TNT Tropang 5G


The TNT Tropang 5G is a professional basketball team currently owned by Smart Communications, a subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, playing in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1990.
The franchise began in 1990 when Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. acquired a PBA franchise. Under PCPPI, the franchise played under the names Pepsi and 7 Up. In 1996, the franchise came under the control of Pilipino Telephone Corporation and played under the name Mobiline. In 2001, the franchise was renamed Talk 'N Text after the operations of Piltel was absorbed by Smart Communications.
Under the MVP Group umbrella, TNT has two sister teams in the Meralco Bolts and NLEX Road Warriors. To date, the franchise has won eleven championships and one special conference championship. In 2013, they won their third straight Philippine Cup title, and in doing so, became the first of two teams to have permanent possession of the Jun Bernardino Trophy, the other being the San Miguel Beermen in 2017.

Pepsi-Cola/7 Up (Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc., 1990–1996)

was accepted as one of two new members of the PBA during the 1990 season, joining soft drink rival Pop Cola. They were known as the Pepsi Hotshots in their maiden year 1990. Their first coach was Ed Ocampo, assisted by Olympian Bobby Littaua, and the team manager was Steve Watson.
After winning its inaugural game against another expansion team Pop Cola, 149–130, with import Derek Hamilton scoring 77 points, the Hotshots lost all their remaining games in the first conference. Their 15-game losing streak stretched into the All-Filipino, before they finally won over Diet Sarsi, formerly Pop Cola. In the third conference, San Miguel Beermen assistant coach Derrick Pumaren replaced Ed Ocampo as the Hotshots' head coach, and the Pepsi franchise went 0 wins, 10 losses in the season-ending tournament.
In 1991, Pepsi acquired Manny Victorino from Presto, and the team increased its number of wins, but still failed to make it past eliminations in the first two conferences. They attempted to become a competitive team by offering a 5-year, P25 million contract to Purefoods TJ Hotdogs' top gun Alvin Patrimonio. Patrimonio stayed with Purefoods after his mother team matched the offer. However, this did not stop Pepsi from entering the semifinals and finishing fourth among the eight teams in the third conference.
In 1992, Pepsi acquired ROY Eugene Quilban in a trade which sent Jun Reyes to Alaska. The Hotshots placed seventh in the first conference. After the Pepsi "349" controversy, the team was renamed as the 7 Up Uncolas.
7 Up placed runner-up in the 1992 Reinforced Conference. Their import was an NBA veteran point guard, Dell Demps. They were swept by the Swift Mighty Meaties, led by Tony Harris in the finals, 4–0. Prior to the finals, 7 Up and Swift were fined on a so-so game where Swift intentionally lost the match in order to eliminate Ginebra from the finals race. 7 Up was bannered by players Manny Victorino, Abet Guidaben, Eugene Quilban and Naning Valenciano. Quilban recorded 28 assists during a game that year, which is still a PBA record.
Despite getting second overall pick Victor Pablo, 7 Up failed to reach the semifinals in the first two conferences of the season. In the third conference, the team's name reverted to Pepsi, but to be known as the Pepsi Mega Bottlers. They eventually placed fourth in the 1993 Governors' Cup.
Before the 1994 PBA Governor's Cup, Pepsi and Sunkist were involved in a rare coaching trade that saw Derrick Pumaren moving to the RFM franchise for Yeng Guiao. Despite the coaching change, Pepsi's on-and-off performance continued with their best finish, taking third place in the 1994 Governors' Cup with import Ronnie Coleman. In the 1995, even with a strong start in the Governors' Cup, they had a 5–2 win–loss card but never took home a trophy at the end of the tournament.
Pepsi was also known as a hard-luck PBA team because it never found considerable success after finishing runner-up in the 1992 Reinforced Conference. After it failed to land Alvin Patrimonio in 1991, the ballclub attempted again in 1995 to dangle a 5-year, P28.8 million contract to Sta. Lucia Realtors' main man Jun Limpot. However, Sta. Lucia matched the offer and Pepsi had to contend with blue-collar players in Alvin Teng, Dindo Pumaren, Eugene Quilban and Boy Cabahug to lead the team.

Mobiline (Pilipino Telephone Corporation, 1996–2001)

Before the start of the 1996 season, Frederick Dael took over as the new president of Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. A change in marketing priority took effect and the owners mulled disbanding the PBA franchise. To prevent the team from being disbanded, Luis, "Moro" Lorenzo, chairman of PCPPI, intended to sell the PBA franchise to Duty Free Philippines, a company he also owned, for one peso to retain its ownership. If Duty Free would have disbanded the PBA franchise, it would have returned to Pepsi. The sale was rejected by the Board of Governors on a special meeting on January 5 since Duty Free was not majority-owned by Lorenzo. The Hotshots continued on with their campaign in the All-Filipino Cup, finishing last with a 4–10 record.
After the All-Filipino Cup, PBA Board of Governors approved the ownership transfer of the franchise from Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. to Lapanday Holdings Corporation, a holding company of the Lorenzo family. This would enable the Lorenzos to market and use a different brand for their PBA team. Pagemark Philippines, Inc., a company under Lapanday Holdings and Pilipino Telephone Corporation were tasked to find a new name for the team. After negotiations, the team was rechristened as the Mobiline Cellulars.
Since the Lorenzos still owned the team through their holding company, the records of the Pepsi team were retained. Point guard Eugene Quilban and power forward Alvin Teng led the team.
Mobiline acquired the first overall pick from Pop Cola and used it to draft Filipino-American Andrew John Seigle. The Cellulars also drafted Tony Boy Espinosa and signed Patrick Fran from free agency. Mobiline hired former San Miguel coach Norman Black, and acquired 1995 Rookie of the Year Jeffrey Cariaso from Alaska via an offer sheet bearing a three-year contract worth P18.3 million.
In the All-Filipino Conference, the Cellulars advanced to the semifinals but faltered in the Commissioner's Cup with Isaiah Morris as reinforcement. In the Governor's Cup, they paraded Artemus "Tee" McClary and hired a new coach, Derrick Pumaren, with Tommy Manotoc as consultant. Mobiline posted a decent finish in the Governor's Cup but failed to enter the semis.
In 1998, the Phone Pals struggled in the All-Filipino with a 4–7 record. In the Commissioner's Cup, it hired former Purefoods mentor Eric Altamirano. The Pals, as in the '97 Governor's Cup, were eliminated in the quarterfinals with Terquin Mott as import.

