INSTEAD of pouring expensive champagne in the dugout to celebrate what could have been a season sweep, San Miguel Beer was left pondering what went wrong in its failed PBA Philippine Cup title bid against Meralco.
But for prized Beermen big man June Mar Fajardo, there’s no crying over spilled beer.
“Siyempre masakit ang matalo, pero ganoon talaga ang buhay,” Fajardo said. “Maybe time ng Meralco ngayon, para sa kanila iyong championship na ito.
“I-congratulate natin ang Meralco, maganda ang inilaro nila,” he added.
The 6-foot-10 behemoth, named Best Player of the Conference–a record 10th time–said redemption is certainly in the mind of SMB, which ruled the season-opening Commissioner’s Cup with import Bennie Boatwright showing the way.
“Kami naman, heads up. Hindi pa naman end of the world para sa amin,” Fajardo, the pro league’s reigning seven-time MVP, said.
“May next conference pa naman. Puwede kaming mag-bounce back. Bawi na lang kami.”
The Jorge Gallent-mentored SMB five appeared on track for its 30th crown overall after it rolled to a 10-0 mark in the eliminations, a win shy of a historic sweep, but the Bolts carved out a 95-92 decision last May 4 in Batangas City.
Still the top seed and armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, the Beermen also dropped a 95-106 loss to the Terrafirma Dyip in the opener of the Last Eight a week later that dragged their quarterfinals showdown to a knockout tiff.
SMB got back at Terrafirma 110-91 last May 15 and advanced to the semifinals opposite Rain or Shine.
The Beermen made short work of the Elasto Painters 4-0 in the semis to reach the Big Dance anew.
But Meralco showed it had what it takes to topple a mighty foe, wrapping up the title battle with a heart-stopping 80-78 victory in Game 6 last Sunday night to bag its maiden crown in the pro league.
“The better team won. They were a well-oiled machine. Each game went down the wire, there were no blowouts, so let’s give credit to them,” Beermen playing-assistant coach Chris Ross said.
“Even in games where they felt they should have won, they came back like nothing happened, and that takes mental toughness.”
Ross gave the ultimate praise to Bolts star Chris Newsome, who shone in the series and boomed in the game-winning fadeaway jumper.
“New played amazing. He did everything for that team, he had a 41-point game (in Game 4). He was doing everything, whether defending, making big shots, making right plays,” he said. “He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but that didn’t change his mindset going for that last shot.
“I feel like he wanted that. ‘Make it or miss it, just come to me,’ and that’s the confidence you need when you’re the leader of the team.”
With Asia’s first play-for-pay league set to start its 49th season in August, SMB is healing its wounds but is expected to make a big comeback.
