistant) Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended (R) Rookie (3x3) Assigned to 3x3 team Injured Roster

Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots roster

• v
• t
• e

Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 0 Brill, Loren (R) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1997–01–14 Old Dominion F 1 Corpuz, Jackson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1989–02–08 Philippine Christian G 2 Melton, Justin 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 1987–04–07 Mount Olive G 3 Lee, Paul 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1989–02–14 UE C 4 Reavis, Rafi (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1977–07–26 Coppin State G 5 Ahanmisi, Jerrick (R) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1997–10–16 Adamson G 6 Jalalon, Jio 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1992–08–02 Arellano C 10 Sangalang, Ian 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 1991–12–20 San Sebastian F 11 de Leon, Ronnie (R) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1994–02–24 UE F 13 Abueva, Calvin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1988–02–04 San Sebastian G 14 Barroca, Mark 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1986–04–25 Far Eastern G/F 17 Capobres, Alvin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1994–08–19 San Sebastian G/F 19 dela Rosa, Rome 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1990–12–11 San Beda F/C 32 Pascual, Kyle 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1990–04–13 San Beda F 57 Dionisio, Aris 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 1995–07–21 St. Clare	Head coach Chito Victolero Assistant coach(es) Jason Webb (1st Assistant) Johnny Abarrientos Mon Jose Juno Sauler Angelito Esguerra Team manager Alvin Patrimonio Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended (R) Rookie (3x3) Assigned to 3x3 team Injured Roster

Broadcast notes

The Philippine Cup finals were aired on TV5 with simulcasts on One Sports and PBA Rush (both in standard and high definition). TV5's radio arm, Radyo5 provided the radio play-by-play coverage.

One Sports provided online livestreaming via the PusoPilipinas and Smart Sports Facebook pages using the TV5 and PBA Rush feeds respectively.

The PBA Rush broadcast provided English-language coverage of the finals.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the TV and radio panel commentaries except for the courtside reporter were conducted offsite from the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong.

Game	TV5		PBA Rush (English)		Courtside reporters
	Play-by-play	Analyst(s)	Play-by-play	Analyst(s)
Game 1	Charlie Cuna	Richard del Rosario	Paolo del Rosario	Ryan Gregorio	Carlo Pamintuan
Game 2	Magoo Marjon	Ryan Gregorio	Anthony Suntay	Ali Peek	Carlo Pamintuan
Game 3	Charlie Cuna	Dominic Uy	Paolo del Rosario	Richard del Rosario	Carlo Pamintuan
Game 4	Magoo Marjon	Eric Reyes	Jutt Sulit	Tony dela Cruz	Carlo Pamintuan
Game 5	Charlie Cuna	Richard del Rosario	Paolo del Rosario	Ryan Gregorio	Carlo Pamintuan

• Additional Game 5 crew:
  • Trophy presentation: Carlo Pamintuan
  • Celebration interviewers: Carlo Pamintuan

References

1. Leyba, Olmin. "Tropang Giga reach finale". Philstar.com.
2. David Tristan Yumol (October 29, 2021). "TNT wins 2021 PBA PH Cup title to end 6-year drought". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
3. "Abueva runs away with Davco-PBA PH Cup Best Player of the Conference plum". www.pba.ph.

External links

• PBA official website