For unwavering support, Mixers give back to fans in victory party

San Mig Coffee players, officials and fans at the victory party held Thursday night at San Miguel Corporation compound in Ortigas Business Center in Mandaluyong City. CELEST FLORES/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The unwavering support of the fans, from San Mig Coffee’s dismal start all the way to the championship, didn’t go unnoticed.

The Mixers’ organization gave back to their loyal fans, who helped them rally in the PBA Philippine Cup, Thursday night in a victory party held at the San Miguel Corporation compound in Ortigas.

The impact of the fans on San Mig’s campaign was not lost on head coach Tim Cone as the Mixers turned a seemingly-doomed 1-5 record to a shimmering trophy.

“This isn’t about me, it’s about the players and it’s about the fans,” said Cone, now the winningest coach in the PBA with 16 titles, as he was met with loud cheers from spectators in attendance.

“When we were 1-5 and 3-7, I had to admit my spirits were down, and players’ spirits were down. But never at one point that we ever felt that our fans were discouraged. They stayed with us the whole time,” he added.

The party gave fans, who often wait by the venue’s parking lot late at night after games just to get a closer peek at their idols, that chance to interact freely with the players.

The entire Mixers’ squad, from the utility to the coaches and players—though sans Marc Pingris, faced the fans, who would passionately belt out their “Laban San Mig!” chants.

“’Yan po nagpapalakas ng loob namin [That gave us confidence],” San Mig Coffee governor Rene Pardo said.

“Di kami magsasawang manalo at mag-victory party. [We won’t get tired of winning and holding victory parties.]”

Peter June Simon, James Yap and Mark Barroca were among those who received the loudest cheers from the crowd, but team manager and Purefoods legend Alvin Patrimonio, unsurprisingly, also got a warm reception.

“He set the standard for what we try to live up to. Patrimonio is the legacy of Purefoods. And the fact that he’s around gives the players someone to look up to,” Cone said of Patrimonio.

The players and the coaching staff were readily available for photo-ops. They also partnered with select attendees to participate in parlor games and raffled off jerseys and other collectibles.

“This event is important because we don’t really get to spend time with the players so this event also made us feel what it’s like to win a championship,” fan Maricis Zamora said in Filipino.

RELATED STORIES

Tim Cone calls ‘scripted’ accusations in PBA ‘crazy, unfair’

San Mig Coffee Mixers capture PH Cup crown

San Mig Coffee takes another shot at PBA Philippine Cup crown