Centennial Cup Champions

Andy Seigle and Jeffrey Cariaso were borrowed by the national team for the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. They captured the 1998 PBA Centennial Cup Cup by beating Shell by a hairline, 67–66, in overtime led by imports Silas Mills and McClary, with the help of veteran locals Glen Capacio and Al Solis. However, the Centennial Cup was a special tournament and the title was not considered an official championship.
The records after the elimination round of the tournament was carried over in the Governor's Cup. The Pals retained their winning way and advanced to the finals in a rematch with the Zoom Masters. Mobiline held a 3–2 series lead but lost the last two games to wind up in second place. Mills ended up winning the Best Import of the Governors' Cup.

Asi Taulava era (1999–2007)

Seeking for bigger things in 1999, Mobiline acquired Filipino-Tongan Pauliasi Taulava to man the Pals' frontline along with Seigle. Mobiline started the All-Filipino with a 7–0 record before losing a crucial game to San Miguel. The Pals ended up with the best record after the elimination phase but were defeated by a gritty Barangay Ginebra Kings squad despite a twice to beat advantage on Bal David's incredible last second shot.
The rest of the year, Mobiline was eliminated in the quarters during the Commissioner's and Governor's Cup, while Taulava's eligibility as a legitimate Filipino-foreigner was questioned. During the midseason, Mobiline traded Andy Seigle to Purefoods for veteran Jerry Codinera.
2000 saw some lineup changes for the Phone Pals, as the team acquired Vic Pablo in the three-team trade that sent Jeffrey Cariaso to Tanduay and Mark Telan to Shell Velocity.
Taulava was deported later in the year as the Pals were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the All-Filipino with new coach Louie Alas. The Pals wound up with the best record in the elimination phase of the Governor's Cup. After surviving a quarterfinals meeting with Barangay Ginebra, Purefoods eliminated Mobiline in four games. The Phone Pals finished fourth after losing to Batang Red Bull Thunder in a knockout game for third place.
In 2001, Mobiline tried to acquire Kenneth Duremdes through free agency, but Alaska matched Mobiline's offer sheet of a reported 48 million pesos, and Duremdes stayed with the Aces. The Phone Pals drafted former Manila Metrostar Gilbert Demape, but the Phone Pals, for the sixth time in seven conferences, were eliminated by top seed Shell in the quarterfinals. In the Commissioner's Cup, the Pals bannered Michigan University standout Jerod Ward, who exploded for 61 points in his debut. Later, Taulava returned to the Philippines after an approval by the Justice Department; despite this, the Phone Pals failed to get past the quarterfinals. The Governor's Cup also held the same fate for the Phone Pals despite changing their name to "Talk 'N Text" and having Brandon Williams as import.

Talk 'N Text (Smart Communications, 2001–present)



Beginning in the 2001 Governors' Cup, the franchise came under the control of Smart Communications after the company absorbed the operations of Pilipino Telephone Corporation. The team changed its name to "Talk 'N Text Phone Pals".

Under foreign coaches

Before the 2002 season, Talk 'N Text fired Alas and hired former UNLV coach Bill Bayno, despite numerous calls by the nationalist Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines to ban the American mentor. Although they lost Asi Taulava and Patrick Fran to the National Pool, Talk 'N Text was bannered by Richie Frahm and Jerald Honeycutt, a replacement for an original import. The Phone Pals ended up as the top team in the elimination phase of the Governor's Cup but suffered the same fate as in 1999, when the eighth seed San Miguel Beermen upset the Pals.
Talk 'N Text finally broke the spell in the Commissioner's Cup, led by Honeycutt and Pete Mickeal, when the seventh seeded Phone Pals defeated Sta. Lucia in the quarterfinals and Alaska in a five-game semis affair to enter their third Finals appearance in team history, and the first since 1998. In the end, Red Bull defeated Talk 'N Text in seven grueling games.
Bayno later left the team, but without some parting shots on the PBA when he accused the league of favoring the San Miguel Corporation teams.
In the All-Filipino, Taulava returned to the team after his national team stint in the Asian Games, but the Phone Pals got the early boot in the quarterfinals under new head coach Paul Woolpert, another American coach who replaced the departed Bill Bayno.

Jimmy Alapag-Harvey Carey era

2003 PBA Season (29th Season)

The 2003 PBA Season, a historic turning point for the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals. This year saw the team capture its first-ever PBA championship and produce a rare clean sweep of major individual honors.
​The franchise underwent a strategic reconstruction by injecting young talent and new leadership to transform the team into a championship contender. The team initially started with Paul Woolpert, but Joel Banal was eventually elevated to head coach. Banal brought a championship system that emphasized frontcourt dominance and disciplined guard play
TNT utilized their high picks to secure Harvey Carey and Fil-Am playmaker Jimmy Alapag. Alapag, initially considered a "draft steal" due to a hand injury that lowered his stock, became the team's floor general.

