San Miguel Beer is back as PBA champion

By Robert Andaya

The results:
Game 1—TNT 99, San Miguel 96
Game 2—San Miguel 98, TNT 92
Game 3—San Miguel 108, TNT 88
Game 4—San Miguel 105, TNT 91
Game 5—TNT 86, San Miguel 78
Game 6—San Miguel 107, TNT 96
(San Miguel wins series, 4-2)

San Miguel Beer is back to where it really belongs—the top of the PBA.

Led by eight-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo, San Miguel brought down TNT Tropang 5G, 107-96, to capture the PBA Philippine Cup title series at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

San Miguel, the league’s winningest team since 1975, defeated TNT in six games, 4-2.

And just like old times, the Beermen celebrated their newest PBA crown and denied the Tropang 5G a historic grand slam for the second time in 14 years.

It was the 30th title overall for San Miguel. 

It was also the 11th Philippine Cup captured for the winningest team in league history.

And more importantly, the triumph enabled the Beermen atone from last season’s heartbreaking finals loss against Meralco.

Since acquiring the 6-11 player from Compostela, Cebu in 2011, San Miguel had won 11 championships, 10 of them under the tutelage of Leo Austria.

Austria, however, pointed to the whole team for their success, claiming Fajardo was playing hurt throughout the series.

“June Mar is not even playing 100-percent,” said Austria in post-game interviews.  

“But because of our physical therapists, our trainers, June Mar was able to perform well. Sabi ko nga before, our strength doesn’t rely on June Mar alone, the players are the strength of the team, especially the second group,” added Austria, who returned to coach the Beermen this conference 

“Look now, he’s the Finals MVP, Jericho Cruz, he is from the second group. We really have roles on the team and we were able to figure out and define the roles,” added Austria, who also moved as the fifth winningest coaches after Tim Cone (25), Baby Dalupan (15), Norman Black and Chot Reyes (11 each).

Added Austria: “Pasasalamatan ko si Boss RSA (Ramon Ang) for the confidence he had given me. Maraming, maraming salamat. Utang ko sa inyo lahat ito.”

CJ Perez also stepped up with 24 points, followed by Jericho Cruz and Don Trollano with ing 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Mo Tautuaa added 10 Chris Ross had nine and Marcio Lassiter had seven.

Cruz was later adjudged Finals MVP for his strong showing throughout highlighted by averages of 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

The scores

San Miguel 107 – Fajardo 24, Perez 24, Cruz 13, Trollano 12, Tautuaa 10, Ross 9, Lassiter 7, Brondial 4, Tiongson 4, Teng 0.

TNT 96 – Oftana 19, Williams 17, Ganuelas-Rosser 15, Heading 13, Vosotros 13, Pogoy 12, Khobuntin 5, Aurin 2, Heruela 0, Galinato 0.