BACK in the finals of the PBA Philippine Cup for a fifth straight time, the San Miguel Beermen feel good about their chances especially with the kind of team they have and the road they took to get where they are right now.

First to book a finals spot after closing out the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters in five games in their best-of-seven semifinals in the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association tournament, the Beermen, in search of their fifth consecutive All-Filipino crown, are thankful to be back in the finals but underscored they are not about done.

“We’re so grateful we’re back in the finals,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria, whose team booked a spot in the championship series after a 105-94 victory over Phoenix Pulse in Game Five of their semifinals on April 25.

It is culmination of a tough journey they had in the earlier rounds where they struggled for consistency and played as the lower seeds in the playoff rounds.

It is a path that they hope to take cue from as they play in the finals.

“We give credit to Phoenix for pushing us to the limit. And in the quarterfinals, we’re up against a very strong team in TnT [KaTropa]. Hopefully, we can learn from these two series going to the finals …,” said the coach of the Beermen, who were seeded fifth in the playoffs.

Phoenix Pulse was the number one team while TNT was the fourth seed.

Also having the Beermen upbeat of their chances in this latest finals quest they will be having is how other players are now stepping up for them.

Terrence Romeo, Christian Standhardinger, Von Pessumal and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser played key roles in their road to the finals, providing key support to their solid starting five of June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross and Alex Cabagnot.

San Miguel sees Mr. Romeo, in particular, as playing a huge role, especially if he is playing with confidence at such a high level like right now.

“Terrence’s confidence should continue to rise in the finals and that’s good for us,” said veteran Santos. “We will be tougher to beat if that’s the case, I’m telling you.”

In the semifinals, Mr. Romeo, an offseason acquisition by the Beermen, averaged 13 points a game.

Mr. Standhardinger has been a steady double-double source for San Miguel while Messrs. Ganuelas-Rosser and Pessumal stepped up in the absence of the hurting Lassiter against Phoenix.

As of this writing, the Beermen are awaiting the winner between the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who were to play in Game Seven of their own semifinal series later yesterday.

Mr. Austria said they have no preference between the two as opponents in the finals as they are expected to make it tough for them nonetheless.

“We have no preference on which team to face. Both of them are competitive teams,” Mr. Austria said. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR