San Miguel def Meralco, 100-89 [SF Game 7 | Season 47 PH Cup | August 17, 2022]

A classic begging for a repeat was the TNT-SMB Final Four face-off in the PBA Philippine Cup last year.

Here comes the encore — in the stage where the stakes are most precious.

The Beermen will tangle with the Tropang Giga in PBA Season 47 All-Filipino Last Dance, arranging the highly anticipated date following a 100-89 conquest of the Meralco Bolts in a Game 7 decider of their semis series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.

Marcio Lassiter started the game with a booming trey, then June Mar Fajardo struck underneath the basket, and the Beermen dominated the Bolts all night en route to making the best-of-seven finals with a chance to reclaim glory in the tourney where they had a great domination from 2015 to 2019.

“Nag-struggle kami early in the tournament because of injuries. Nakapag No. 1 pa rin sa elims, at nakalusot sa quarters at sa semis, but not yet finished. In a tournament, hindi nakikilala ang second place. We have to win the championship to be able to make a legacy,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

The title playoff begins Sunday at the Big Dome with the Tropang Giga on the end of the floor, looking to defend the PBA crown jewel they won over the Magnolia Hotshots in the Bacolor bubble last year.

It will be the sixth title playoff between SMB and TNT, but only the second in the Philippine Cup. The Beermen are up 4-1 in their finals matchups, but the Tropa were triumphant in their lone all-Filipino tiff in the 2010-11 season.