To spoil TNT’s attempt to finish a great historic slam is not the only thing for that beer from San Miguel is behind when the two proud flagship franchises of the PBA square in the Filippine Cup final.
“They want to win the Grand Chelem, while we want to buy ourselves,” said Rodney Brondial in Philippin after being one of the reasons why the Beermen were able to return and beat Barangay Ginebra in the decision of match 7 of their semi-final series.
Behind Brondial, his other ex-Adamson Mainstays Don Trollano and Jericho Cruz, the veteran Chris Ross, and of course June Mar Fajardo, the Beermen fell with an 11-point deficit to win a 100-93 Wednesday victory which sent San Miguel closer to the end of his visit to the good way.
This was the theme of the Beermen this season after not only the heartbreaking defeat of the finals against Meralco during the 2024 edition of the All Filipino, but also a conference of absence of playoffs in the commissioner’s cup.
“They still say that the all-filino is the San Miguel conference, and we failed the last time,” said Brondial. “So we are really impatient to redeem ourselves.
“This is why I think our team and TNT have something to fight, which makes it a good series.”
Match 1 takes place on Sunday at the Big Dome, while the Beermen have time to rest and recover, in particular Fajardo, who endured despite an injury to the nagging hamstrings to record 21 points and 19 rebounds in the rubber match.
It’s just to say healthy or not, Fajardo could very well do or break the San Miguel campaign.
Especially since the 6 -feet corners of 11 inch sees TNT will try to run them on the ground.
“It’s going to be difficult because TNT plays a racing game,” said Fajardo. “But we will make sure that we will be ready.”
It will be important for San Miguel if its depth can once again play a central role as in match 7, when Ross played with a vintage shine at both ends while the trio of Cruz, Brondial and Trollano joined Fajardo to turn the tables on Ginebra before a crowd of 12,279.
This quintet was not the famous “Death Five” of San Miguel of the past of Léo Austria, but it was effective in Ginebra another eliminatory sorrow.
“If someone plays well, he will stay longer on the field,” said Austria, who kept CJ Perez on the bench during the majority of the payment period because his less light light players delivered.
“They (Cruz, Trollano and Brondial) played well and I let them play,” added Austria. “And they were able to show what they are capable of.”
Mo Tautuaa also had his share in the first half while San Miguel put a deficit of nine points to take a 45-44 advance at half-time.
Meanwhile, Ginebra could only deplore what is wrong despite a solid shot led by Jamie Malonzo, RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson.
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And for the second consecutive season and for seven consecutive conferences now, the Gin Kings will not have a championship trophy to hoist.
“We had the match under control,” said Malonzo. “We had a lot of crucial turnover and they were able to take advantage of it. It’s really a disappointment. “
