Author: Martin Bolima
Photo Credit: PBA Images
The San Miguel Beermen are headed to the PBA Governors’ Cup semis—barely.
Considered the heavy favorites entering their series with the Converge FiberXers, the Beermen looked on their way to a sweep in Game 3, only to see Alec Stockton and company erase a 27-point second half en route to a scintillating 114-112 comeback victory. Converge then put on a masterclass in Game 4, outgunning San Miguel to send the series to a winner-take-all Game 5.
Then, in Game 5, the FiberXers very nearly pulled off an all-time stunner, even leading 102-101 with less than four minutes to go in the rubber match. But the Beermen made just enough plays to pull through and deny Converge the upset.
Gallent Praise for a Gallant Effort
It was a gallant effort that fell short, but basketball fans sure took notice.
San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent and eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo even paid the FiberXers the ultimate compliment, calling the team a budding contender.
“If they keep that team intact, I think it’s gonna be a great team in the coming conferences or in the coming season,” Gallent said in Game 5’s postgame presser. “It’s young, it’s just pesky. They just like to run, they just like to score. It reminds me of a Rain or Shine [Elasto Painters] team… If they keep that team intact, in the near future, it’s gonna be a great team.”
Fajardo, who almost singlehandedly willed San Miguel past Converge, concurred.
“Malakas ‘yung Converge, ‘di mo sila pwede baliwalain kasi sobrang bilis nila,” he told reporters. ‘Yung mga guards nila shooters. Kumpleto sila, may bigs sila, may shooters. Magiging contender siguro ‘yung Converge in the future.”
That future might come as early as the next conference, where more reinforcements—big men Justin Baltazar, Pao Javillonar, and Ben Phillips—are expected to arrive to further solidify the FiberXers.
Indeed, Converge fans sure have a lot to look forward to.
