When dreams don’t come true
A strange feeling was felt inside the San Miguel Beermen locker room Wednesday night when all players had already granted media interviews or had left the Mall of Asia Arena for their respective homes or gatherings.
There was no stench of beer, no courtside reporter soaked up by jubilant players, a championship trophy or a place in history to be savored. Instead, the Beermen were pondering on the Grand Slam dream that disappeared while also reflecting on a season of success.
“Just because we didn't win the Grand Slam doesn't mean didn't have a great year,” said Chris Ross after the Beermen were given a 104-84 beating by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the quarterfinals, ending their campaign in the PBA Governors' Cup on a sour note.
While Ross preferred to look at the positives, the failed march to the PBA's sixth triple crown remains a tough pill to swallow for teammate Arwind Santos.
“Parang yung tinanim mo, alam mo na ikaw ang aani, hindi mo na-ani,” described Arwind Santos, known for idiomatic comments to stress a point. “Ganun kasakit yun e, parang lugi ka, parang mas gugustuhin mong binagyo na lang, at least natanggap mo na kagagawan ng bagyo.”
June Mar Fajardo, still course for a record-tying fourth Most Valuable Player despite the early exit, could only wonder if such opportunity may come again. Instead, this group of Beermen became the eighth team in PBA history to fall short of a Grand Slam.
“Nandito na kami sa ganitong opportunity, nag-slip pa,” the gentle giant lamented. “Kelan pa ba babalik yung ganitong opportunity? Malay mo wala na next year, malay mo mapunta ulit kami sa ganitong sitwasyon next year. Pero tignan na lang natin yung positive side, nanalo kami nung unang two conferences.”
There's no question that the Beermen was a cut above the rest of championships in the Philippine Cup and Commissioner's Cup. The combination of Fajardo's dominant presence in the paint, the all-around efforts of Ross, Santos and Alex Cabagnot, the shooting of Marcio Lasrival siter had left coaches plenty of headaches.
But the Beermen never got it going in the Governors' Cup. Fajardo dealt with a strained calf early, management decided to replace Wendell McKines with Terik Bridgeman, who was eventually sent home when two lackluster games prompted the arrival of Terrence Watson.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — The total number of medals the national team captured came as a surprise to Team Philippines chef de mission Monsour Del Rosario following the campaign in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) here.
After the 12-day event, PH won a total of 30 medals that included two gold medals courtesy of jiu jitsu fighters Margarita Ochoa and Annie Ramirez, with the same numbers of silvers and bronzes at 14.
“We exceeded the country’s expectations,” said Del Rosario, the former taekwondo Olympian and currently a Makati City representative and secretary-general of the local taekwondo association.
“Whether they go home with a medal or not, to me they are all winners. That’s because they’re the best in our country and they represented the Philippines well in this event,” added Del Rosario.
The total number of medals exceeded the three medals – a gold and bronze in dancesport and a bronze medal in billiards – during the 2013 AIMAG edition in Incheon, South Ko- rea.
The other medal winners are silver medalists Hidilyn Diaz, the Rio Olympic weightlifting veteran; trackster Eric Cray; muay thai fighter Phillip Delarmino; pool aces Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit; bowler Kenneth Chua and the dancesport tandem of German Enriquez and Danella Publico.
The other silver medal finishers are poomsaes Rodolfo Reyes Jr. and Jocel Lyn Ninobla, jiu-jitsu’s Marc Alexander Lim, Jenna Kaila Napolis and Gian Taylor Dee, and the men’s rapid chess team under-23 of IMs Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Paulo Bersamina.
The bronze medalists are taekwondo jins Kirstie Elaine Alora, Francis Agojo and Kristopher Uy; wrestlers Alvin Lobreguito and Jefferson Manatad; kurash grappler Al Rolan Llamas; weightlifter Kristel Macrohon and Carlo Biado in billiards.