SMB deserves one for the ages

From 0-3 to 4-3. Never been done. Will most likely never be done again for a long time. But for San Miguel to be the first team to do it in PBA history is rightful and deserving. If a team had to achieve this rare feat, it had to be San Miguel Beer and no other. No other firm or product has so much history, heritage and tradition, all rolled into one. Isn’t San Miguel a brand with which all Pinoys can relate? Isn’t it the “pambansang beer,” the flagship of all beers in the country? At the end of the series, how did both sides celebrate one side and cry in misery on the other? My guess is that they did it with San Miguel Pale Pilsen, San Mig Light or Red Horse; maybe all of the above?

Going beyond statistics and the Xs and Os of basketball, fate somehow found San Miguel at the right place at the right time. Overcoming the 0-3 deficit to score the 4-3 win was ripe only for a brand that deserved it. And we’re not talking about basketball here. We’re talking about a brand that has dominated the beer market ever since it was launched. It’s one of only a few brands that has built a monopoly of sorts in its field. All other competitors can’t even create a dent on San Miguel’s market shares. When looking at the market on a per product or variant basis, the beers competing among themselves are Pale Pilsen, San Mig Light and Red Horse. My guesstimate is that these three control up to 90  percent of the beer market. Am I right or am I right Mr. AC Nielsen? When the bars and restaurants across the country were filled with people on that Game 7 night, what were they drinking? When fathers watched Game 7 on TV, what was the partner of their “pulutan” of peanuts (while their wives watched Probinsyano on the other channel)?

Among other factors, history was also on San Miguel’s side. It’s the only team that has lasted since the inception of the PBA in 1975 (correct me if I’m wrong here). Its rich basketball tradition has carried on, being the team with most number of PBA championships in league history with 22. Thanks to Wikipedia, we traced that among the team names it carried in the past were Royal Tru-Orange (1975–1980), Gold Eagle Beermen (1984), Magnolia Ice Cream Makers (1985, 1987), Magnolia Quench Plus (1985), Magnolia Cheese Makers (1986), Magnolia Beverage Masters (2007–2008), Petron Blaze Boosters (2011–2014), San Miguel Beermen (1981–1983, 1987–2007, 2008–2011, 2014–present). Could you imagine a team recording the 0-3 to 4-3 feat with a name outside of San Miguel? I’m sure that wouldn’t happen. San Miguel’s relationship with the PBA is so deep that they once had four teams playing at the same time. They’re now down to three (San Miguel, Barangay Ginebra and Star). There was even talk that they were the “silent owners” of the Air 21/Barako Bull franchise before Phoenix came on board this year. After Game 6, everything was just pointing to destiny and fate. Again, no Xs and Os here. The team that would win would be the team that deserved it, not only from a technical standpoint, but from a historical vantage point as well.

I just feel bad for Alaska. They also deserved to win the title but somehow, fate didn’t allow it. It was a simple case of San Miguel deserving it more. From a historical side, Alaska is the third oldest franchise behind SMB and Barangay Ginebra, having joined the PBA in 1986. With 14 titles, they are number two among the teams with the most number of PBA championships next to, you guessed it again, San Miguel. Ginebra and Talk N Text are tied for third with eight championships each. With only one team in the league against San Miguel and the MVP group’s three teams each, Alaska has stood tall and matched-up well against the rest of the league. Its President Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr. (who traces his roots to Cebu), is an avid sportsman and is hands-on with his team. Its management and coaching staff are well-respected; their dress shirt and neckties being their sacred ID and branding. Remember the team Hills Brothers (coffee)? That was once Alaska’s team name. They also hold the record for having the coach with the longest tenure with one team in Tim Cone, who is ironically now coaching Barangay Ginebra after a short stint with Purefoods/Star. Norman Black once played for Alaska before he coached San Miguel, moved to Ateneo and then the MVP group’s PBA teams. Chot Reyes was once an assistant at Alaska before moving to San Miguel and then on to the MVP group. Hmm, notice the trend?

On a Cebuano note, we’re happy that June Mar Fajardo recovered in time to make an impact on the series. He may not have been 100 percent, but his presence was literally huge in the series, making San Miguel a better team in Games 5, 6 and 7. Brian Heruela also deserves special mention for the quality time that he gave off the bench, even if this was limited. Having to play behind Alex Cabagnot and Finals MVP Chris Ross in the depth chart was his “dilemma” but he’ll have his time. For the likeable Dondon Hontiveros, this had to be a tough pill to swallow. The former SMB wingman is slowly but surely about to end his career, and another championship after a stint with Gilas Pilipinas would’ve been a perfect way to call it a day. But the big Coach up there probably has something else in mind for the Cebuano hotshot and I’m sure he recognizes this.

There couldn’t have been a tighter finals series with both teams deserving to win the championship. And it was between the two oldest franchises of the league, teams with a lot of history, heritage and tradition. But there could only be one. Iba (talaga) ang may pinagsamahan. Kini ang beer!