SAN Miguel Beer on Wednesday completed the Philippine Basketball Association’s greatest comeback by rising from a 0-3 hole in the best-of-seven Philippine Cup title series with four straight wins to capture its third crown in four conferences and 22nd title overall.
The Beermen are certainly the league’s winningest ballclub, but if you think they are satisfied with what they have achieved so far in the league, then you’re wrong.
“We’ll go at it again next conference. Hopefully, we can win another championship,” said SMB coach Leo Astria, who couldn’t hide his joy following a hard-fought championship series.
After all, history was made by his Beermen, who made the improbable probable.
When San Miguel Beer completed its remarkable comeback from a three-loss deficit to win the best-of-seven titular showdown with Alaska, 4-3, in the Philippine Cup, it became just the first team to accomplish that feat in the league’s history and perhaps in all of basketball.
Aside from the glory of winning the Philippines Cup for the second straight time, Austria and his wards certainly appreciated the manner they were able to win it all this time.
The history they made was something they will cherish and embrace.
“I said that a miracle was just around the corner and it happened,” said Austria moments after the final horn of the finals sounded. “We prayed hard and we’re able to make history. We’re able to show our talent. Zero-3 kami pero nabuhayan pa rin kami. The players just refused to lose. They really wanted to win this championship especially nu’ng nalaman pa na this will be historic.”
Leading the pack for the Beermen in Game 7 was Chris Ross, who notched a conference-high 21 points on a 4-of-6 three-point shooting, five rebounds and five assists in a performance that validated his being named as eventual Finals Most Valuable Player.
“Even when we were down 0-3, we just kept fighting and fighting. That’s what we did,” said Ross, whose contributions came in the form of 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.7 steals averages in the series. His impact, however, went beyond the statistics with his intangibles.
“I will go to battle anywhere with these guys. I couldn’t have done it with a better group of guys. Everyone believed when we were down 0-3, and it’s just amazing to do it with this group,” Ross said, praising his teammates. “They had faith in me, in my skills, in my abilities. From the coaches’ to the players’ and the bosses’ trust in me, it’s a better atmosphere when everyone has trust in each other.”
With a team like that clicking on all cylinders, the rest of the PBA better watch out, because it’s going to be a long San Miguel Beer dynasty.