PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) commends the skill and heart of TNT Tropang GIGA for bringing home the championship title at the 2021 Philippine Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) held in Bacolor Pampanga.TNT Tropang GIGA is the professional basketball team backed by Smart.
“We are very proud of our players, our coaching staff, and all the supporting personnel who contributed to this incredible championship win,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT Chairman and team owner of TNT Tropang GIGA.
TNT Tropang GIGA returned to the top of the PBA after dominating Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots with a 94-79 win, ending a six-year championship drought. TNT is also the first team in 20 years to complete the SMC gauntlet – besting Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel Beermen, and Magnolia -- on their way to a PBA title.
“We are beyond words as we have been witness to the blood, sweat, and tears that our TNT Tropang GIGA family has shed for this win. We are also grateful to their very supportive fans who were with them all the way. Basketball has always been in our DNA as a country, and the values that we learn in the hard court are the same ones that we uphold in our daily lives. We could not be happier about this victory and we are looking forward to bigger things for Tropang GIGA,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO.
Earlier this year, TNT brought back seasoned professional coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes to lead the team as its head coach.
“We dedicate this to our management who have been very patient. It’s been six years,” Reyes said in his speech during the finals awarding ceremony. “I would also like to thank our players -- they really put in the effort, they stayed together through the adversity, and this is just a great reward for their hardships. Finally, our fans who have always been supportive, although we can’t see you, we can feel you. I thank the Filipino basketball fans for continuing to support this sport that we love. It’s been a long journey, but I’m very, very proud of the way our guys played. On to the next!”
Meanwhile, PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas also recognized the hard work by the whole PBA management, staff, and crew who mounted the games despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The PBA remained united in the goal to keep the ball running even during the most difficult of times. We congratulate not only TNT Tropang GIGA, but all the teams and players who gave their all to make sure that this league is a success,” said Vargas, who also serves as the TNT Governor to the PBA.
Staunch supporter of sports
The PBA games were streamed on the Smart Sports Facebook Page and the GigaPlay app, allowing fans to watch the games conveniently. In addition to the PBA, fans of basketball and other sports can now watch their favorite events on GigaPlay, a new and handy streaming app especially developed to bring a suite of sports and entertainment content to Smart subscribers for free. Now downloadable on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, GigaPlay especially curated live and on-demand content that are optimized to stream seamlessly on the country’s fastest mobile network.
Smart was recently cited as the fastest 5G network in the Philippines by Ookla®, the global leader in internet testing and analysis. With 4,400 5G sites in more than 4,000 locations across the country, Smart also operates the country's widest 5G network.
Smart has also reasserted its dominance as the Philippines' fastest mobile network for the fourth year in a row, according to Ookla, covering the first half of 2021.
Make the Smart move
Sports fans can now switch to the Smart network by first securing a Unique Subscriber Code from their originating provider to serve as clearance and by bringing it to the nearest Smart Store along with a valid ID and any proof of mobile ownership.
From there, Smart will begin processing the MNP application without any charges. Interested subscribers can also make the Smart move via the GigaLife App, which is downloadable on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
To know more about switching to Smart, mobile users may also visit smrt.ph/switch or head to the nearest Smart Store.
