Some things never change
Sharing memories of 2016 has been pretty common on social media these days. It’s a way to celebrate nostalgia, a visual then-and-now to show how life has changed in a decade.
For San Miguel Beer, the big picture remained; it was the small details that were different.
Tuesday will mark the 10th year since San Miguel Beer pulled off what many thought was impossible. It was on Feb. 3, 2016, when the Beermen beat the Alaska Aces in Game 7 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals to complete a historic comeback from a 0-3 deficit.
“That was 10 years ago?” Chris Ross, named PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player in that series, said when told about the anniversary of the incredible turnaround dubbed the “Beeracle.”
That was the second of San Miguel’s run of five consecutive championships in the PBA’s most prestigious conference, which many still call by its old name, the All-Filipino.
The Beermen missed a few Philippine Cups between then and now, but they remain a model of consistency as witnessed on Sunday, when they finished off the TNT Tropang 5G at the Mall of Asia Arena with a 92-77 triumph in Game 6 of their title series.
It was San Miguel’s eighth Philippine Cup triumph in the last 11 editions, a dominant run anchored by June Mar Fajardo, whose 29 points and 23 rebounds made him a cinch to win the PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player and first recipient of the Ramon Fernandez trophy.
“I mean, it all starts with the big fellow, right?” Ross said. “He’s the standard and it trickles down. As long as we’re healthy, we feel like whenever we’re on the court, we feel like we have a chance to win. No matter what our age is, we just have that confidence in each other. The newer guys are starting to learn how to win games and be there.”
‘Stay greedy’
Players have come and gone during the past decade. Ross, Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter have seen two members of their feared “Death Five” leave: Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot, although both dropped by for a few games to cheer on their friends.
Now, San Miguel has the guys who play the supporting cast for Fajardo, names like CJ Perez, Jericho Cruz, Mo Tautuaa, Don Trollano, Rodney Brondial, Kris Rosales, Juami Tiongson and Drei Cahilig, who in the past have tried—but failed—to beat the Beermen when they were on opposing teams.
“That’s a testament to management, putting the right pieces with us that will fit,” said Ross. “And it’s also a testament to those guys. They were star players on their team and they know they have to fit into a role [with San Miguel].
“They know they have to be themselves. It’s a testament to them, it’s a testament to our team. I’m hoping that we continue to build over the last 12 years and I’m excited to see where we go from here.”
San Miguel had new faces, new finals heroes and new challenges in their latest title since that memorable win 10 years ago.
But some things remain the same.
As in 2016, San Miguel heads into the Commissioner’s Cup in a position to compete for the Grand Slam, the only feat that has eluded the Fajardo era of the league’s most successful franchise.
Getting an import who could complement the team will be one of the keys. Staying hungry for more glory will also be crucial.
“Sometimes when we win, there’s a time to get complacent,” Ross said. “But we want to stay hungry. Like Juami always tells me, he says, ‘Let’s stay greedy, let’s keep winning.’”