2003 All-Filipino Cup championship

Talk 'N Text finished the eliminations with a 10–8 record and survived the quarterfinals to set up a deep playoff run.
The ​Semifinals vs. Alaska, Talk 'N Text overcame the Alaska Aces in a grueling five-game series, winning the rubber match to advance to the Finals.
The ​Finals vs. Coca-Cola Tigers, facing the defending champions, Talk 'N Text fell into a 0–2 series deficit after losing the first two games. Talk 'N Text rallied to win four straight games. In Game 5, they won a 97–92 overtime thriller to take the series lead. On July 13, 2003, Talk 'N Text closed out the series in Game 6 with a 78–76 victory. Asi Taulava dominated with 25 points to secure the franchise's first PBA title.

​Invitational Cup

​The mid-season tournament featured one of the most controversial moments in league history during a game against Batang Red Bull Thunder on August 13, 2003. Needing an 8-point victory to advance via quotient, Talk 'N Text was leading by only one point in the dying seconds. To force overtime and seek a larger margin, acting coach Ariel Vanguardia instructed players to score on their own basket. The PBA Commissioner’s office fined the team P250,000 and suspended Vanguardia for five games for "making a mockery of the game."

​Reinforced Conference

The team signed Damian Cantrell, who led them to a third-place finish.
Talk 'N Text reached the Semifinals but was swept by Coca-Cola, 0–3. They salvaged the season by defeating Sta. Lucia Realtors in the third-place playoff, 123–106, to end with a franchise-record 32 total wins in a season.
Asi Taulava became the first Filipino-foreign player since Ricardo Brown in 1985 to win the coveted Most Valuable Player award. Jimmy Alapag won the Rookie of the Year honors to wrap up the Phone Pals' incredible year.

2004–05 PBA Season (30th Season)

This was a transitional year for the league, moving to a two-conference format.
For Talk 'N Text, it was a season of dominance and heartbreak, marked by the "Asi Taulava citizenship" controversy and two runner-up finishes. ​The Phone Pals entered the season with a "super-team" mentality, aggressively acquiring talent to pair with their 2003 championship core of Jimmy Alapag and Asi Taulava. Joel Banal resigned as Ateneo head coach to concentrate on the Talk 'N Text team.
On January 9, 2004, Talk 'N Text pulled off one of the biggest trades in league history by acquiring Willie Miller from Red Bull Thunder. In exchange, Red Bull received any two players of their choice plus Talk 'N Text's 2005 first-round pick. Miller signed a three-year, P11.4 million contract shortly after joining the team.
Talk 'N Text acquired 6'9" center Yancy De Ocampo from FedEx Express in exchange for a future first-round draft pick. This move provided necessary size in anticipation of the legal challenges facing Asi Taulava. Talk 'N Text ​signed Allan Salangsang as a rookie free agent from Letran and later added veteran Don Camaso to the active roster during the Philippine Cup campaign.

​The Asi Taulava "Fil-Sham" Controversy

​The season was heavily impacted by the Department of Justice report that cited spurious citizenship documents for several Fil-foreign players.
The PBA placed Asi Taulava under an indefinite suspension just before the Philippine Cup started. This forced the Phone Pals to play most of the classification round without their MVP center.

​Philippine Cup

During this tournament, Asi Taulava was considered by the Department of Justice as one of six Filipino-foreigners suspected of falsifying their documents. Taulava was suspended by the PBA indefinitely, along with five other players.
​Despite the absence of Taulava, Talk 'N Text finished the classification round with a 12–6 record, earning an automatic semifinal berth.
The Semifinals vs. Shell Turbo Chargers, Talk 'N Text dominated this best-of-five series, completing a 3–0 sweep.
On January 30, 2005, Talk 'N Text fielded Asi Taulava in Game 1 of the Finals against Barangay Ginebra Kings after securing a court injunction, despite the league ruling him ineligible due to citizenship documentation issues.
Talk 'N Text won the game, but then-Commissioner Noli Eala upheld Ginebra's protest, forfeiting the win to the Kings. This was the first and remains the only time a PBA Finals game result was reversed by the league office.
Talk 'N Text eventually lost the series 2–4, as the Kings secured back-to-back titles.

​Fiesta Conference

​​Talk 'N Text paraded explosive import Jerald Honeycutt, finishing the classification round as the #1 seed with a 12–6 record.
The ​Semifinals vs. Shell, in a rematch of the Philippine Cup Semifinals, Talk 'N Text defeated Shell 3–1 in their best-of-five series to reach their second straight Finals.
The ​Finals vs. San Miguel Beermen, The Phone Pals used Taulava was once again but this time the league gave the go-signal for Taulava to return and play for his mother ballclub. Asi showed rustiness during the series as the Phone Pals fell short in the best-of-seven series, losing 1–4. Despite the loss, Talk 'N Text became the first team in the new format to reach the Finals of both conferences in a single season. Willie Miller was named as the Best Player of the Conference.

2005–06 Talk 'N Text Phone Pals season

Talk 'N Text acquired rookies Jay Washington and Mark Cardona from the Air21 Express for Yancy de Ocampo and Patrick Fran in separate deals.
The Phone Pals were considered as top favorites in the 2005–06 Fiesta Conference Playoffs|Fiesta Conference]. However, the Phone Pals lost in five grueling games to Air21 in the quarterfinals. During the series, import Damien Cantrell was replaced by former Detroit Piston and NBA champion Darvin Ham. However, Ham did not fit in Talk 'N Text's system, and struggled.
After the disappointing finish in this tournament, Joel Banal resigned as head coach and was replaced by returning coach Derrick Pumaren. The change made some good strides in the early stages of his second stint with Talk 'N Text. With Pumaren using the star players Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag, Willie Miller and mixing Harvey Carey and seldom-used rookie Mark Cardona, the Phone Pals went 5–4 through nine games of the PBA Philippine Cup Playoffs|Philippine Cup].
However, the Phone Pals suffered three succeeding losses, prompting team officials to land Ren-Ren Ritualo from Air21 for Leo Avenido and a future first round draft pick, Don Allado from Alaska for Willie Miller, John Ferriols and a future first round pick on May 8. The move saw the Phone Pals as a potential title contender with the squad boasting a group of star players from their past teams along with Taulava, Alapag, Cardona and Carey. Even with a strong lineup, the trade put the Phone Pals in a deeper hole, losing three more games before a win against Coca-Cola gave them a disappointing 6–10 card.
In the wildcard phase, the Phone Pals did not win a single game in the round-robin format. In their initial game, Talk 'N Text lost to Barangay Ginebra, eliminating them from quarterfinal contention before losing their final two games to Air21 and Sta. Lucia.
The Phone Pals had a shot of taking the No. 1 pick in the draft but they traded that rights to Air21 in a trade months ago, which dealt a big blow to the franchise. Rumors then speculated that TNT management was set to make drastic changes for the team after their disappointing season.

2006–07 Talk 'N Text Phone Pals season

Talk 'N Text released Poch Juinio, while the contracts of Vergel Meneses and Chris Cantonjos were not renewed, leaving the team with only 10 players. The Phone Pals participated in the 2006 NBA Summer Pro League. In the 2006 PBA Draft, they selected Mark Andaya in the first round, their only pick in the draft.
Talk 'N Text managed to start off big in the 2006-07 PBA Philippine Cup, but a string of losses put them beneath the standings. A late surge, followed by a crucial Christmas Day victory over Ginebra, gave the team a 10–8 record and a quarterfinals berth against Purefoods. The Phone Pals won the series 3–1, dethroning the defending Philippine Cup champions by winning the next three games by convincing margins. At the semifinals, they took crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra Kings to six games but they were eliminated by the eventual champions; they defeated Red Bull Barako in the third-place game.
In the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference, the Phone Pals barged into the Finals after surviving a quarterfinal scare against the Air21 Express and upsetting first seed Red Bull Barako to face the Alaska Aces. The Aces drew first blood by taking game 1 but fell behind with a 1–2 series deficit after newly crowned Best Player of the Conference Mark Cardona scoring big. Newly crowned MVP candidate Willie Miller erupted for 29 points to tie the series. Cardona then had an answer when he top-scored all locals on Game 5.
Cardona gave the ball away in the dying seconds for the Aces to tie the series 3-all. Game 7 was a tight affair but the Aces broke through with a Miller steal off Cardona to seal Talk 'N Text's third successive Finals defeat.

The end of the Asi Taulava era

Talk 'N Text was a rising powerhouse team after the 2007 Fiesta Conference Finals, with a star-studded line-up bannered by Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag, Don Allado, Jay Washington, Harvey Carey, Renren Ritualo, Mac-Mac Cardona, and Yousif Aljamal. However, former MVP Taulava's point production dipped when he opted to concentrate on the defensive end. His dismal performance on the team cost him his slot at the Phone Pals roster. On November 26, 2007, the Asi Taulava era at Talk 'N Text officially ended when the prized Fil-Tongan center was shipped to the Coca-Cola Tigers in exchange for Ali Peek and a 2008 first-round draft pick.
Taulava and the Tigers then had a five-game winning streak, while the Phone Pals could only muster a three-win streak of their own. On the final game of the elimination round, with TNT needing to win to force a playoff for the last quarterfinal berth, Taulava and the Tigers beat the Phone Pals to deny them the playoff and instead arranged a sudden death wildcard game between the two teams. With Taulava and another ex-Phone Pal Mark Telan playing inspired basketball, the Tigers eliminated the #6 seed Phone Pals in the first wildcard round.
This led to rumors of team management firing Derrick Pumaren and his staff, but after a meeting with the players, it was decided to defer the decision until after the next tournament, the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference.
However, on January 28, 2008, it was announced that former San Miguel Beermen head coach Chot Reyes would replace Pumaren as coach.
In the 2008 Fiesta Conference, Talk 'N Text had a 5-game losing streak after starting with a 7–3 record to finish with a 9–9 record. This caused them to go through the wildcard phase once again; after beating Purefoods in a fight-marred contest, the Phone Pals dropped at the second wildcard round against the Sta. Lucia Realtors to deny them of quarterfinal qualification for the 2007–08 season.
The team announced a new name for the 2008–09 season, the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters. They drafted Jared Dillinger and Singapore Slingers' Jayson Castro, who had left the team after the team left Australia's National Basketball League, center Robert Reyes. The Texters relied on Mark Cardona to finish with an 11–7 record, good for second place and a semifinal berth, behind Alaska. Cardona participated in the last two plays that led to their Finals qualification, beating the San Miguel Beermen in Game 6. The Texters and the Aces faced off anew in the Finals, this time with Talk 'N Text winning in seven games, thanks to Cardona, Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo's plays down the stretch in Game 7.

2009–10 season

During the off-season, Tropang Texters signed Nic Belasco and dealt 18th draft pick Kevin White to the Gin Kings. They have also transferred Yousif Aljamal and Rob Reyes to the Barako Bull. After a lot of deliberation, Japeth Aguilar finally was ousted from the Burger King Whoppers as he was forwarded to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in exchange for four first round future picks and undisclosed amount of money.
TNT walk out against Ginebra during their Game 4 of the Quarter Finals and they failed to defend their title. As a preparation for the Fiesta Conference they traded Ren-Ren Ritualo and Yancy de Ocampo to the Air 21 in exchange for JR Quinahan, Mark Yee and Aaron Aban. While TNT has 8–2 win/lose record, They traded Pong Escobal, Ali Peek and Nic Belasco to Sta Lucia Realators in exchange of Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes and Charles Waters. After the trade, they had a 7-game winning streak, but lost to their last assignment Bmeg gave them a 15–3 win/lose record good for first place. In the semis, They lost to the Tim Cone mentored Alaska Aces into seven games, due to foul out early Talk N Text's import Shawn Daniels.

