Joint Mixers, Boosters dinner

IT WAS way past midnight Friday by the time the victorious San Mig Coffee Mixers were able to leave the Smart-Araneta Coliseum to celebrate their hard-earned PBA Governors’ Cup title.

Game 7 of the title series between the Mixers and the Petron Blaze Boosters started late, ending at about half past 10, followed by the  awarding ceremonies, then the traditional dousing in the dugout.

Not too many people noticed but the vanquished Boosters must have left the Big Dome  more or less about the same time the Mixers did, after dousing their tears under the showers.

From the  Araneta, the Mixers headed for the Edsa Plaza Hotel in Ortigas Center. Curiously,  the Boosters went in the same direction.

Were they also celebrating a runner-up  finish? The two teams converged at the Heat Resto Bar,  along with the executives of both companies and some fans, prompting one diner to ask a waiter  to explain the incomprehensible scenario.

***

“Since nobody knew beforehand which of the two  teams would win the championship, RSA (San Miguel chieftain Ramon S. Ang) gave instructions  to make reservations for both teams for a victory celebration. That’s why the two teams had a joint dinner celebration,” said   Rene “Mang Pards” Pardo, San Mig’s governor in the PBA.

It wasn’t the first time RSA had planned something like this said Pardo. He had done it before for the San Miguel Beer  team and the team from Indonesia which figured in an ABL championship.

If  this particular championship victory appears to be  more emotional than others before it, Pardo said  that’s because it’s more meaningful to certain members of the team like Pingris, who played his heart out despite a painful sprain  and was rewarded with a finals MVP trophy.

Or Tim Cone who became one of the PBA’s two winningest coaches  after annexing last Friday’s trophy to his collection.

Tim and coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan of the defunct Crispa  now have 15 PBA championship trophies each.

***

HOOPVINE: Most people thought that the love affair between Azkal Phil Younghusband and actress Angel Locsin would ultimately lead to the altar.  But after more than a year of romance, word got around that the lovebirds have decided to part ways. Angel has confirmed the report, but would not say what caused the split…..Former Rain or Shine import Jamelle Cornley  is again under detention at Camp Caringal after physically harming his live-in partner. Cornley’s lady love claimed the import stuck a kitchen knife to her neck and she had a small wound to show for it.  Cornley accused his jealous partner of going through the text messages in his mobile phone…..La Salle’s Jeron Teng is crashing show biz, but mom Susan said he’s not a mainstay of the TV soap opera “Got to Believe” starring Daniel Padila and Kathryn Bernardo. “Just guesting,” Mrs. Teng said.