Tiongson finally experiences playing under semifinal spotlight
Juami Tiongson has spent most of his PBA career competing for marginal clubs. So count on the crafty playmaker to relish—and make the most of—a chance that eluded him in the past.
The 11-year veteran, now with San Miguel Beer, is set to play in his first semifinal series, with the proud club looking to reclaim its lofty perch in the league. And he knows the weight of the task that officially began on Wednesday.
“This is the kind of opportunity you’re thankful for,” he told the Inquirer, just before the 2021 Most Improved Player and the rest of the Beermen took on Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“As a player, you crave these moments—games that matter,” he said.
Tiongson first got a taste of competing in the PBA’s Final Four during his third year as a pro with NLEX back in the 2017 All-Filipino showcase. The Road Warriors fell to Magnolia during that series, and another semifinal appearance proved elusive for the guard out of Ateneo.
He later moved on to join the cellar-dwelling Terrafirma, where he reinvented his game to become one of the club’s foremost weapons. His presence helped the Dyip to a quarterfinal appearance in the last edition of the Philippine Cup, but they ultimately faltered against the Beermen in two games.
Tiongson is now serving the very club that dealt him his most recent playoff heartbreak. But the intrigue doesn’t stop there, as he is also set to battle Gin Kings guard Stephen Holt—the other former Terrafirma ace he played alongside during that memorable run last season.
“There’s pressure,” he admitted. “But I look forward to it.”
Tiongson, who has found a new role with the Beermen—providing spark and stability to a team already teeming with talent—is hurtling toward a chance that is as rare as it is transformative.
While the opportunity brings him closer to what could be a first pro title, he knows the journey will shape him into a better player.
“You learn a lot about yourself in high-pressure games. And you get better, too—not just as a player but also as a person.”