2010–11 season (Alapag–Castro-De Ocampo era)

The beginning of the 2010s saw the dominance of the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, who nearly got the Grand Slam in the 2010–11 season when winning the 2010–11 PBA Philippine Cup and 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup, but they eventually were the runner-up in the 2011 PBA Governors' Cup, where Petron was the champion.
TNT won the 2010–2011 Philippine Cup Championship on February 4, 2011, after beating San Miguel Beermen in Game 6 with a score of 95–82. Jayson Castro and his teammate, Jimmy Alapag were awarded as co-MVP of the finals. The team won the Championship in the 2011 Commissioner's Cup on May 8, 2011, in an epic overtime win against Barangay Ginebra Kings in Game 6 of their best-of-seven series with a score of 99–96. The Finals MVP were once more awarded to both Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag. This was the team's fourth championship of which three were achieved under coach Chot Reyes's tenure.
Coming into the Governor's Cup, TNT were heavy favorites as they aimed for the rare triple crown conference. They ended up at first place in the elimination with a 6–2 win–loss record, and added three wins against two losses in the semifinal round to secure the first finals seat, eventually facing the depleted Petron Blaze Boosters in a full seven-game series which started with a buzzer beater win by Petron in game 1. Their shot at the Grandslam was revived when they recovered from a 3–2 deficit to force a Game 7 but eventually lost to Petron, 85–73 in game 7.
2011–12 PBA Philippine Cup
This was the first time that Talk 'N Text and Powerade faced each other in the finals, since the 2003 PBA All-Filipino Cup, which Talk 'N Text won the series in five games.
Talk 'N Text won the championship series, 4–1 becoming the first team in league history to win back-to-back All-Filipino crown after 27 years, since 1985.
2012–13 PBA Philippine Cup
Talk 'N Text defeated Rain or Shine by sweeping the series, 4–0 and winning their third consecutive Philippine Cup taking permanent possession of the Jun Bernardino Trophy, which is awarded to the champions of the tournament since the 2006–07 season.

2013–14 Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters season

In Philippine cup Tropang Texters are qualified in eliminations, finishing with 8–6 record, but lost to San Mig Coffee Mixers in best of 3 quarter finals matches. Before the playoffs started, Talk 'N Text was traded Sean Anthony, rookie Eliud Poligrates and a 2016 first-round pick to Air21 in exchange for Niño "KG" Canaleta.
2013–14 PBA Commissioner's Cup
Talk 'N Text finished the elimination round of 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup undefeated with 9–0 and they defeated Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on the quarterfinals with twice to beat advantage in only first game and they defeated and sweep once again the semifinals against their former rival Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 3–0 to extend the streak which makes them the first team in 34 years to enter the PBA Finals undefeated with 13–0. Their import Richard Howell recorded a career high 30 rebounds, surpassing his previous record of 20, in an 85–72 victory over the Alaska Aces in his first game for the Texters. They will defend their streak as they will face the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers on the best of 5 series in the finals. They got their first loss to the Mixers on the game 1 of the finals but they were able to bounce back on game 2 to tie the series to 1–1 but lost again to the Mixers on game 3, 77–75. Before game 4 started, the awarding ceremony was held which was won by Richard Howell as the Bobby Parks [PBA Best Import of the Conference Award|Best Import] and Jayson Castro as the Best Player and the Texters hoping to tie the series on game 4 were unsuccessful, 100–91, and so the Mixers won the championship and the series 3–1.
2013–14 PBA Governors' Cup
The Texters finished the elimination round of the Governors' Cup as solo top seed with 7–2 record and earned the twice-to-beat advantage on the quarterfinals where they beat the Barako Bull Energy in one game, 99–84. They fought the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in a best of 5 series in the semifinals. They lost the first and second game of the series, forcing a do-or-die situation. As a result, they won the third and fourth games to make it tie the series at 2–2. However they lose to the Mixers and did not make it to the finals, losing the series 3–2. Despite to their loss, the Texters and their fans admired their import Paul Harris for his never-give-up performance for his team.

2014–15 PBA season: Rise of Jayson Castro

On July 9, 2014, prior to the start of the 2014–2015 PBA Philippine Cup, the Texters' former coach Norman Black was named as the new head coach of the Meralco Bolts while the Texters' former assistant coach Jong Uichico was named as the new head coach for the Texters for the next season.
On September 18, 2014, the Texters started to reload their roster, acquiring Robert Labagala from Barako Bull Energy where he was reunited with his former Ginebra San Miguel coach Jong Uichico.
On September 22, 2014, the Texters were involved in a three-team trade, sending Nonoy Baclao to GlobalPort Batang Pier in exchange for Jay Washington, Rookie Harold Arboleda to NLEX Road Warriors in exchange for Rookie Matt Ganuelas, the Texters’ first-round pick in the 2017 Rookie Draft and second-round pick in the 2018 Rookie Draft. Then NLEX sent Kevin Alas to TNT for Kg Canaleta, Blackwater gets Larry Rodriguez and TNT's 2015 first-round draft pick, TNT gets Kevin Alas and 2015 first-round Draft Pick, NLEX Get KG Canaleta in 3-team trade.
2014–15 Philippine Cup
On the opening day of the PBA Philippine Cup on October 19, 2014, they faced Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, but lost by 20 points, 81–101. On December 5, the Texters finished their last game for the elimination with an 8–3 win–loss record when they beat the San Miguel Beermen, 107–101, and clinched their twice-to-beat advantage to the quarterfinals.
On December 12 they beat the Barako Bull Energy in the first phase of the quarterfinals with 105–76 to advanced on the second phase of the quarterfinals. On December 16 they beat the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in a knock-out game, 83–67, and advanced to the semifinals to face the San Miguel Beermen. The Texters fought the San Miguel Beermen on a best of seven of the semifinals and due to lack of legitimate center, they got swept by the Beermen, 4–0.

