MO TAUTUAA LIKES THE FIGHT FROM SMB DESPITE FOILED COMEBACK

ANTIPOLO – That’s how a champion team responds.

Although it lost the series opener of the PBA Philippine Cup finals, Mo Tautuaa was mighty proud at the way San Miguel battled back and nearly pulled off a mighty comeback against TNT Wednesday night at the Ynares Center.

The veteran Fil-Tongan said the Beermen showed their championship poise and resilience after rallying back from a 19-point second quarter deficit and giving the Tropang 5G a big scare going home before eventually falling short in the endgame of a 96-91 loss.

READ: TNT turns back last-gasp San Miguel comeback in Game One

Tautuaa led that big second half San Miguel comeback as he tallied 13 of his total output of 22 in the third quarter when the Beermen finally got into the groove of Game 1 following a flat start.

"I’m just happy with the way we responded. Instead of folding, we made a better game out of it in the second half," he said. "Obviously you want to win, but its back to the drawing board tomorrow (Thursday), and comeback again on Friday."

Tautuaa was part of San Miguel’s starting unit in a Twin Tower combination with June Mar Fajardo and gamely responded by going 7-of-13 from the field including a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line.

He added four rebounds and two steals while not having any turnover in close to 30 minutes of play.

The 36-year-old big man admitted he’s playing with a hurting shoulder that has been bothering him since the semifinals against Barangay Ginebra.

But it’s the finals, and no way will he let the team down by playing through injury.

And it’s the same mindset the reigning champion showed in Game 1 when it threatened TNT at 78-77 on a June Mar Fajardo undergoal stab in the final seven minutes, and 92-91 with 20 seconds left on a two pointer by Jericho Cruz.  

"I know our team has grit. We’re not just going to lay down, were not just going away," said Tautuaa, the 2015 no. 1 overall draft pick by curiously, TNT.

"The morale is always up. We’re always ready, we’re going back to practice and get what we need to do, change what we need to do, and comeback."

Game 2 is set Friday also at the Ynares Center.

2026-01-21T16:15:07Z