Spoiling TNT’s bid to finish a historic Grand Slam isn’t the one thing San Miguel Beer will probably be fighting for when the 2 proud flagship franchises within the PBA square off within the Philippine Cup Finals.
“They wish to win the Grand Slam, while we would like to redeem ourselves,” Rodney Brondial said in Filipino after being one among the the explanation why the Beermen were capable of come back and beat Barangay Ginebra within the Game 7 decider of their semifinal series.
Behind Brondial, fellow ex-Adamson mainstays Don Trollano and Jericho Cruz, veteran Chris Ross, and naturally June Mar Fajardo, the Beermen roared back from an 11-point deficit to tug out a 100-93 win on Wednesday that sent San Miguel closer to ending its redemption tour the best way.
That has been the theme for the Beermen this season following not only the heartbreaking Finals loss to Meralco within the 2024 edition of the all-Filipino, but additionally a shock playoff absence last conference within the Commissioner’s Cup.
“They at all times say that the all-Filipino is San Miguel’s conference, and we got here up short the last time,” Brondial said. “So we’re really desperate to redeem ourselves.
“That’s why I consider our team and TNT have something to fight for, which makes it a superb series.”
Game 1 is about on Sunday on the Big Dome, because the Beermen get a while to rest and recuperate, especially Fajardo, who endured despite a nagging hamstring injury to register 21 points and 19 rebounds within the rubber match.
It’s fair to say that healthy or not, Fajardo could thoroughly make or break the San Miguel campaign.
Especially because the 6-foot-11 cornerstone sees TNT will attempt to run them to the bottom.
“It’s gonna be tough because TNT plays a running game,” said Fajardo. “But we’re gonna make certain that we will probably be ready.”
It is going to be essential for San Miguel if its depth can over again play a pivotal role like in Game 7, when Ross played with vintage brilliance on each ends while the trio of Cruz, Brondial and Trollano joined Fajardo in turning the tables on Ginebra before a crowd of 12,279.
That quintet wasn’t San Miguel’s famed “Death Five” of past Leo Austria teams, nevertheless it was efficient in handing Ginebra one other playoff heartbreak.
“If any person plays well, they are going to stay longer on the court,” said Austria, who kept CJ Perez on the bench for majority of the payoff period because his lesser light players were delivering.
“They (Cruz, Trollano and Brondial) were playing well and I allow them to play,” Austria added. “And so they were capable of show what they’re able to.”
Mo Tautuaa also had his share in the primary half as San Miguel bucked a nine-point deficit to take a 45-44 halftime lead.
Meanwhile, Ginebra could only lament on what went incorrect despite solid shooting led by Jamie Malonzo, RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson.
And for the second straight season and for seven conferences in a row now, the Gin Kings won’t have a championship trophy to hoist.
“We had the sport under control,” Malonzo said. “We had loads of crucial turnovers and so they were capable of make the most. It’s really a disappointment.”