Jimmy Alapag's retirement/End of the Jimmy Alapag era

On January 9, 2015, the Texters' long-time Team Captain Jimmy Alapag formally announced his retirement during a press conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum prior to the second game of the 2014–15 PBA Philippine Cup finals between the Alaska Aces and the San Miguel Beermen. However, he took on a new role as the team manager.
2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup
As the new Team Manager Jimmy Alapag first move was to bring back the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup Best Import, Richard Howell, as they prepared for 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup. On January 25, 2015, The 37-year-old, two-time MVP Willie Miller, in an interview with InterAksyon.com, said that he has agreed to terms with the Tropang Texters, a franchise he played several seasons for in the past. On January 28, 2015, the Texters won their first game for the conference against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 89–86. On February 18, The Texters made a surprise decision by replacing Richard Howell with Ivan Johnson, formerly with the Atlanta Hawks. On March 22, 2015, the Texters finished their last game for the elimination with an 8–3 win–loss record when they beat the Alaska Aces, 101–93 and clinched their twice-to-beat advantage to the quarterfinals.
On March 28, 2015, they beat the Barako Bull Energy by 30 points, 127–97 and advanced to the semifinals to once again face the Purefoods Star Hotshots, formerly known as San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, last season in a best-of-5 series. On April 11, they beat the Hotshots on semifinals, 3–1, and dethroned the Hotshots. The Texters advanced to the finals to face their former rival the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a best of 7 series. On April 15, 2015, The texters won game 1 of the finals against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 99–92. On April 17, 2015, Talk 'N Text lost to Rain or Shine in Game 2, 108–116, despite Jayson Castro's effort. They lost again on game 3, 109–97 but won on game 4 and game 5, 99–92 and 103–94 and led the series 3–2. However, on April 26, they lost on game 6 with 101–93, forcing the series the finals into a seven-game series. On April 29, 2015, the Texters won the championship on double overtime, 121–118. Jayson Castro was named as Best Player of the Conference and Team Captain Ranidel De Ocampo was named as the Finals MVP.
2015 PBA Governors' Cup
On April 12, 2015, they acquired Steffphon Pettigrew as their import. On May 15, 2015, they acquired the former Jordan National team playmaker Sam Daghles as their Asian import for this upcoming conference. The Texters lost their chance for the PBA Governors' Cup title after they failing to make it to the playoffs, with a 5–6 win-lose record and finishing tenth.

The short-lived Mikey Williams era

46th PBA season

The 46th PBA Season, a landmark year that ended the TNT's six-year title drought. This season was conducted in "bubble" and "semi-bubble" setups in Bacolor, Pampanga and Metro Manila due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
​TNT underwent a significant leadership overhaul by bringing back Chot Reyes as head coach, marking his first return to the team since 2012. Under Reyes, they have won a championship in the 2021 Philippine Cup championship and appeared in the Finals of the 2022 Philippine Cup, However they lost to eventual champions San Miguel Beermen in seven games, where San Miguel was the champion.
Without a first-round pick initially, TNT engaged in a three-team trade with NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Elite to secure the 4th overall pick. They selected Fil-Am guard Mikey Williams, a former NBA G League player, to fill the void left by Bobby Ray Parks Jr. TNT also drafted Jaydee Tungcab in special Gilas draft.
Kelly Williams returns to TNT after a brief retirement, The 2008 PBA MVP, Williams returned to the active roster to provide veteran leadership in the frontcourt.

Philippine Cup

​TNT established itself as the dominant force of the conference, finishing the elimination round with a league-best 10–1 record.
In the Quarterfinals, TNT held a twice-to-beat advantage and eliminated the eighth-seeded and defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 84–71, on September 29, 2021.
In the ​Semifinals, The team faced the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen in a grueling seven-game series. TNT eventually triumphed 4–3 after a dominant 97–79 victory in Game 7 to book their ticket to the Finals.
The ​Finals, TNT faced the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots in a best-of-seven series in Bacolor, Pampanga. ​TNT took a commanding 2–0 lead after Mikey Williams and the team set a Finals record with 10 three-pointers in a single quarter. ​Despite a Game 3 loss where Magnolia overcame Williams' 39-point outburst, TNT rallied to win the next two games. On October 29, 2021, TNT captured the title with a 4–1 series win. Mikey Williams was named Finals MVP, the first rookie to achieve the feat since 2003.

Governors' Cup

​TNT finished with a 7–4 record, earning the 3rd seed. The team initially paraded McKenzie Moore as import but later replaced him with Aaron Fuller.
In the ​Quarterfinals TNT held a twice-to-beat advantage over Barangay Ginebra. However, in a major upset, the Gin Kings defeated TNT in back-to-back games to eliminate the Tropang Giga.

2021 PBA 3x3 inaugural season

On March 19, 2021, TNT Tropang Giga signed Jeremiah Gray to a one-year contract to play in the inaugural PBA 3x3 tournament.

The Calvin Oftana era

47th PBA Season

The 47th PBA Season was a period of transition and ultimate triumph for TNT. It featured a heartbreaking Finals loss, a massive roster upgrade through a blockbuster trade, and a historic championship win that dethroned a dynasty.

​Philippine Cup

​TNT entered the conference as the defending champion and maintained its status as a powerhouse. ​
The Tropang Giga finished with an 8–3 record in the elimination round, securing the second seed and a twice-to-beat advantage.
In the ​Quarterfinals, TNT easily dispatched the seventh-seeded Converge FiberXers, 116–95, in a single game on July 27, 2022.
In the ​Semifinals, TNT faced the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, winning the series 4–2 to return to the Finals for the second straight year.
The ​Finals vs. San Miguel, A classic seven-game series against the Beermen. In ​Game 1, Jayson Castro hit a legendary buzzer-beating jumper to give TNT an 86–84 win. Despite leading the series 3–2, TNT lost the final two games. In Game 7, a late-game collapse allowed San Miguel to pull away for a 119–97 victory, denying TNT the back-to-back titles.

