Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel’s prestige is taking major damage at the start of its most endearing conference, the PBA Philippine Cup.
The Beermen own eight Philippine Cup titles, the most in league history, and are also seeking an unprecedented fifth straight crown, but their title defense is off to a rocky start as the mighty club split its first four games.
TNT soundly defeated the Beermen, 104-93, on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, and although a 2-2 slate is still a respectable record a franchise like San Miguel frowns upon that kind of mediocrity.
“Who would be happy if we lose?” said five-time MVP June Mar Fajardo in Filipino. “Still, that’s part of our progress and it’s a challenge for us to overcome this one.”
Fajardo then showed the wallpaper on his phone that read “hard times ahead.”
Instead of joining NorthPort in the third spot in the standings, and getting a third straight win, the Beermen find themselves in a three-way tie with the KaTropa and Columbian in fourth place after a loss that could’ve been prevented.
The Beermen were down 11 points, 100-89, in the final 4:06 with plenty of time for a comeback but what transpired until the final buzzer was a horror show that featured no offensive flow.
San Miguel committed four turnovers while Jayson Castro scored on two absurd layups that gave the KaTropa a 104-89 lead with 1:31 remaining.
“They stopped us and their shots just went in,” said Fajardo, who finished with 22 points and five rebounds. “We have to be better, we have to adjust and bounce back in our next game.”