MANILA, Philippines — Basketball legacies are usually built and determined in cardiac games. Compelling storylines hover over its subjects until the final release of victory.
In Game Five of the finals Friday night, San Miguel Beer had the aid of both tension and drama. The Beermen made their march to basketball immortality after disposing Magnolia in double overtime to rule another PBA Philippine Cup.
Harping about putting their names in the PBA history books, the reigning conference champions refused to let the series extend. Nobody epitomized that better than June Mar Fajardo, who tallied 42 points and 20 rebounds en route a Finals MVP award.
“I'm overwhelemed with what happened in this fifth game. I thought they will extend the series to Game Six. But the players didn't give up eh," head coach Leo Austria said.
"But when the players realized na it is possible (to come back from a big deficit), talagang nangyari eh. I have to credit the players because they kept on supporting each other ... they realized na this could be one of the most important games of their careers," he added.
It took six games for the Beermen to solidify their place in PBA lore. With the title, joined the Crispa team of old as the only teams to have won four all-Filipino conference championships. But this feat will be talked about in perpetuity as it is the only Philippine Cup four-peat done in successive fashion.
.@TheSMBeermen’s @austrialeo on what sparked his team’s comeback. #PBA2018 #PBAFinals pic.twitter.com/COWDMuJEiV
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) April 6, 2018Related Stories
Having been limited to their scoring threshold of 100 points two nights ago, it seemed that the defending champions have been figured out by the challengers. The Hotshots buried them into a 23-point rut late in the third frame.
But their familiarity to the atmosphere, of the physicality, of the stakes, proved to be their best armor. They already knew what to do: Lather, rinse, repeat.
“We’re used to the pressure; the players are used to the pressure,” Austria said prior the series.
Behind Fajardo, the Beermen mounted a blistering run. Arwind Santos, who had been slapped with a technical in the game, capped off that rally with a triple to send it overtime.
Fajardo, having won the Best Player of the Conference award midway in the series, lived to his lofty billing. Even after logging 44 minutes of work, he continued to assert his dominance down low. He had four in the extra period and then eight in the next for nearly an hours' worth of play time.
"He was here earlier than (the others). I think that was a sign that he wanted to finish this series already," Austria said of his ward.
Heartbreaking lesson
As heartbreaking as it was for Magnolia, the loss comes in as a lesson. Chito Victolero himself was put at the helm after never having a winning season as a coach. They just couldn’t get over the semifinal hump in the last three conferences. The experience, if anything, is also a prize.
The Hotshots were heavily seen as the underdogs in the series. Although they had the charm of superstition behind them (Purefoods wins a title whenever they undergo a name change), even if they had holdovers from the Grand Slam cast of 2013, and despite being the one of the two enduring dynasties in the league; on paper, they weren’t just on the same level.
"Kahit ano pang sabihin natin, from the start, wala namang naniniwalang mananalo kami dito eh. But we try. That’s the truth. Baka 'yung siguro kami-kami lang in our circles. Basta we tried to believe na as long as we play our best, we give our best and we play together, we have a chance," Victolero offered in Game One, their lone win in this series.
"I give credit to Coach Chito, they had a good game plan. I know from the start, they are really a contender. Mabuti na lang, 'yung pride ng mga players ko, nag-prevail. Ayaw nila magpatalo," Austria said.
Silencing doubters
Apropos of personnel use, Austria surely will deal with a familiar kind of flak.
Game Five saw the first time four starters saw 50+ minutes of action. The only supporting cast members to see action for San Miguel were Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Brian Heruela, and Gabby Espinas.
But his coaching and his team's performance scripted the best reply to that and to 10,054 in attendance: Success.
And get this, San Miguel's only getting started. They were one series shy from a Grand Slam last season. Friday night's victory affords them the luxury of taking another crack at the historic feat.
Can the Commissioner's Cup begin any sooner?