​The Calvin Oftana Trade

​Seeking to rejuvenate an aging roster following the Philippine Cup loss, TNT engaged in a blockbuster three-team trade on September 19, 2022, involving NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Elite. TNT acquired rising star Calvin Oftana and Raul Soyud from NLEX. In exchange, TNT sent veteran mainstay Troy Rosario and Gab Banal to Blackwater. This ended Rosario’s seven-year tenure with the franchise.

​Commissioner's Cup

​TNT signed Cameron Oliver as import. TNT struggled with consistency and injuries, finishing with a 4–8 record. For the first time in several seasons, the franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs.

First Governors' Cup championship

​The conference saw a coaching shift as Jojo Lastimosa took over as interim head coach while Chot Reyes focused on Gilas Pilipinas duties.
TNT signed Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to replace Jalen Hudson a move that transformed the team's defensive identity. TNT finished as the 1st seed with a 10–1 record in the Elimination round.
In the Quarterfinals, As the top seed in the eliminations with a 10–1 record, TNT held a twice-to-beat advantage against the eighth-seeded Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters. TNT made quick work of Phoenix on March 22, 2023, winning 132–105. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the charge with a triple-double, while the team set a franchise playoff record with 21 made three-pointers.
In the Semifinals, Battle of the MVP Teams. TNT faced the Meralco Bolts in a best-of-five series. This was a physical encounter that required TNT to overcome Meralco’s veteran defensive core. In Game 1 : TNT sent an early statement with a 30-point blowout. Hollis-Jefferson anchored the defense, while RR Pogoy and Mikey Williams dominated the perimeter. In Game 2 : Meralco fought back in a high-scoring overtime thriller. TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson missed critical free throws late in regulation, and Meralco’s Aaron Black took over in the extra period to tie the series. In Game 3 : TNT regained control, holding Meralco to just 80 points. Hollis-Jefferson erupted for 40 points and 13 rebounds, while Mikey Williams added 29 points to put TNT on the cusp of the Finals. In Game 4 : TNT closed out the series 3–1. Despite a valiant effort by Meralco’s KJ McDaniels, TNT’s balance proved too much, securing their spot in the Finals against Barangay Ginebra.
The ​Finals vs. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, ​TNT faced the defending champions, who were led by Justin Brownlee. ​In Game 6 on April 21, 2023, Mikey Williams exploded for 38 points to lead TNT to a 97–93 win, securing the 4–2 series victory. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is also the factor on winning the championship together with Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy. This was also triggered the birth of the TNT-Barangay Ginebra rivalry. Mikey Williams earned his second Finals MVP trophy. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was named the conference’s Best Import.

48th PBA Season

The 48th PBA Season was a challenging year for TNT, marked by coaching transitions, participation in international competition, and a rare absence from the deeper stages of the PBA playoffs.
​EASL Participation, The Chiba Jets encounter TNT represented the PBA in the East Asia Super League, competing against top-tier Asian clubs. The team opened their campaign on October 11, 2023, against the Chiba Jets in Japan. TNT played without several key players, including Mikey Williams, Roger Pogoy, and Poy Erram. Despite 22 points from Quincy Miller and 15 from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, TNT lost to Chiba, 93–75. The team ultimately failed to advance to the EASL Final Four.

​Commissioner's Cup

​With Chot Reyes on leave following his Gilas Pilipinas stint, Jojo Lastimosa continued as head coach for the conference. The team initially paraded Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but a neck injury forced a replacement. In a rare move, TNT signed his older brother, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, as a temporary replacement.
In the ​Elimination, TNT finished as the 8th seed with a 5–6 record, narrowly avoiding a playoff for the final spot by defeating Phoenix Fuelmasters in their last game.
In the ​Quarterfinals, Facing the top-seeded Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, TNT held a twice-to-win disadvantage. They were eliminated in a single game, 109–94, on January 17, 2024.

​Philippine Cup

​On January 20, 2024, the franchise announced the return of Chot Reyes as head coach, while Jojo Lastimosa reverted to his role as team manager.
In the ​Elimination round, TNT finished with a 6–5 record, securing the 4th seed.
In the ​Quarterfinals, TNT faced the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a best-of-three series. Despite winning Game 1, TNT lost the next two games, resulting in a 1–2 series defeat. This marked a rare early exit for a Reyes-led TNT squad.

2024-25 PBA season. The Grand Slam hopes

The 49th PBA Season was a historic campaign where the franchise achieved back-to-back championships and reached the Finals in all three conferences. This season also marked the transition to the TNT Tropang 5G moniker and a pursuit of a rare Grand Slam.

Back-to-Back Governors' Cup championship

​The team, competing as the TNT Tropang Giga, focused on a defensive identity led by returning import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
In the ​Elimination round, TNT topped Group A with an 8–2 record, establishing themselves as the league's premier defensive unit.
In the Quarterfinals, TNT faced the NLEX Road Warriors in a best-of-five series. The Tropang Giga showcased their depth, dispatching their sister team 3–1 to advance.
In the ​Semifinals, In the first chapter of a season-long trilogy, TNT met the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. TNT’s veteran poise overwhelmed the younger ROS squad, resulting in a 4–1 series victory.
The ​Finals vs. Barangay Ginebra, A tactical battle between Chot Reyes and Tim Cone. TNT captured the title, 4–2, capped by a 95–85 win in Game 6. Jayson Castro was named Finals MVP, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson earned Best Import honors.

