Despite finished business, Blakely wants to return next year

MANILA, Philippines – Marqus Blakely let out a scream with still few seconds left in Game Seven.

It was all the pent-up emotions that still date back to last season’s failure to capture the title.

“It’s a dream come true,” Blakely told Philstar.com after leading the San Mig Coffee Mixers to 87-77 victory on Friday night to finally earn his first PBA title.

Blakely finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds and scored the decisive baskets and the necessary stops down the stretch to upstage his counterpart Elijah Millsap, who poured a game-high 25 points.  

Mission accomplished.

Read related story: Marvin Blakely’s bday wish for son Marqus: PBA championship

Blakely returned to the PBA this season with last year’s debacle as his main motivation.

“I have an unfinished business here,” Blakely would always say in interviews in the early stages of the season-ending Governors’ Cup.

But the road to redemption looked bleak for Blakely at the start as the San Mig Coffee Mixers lost three of their first four games.

But the 6-5 energetic import could not bear the pain of failing again.

He did not give up.

Blakely led the Mixers to win their next five games and wound up with a 6-3 record that was good enough to land them the no.2 spot.

In the eliminations, Blakely averaged 26 points, 16.7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.7 blocks earning him the monicker Mr. Everything and the Best Import award.

They dodged the Alaska Aces’ upset ax then beat Meralco Bolts in the semifinals to book a return trip to the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals opposite the best team all conference long until the Game Seven.

“Playing the way we did, coming out 1-and-3 (win-loss) and starting in a hole to end up here on top is huge. I just want to thank my teammates, the coaching staff, the fans, and everybody,” Blakely said.  Without them, we wouldn’t be here.

And Blakely had also his father to thank for.

Marvin Blakely, a lawyer by profession, saw his son failed last year and it was fitting that he was back to watch his son complete his unfinished business here.  

“I had butterflies in my stomach with 30 seconds left,” Marvin told Philstar.com.

“And then when we were up by two 3’s (six points), I could relax and exhale. Watching him (Marqus) celebrate was a moment I’ll never forget,” Marvin added.

Marvin was behind Marqus in every step of the way. He was a fixture in the series. If he’s not busy cheering for his son, he’s holding a handycam recording every moment of his son’s basketball legacy here in the Philippines.

Now that Marqus is done with his business here, the question that is begging for an answer is will he return next year to go for back-to-back?

“Hopefully, anytime I’m free and I’m able to come back, I’ll be here,” Marqus said.

And so is Marvin, the ever supportive Dad.

“If he’s not in the NBA, he’ll be back,” Marvin said. “And if he’s back then I’m back.”