Big-game experience propels Beermen to another PBA title

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE San Miguel Beermen proved once again that they are the A-1 team in the Philippine Basketball Association right now after adding the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup title to their list of many championships with collective big-game experience propelling them.

On Friday, Aug. 16, the Beermen completed what they described as a “roller-coaster” journey with the midseason PBA tournament championship trophy in their hands after defeating the TNT KaTropa, 102-90, in Game Six of their best-of-seven finals and taking the series, 4-2.

Import Chris McCullough stepped up for San Miguel anew in the clincher, finishing with 35 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

June Mar Fajardo had 19 points and 13 rebounds while Christian Standhardinger had 18 points.

Alex Cabagnot and finals most valuable player Terrence Romeo each had 10 markers.

The win gave the Beermen their 27^th PBA title and fifth in the last eight conferences of Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

But while they are happy and proud of their latest achievement, the Beermen were the first to say that it did not come easy and that it took a lot of digging deep and relying on experience on their part to pull through, hence, making this new championship all the more significant.

“Our journey to the finals was really roller-coaster and we were at risk of missing the playoffs after starting the tournament with a 2-5 record,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria, who is now tied for fifth overall with eight championships won along with Chot Reyes.

“In the playoffs we faced a twice-to-beat disadvantage against Northport but overcame that and in the semifinals had a hard time against Rain or Shine. But the players really worked hard,” he added.

The San Miguel coach went on to say that in the finals they were made to further work by a tough TNT crew, led by best import awardee Terrence Jones, but once again collective experience especially in big games made a difference for them.

“The team showed their experience in the finals. Even if we were down in matches the players’ composure was there and they kept fighting all the way to the end,” said Mr. Austria, whose team won three straight games in the finals after going down 1-2 early on in the series against TNT.

Mr. McCullough had the same assessment of his team.

“That’s SMB basketball. They’ve been doing that (winning through experience) for years. This is my first year with them, but they’ve been doing that for years,” said the former National Basketball Association campaigner, who replaced erstwhile San Miguel import Charles Rhodes after the Beermen struggled off the gates.

Chalking up their second straight PBA title, the Beermen now have a chance to win another league grand slam, something they were in a position to do in 2017 but failed to complete.

San Miguel won a grand slam 30 years ago in 1989.

Mr. Austria said it is a feat they want to achieve but mindful not to get ahead of themselves as they recognize that it will not be easy.

“I think we have a good chance of winning the grand slam. The team and players want it but we will take it one game at a time. There is a lot of work to be done and I’m sure the other teams will prepare and play hard in the next conference. So we’ll see if we succeed,” the San Miguel coach said.