Commissioner's Cup championship

TNT parading Hollis-Jefferson again, the team finished as the 2nd seed with a 9–2 record In the ​Elimination round.
In the Quarterfinals, TNT with a twice-to-beat advantage, eliminated NorthPort Batang Pier in a single game, 105–92, behind the efficient debut playoff performance of Rey Nambatac.
In the Semifinals, Chapter two of the trilogy against Rain or Shine. Despite a more competitive showing from the Elasto Painters, TNT secured the series 4–1. The series was highlighted by Calvin Oftana's perimeter shooting.
The Finals vs. Barangay Ginebra, an epic seven-game rematch. TNT triumphed 4–3 following a cardiac 87–83 overtime win in Game 7. Rey Nambatac was named Finals MVP. While Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was awarded his third Best Import of the Conference award|Best Import of the Conference] award.

Philippine Cup-Gunning for Grand Slam

​On April 3, 2025, the team officially rebranded as TNT Tropang 5G.

The Jordan Heading trade

In a landmark move on June 2, 2025, the PBA approved a trade that sent the rights of Mikey Williams to the Converge FiberXers in exchange for Jordan Heading. This finally resolved the years-long contract standoff with Williams and gave TNT a premier guard to pair with Calvin Oftana.
In the Elimination round, TNT finished with 6–5 record good for 6th place.
In the Quarterfinals, TNT faced the NLEX Road Warriors in a best-of-three series. After a stumble in Game 2, the Tropang 5G won the rubber match 2–1 to advance.
In the Semifinals, The final chapter of the Rain or Shine trilogy. For the third consecutive time in a single season, TNT met ROS in the semifinals. The Tropang 5G emerged victorious, 4–2, becoming the first team in modern history to eliminate the same opponent in the semifinals of every conference in one season.
The Finals vs. San Miguel, Pursuing the Grand Slam even their star-players are injured and with Rey Nambatac out of the playoff roster, TNT fell to the Beermen, 2–4, in a hard-fought series that concluded the season on July 25, 2025.

50th PBA Season

The 50th PBA Season, the league's golden anniversary. The TNT Tropang 5G entered the season as a powerhouse, having reached the Finals in every conference of the previous year.
TNT moved quickly to add versatile wings and frontcourt insurance through the free-agent market. On September 7, 2025, the team signed veteran forward Kevin Ferrer to a one-year deal. Ferrer, formerly of Terrafirma Dyip, was brought in to provide floor spacing and veteran toughness on the wings. TNT also signed Tyrus Hill. Just a day before the season opener, TNT completed their backcourt "stack" by signing Jio Jalalon on October 4, 2025. Jalalon, who was released by NorthPort following a brief stint, provided the elite point-guard defense and playmaking needed to support veterans Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac.
TNT’s participation in the 2025 Abu Dhabi International Basketball Championship, a high-profile invitational tournament held in September 2025 as part of the team's intensive buildup for the PBA’s 50th Season. TNT was invited to compete against elite clubs from the Middle East and Europe at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi. The tournament served as the formal debut for several key offseason acquisitions, most notably Kevin Ferrer and Tyrus Hill. Jordan Heading led the team in scoring during the group stages, averaging 19.5 points per game. TNT faced powerhouse teams including Al Wahda, Zamalek SC, and a selection from the Lebanese Basketball League. TNT finished the group phase with a 1–2 record. Their most notable victory was an upset over Zamalek SC, where Calvin Oftana hit a clutch step-back triple in the final 30 seconds to seal the win. TNT’s run ended in the semifinals following a loss to the Lebanese representatives. Despite the loss, Coach Chot Reyes praised the team's improved defensive chemistry, particularly the rim protection provided by Poy Erram and Henry Galinato. TNT secured 3rd Place in the tournament.

​Philippine Cup

​TNT opened the season with a focused campaign to reclaim the All-Filipino crown, relying on the scoring, playmaking of Jordan Heading and the leadership of Calvin Oftana.
​TNT finished with an 8–3 record, securing the 3rd seed. In the elimination round, highlights included a vintage performance from Kelly Williams, who hit a career-high eight triples in an overtime win against Terrafirma Dyip.
​Quarterfinals vs. Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, as the higher seed with a twice-to-beat advantage, TNT faced their perennial rivals. The Tropang 5G eliminated the Hotshots in a single game, 118-109, using a balanced attack and suffocating defense to advance.
The ​Semifinals vs. Meralco Bolts, a high-stakes best-of-seven series that showcased TNT's resilience. ​TNT took a commanding 3–1 lead after a 102–83 rout in Game 4, despite losing RR Pogoy to a hamstring injury. Game 5, TNT escaped with a 99–96 victory on January 14, 2026. After blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, Rey Nambatac hit a crucial four-pointer, and Jordan Heading converted the go-ahead layup following a steal to book TNT's fourth consecutive Finals appearance.
The ​Finals vs. San Miguel Beermen, a heavyweight rematch from the previous season. In Game 1, TNT averted a 19-point collapse to win 96–91, led by Kelly Williams and Jordan Heading. In ​Games 2 & 3, San Miguel rallied to take a 2–1 lead, with CJ Perez hitting clutch shots in Game 3 to seal a 95–89 win for the Beermen. In ​Game 4, TNT dominated from start to finish on January 28, 2026, winning 110–87. Calvin Oftana erupted for 29 points to knot the series at 2–2. In Game 5, TNT lost to San Miguel, 96–82, after a second-half scoring drought allowed the Beermen to seize a 3–2 series lead. TNT came out firing in the first quarter, racing to a 23–7 lead and finishing the period ahead 29–19. The lead was built on the hot shooting of Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading. San Miguel chipped away at the lead, trailing by only one at halftime. In the third quarter, the Beermen unleashed a 30–13 run that completely flipped the game's momentum. TNT's Calvin Oftana finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds in the losing effort.

Current roster

Season-by-season records

List of the last five conferences completed by the TNT franchise. For the full-season history, see List of TNT Tropang 5G seasons.
''Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage''

Awards

Individual awards

PBA Press Corps Individual Awards

All-Star Weekend

Notable players

Members of the PBA's 40 greatest players