Amid San Miguel’s PH Cup success, RSA looks back at Beermen’s futile stretch

Photo by Randolph B. Leongson

Blessings may be pouring San Miguel’s way, but San Miguel Corportation president Ramon S. Ang continued to remind the Beermen to keep their feet planted on the ground.

“I tell the players to relax and give thanks to God that He’s blessing us with luck. He gave us a chance to win this conference and we shouldn’t be boastful for our success,” said Ang during the team’s victory party at the San Miguel compound on Tuesday.

Ang harked back to the days when it was a struggle for San Miguel to achieve success.

“We had a hard time winning for almost 10 years,” he said.

.@TheSMBeermen present the 2018 Philippine Cup trophy to executives Ramon S. Ang and Bobby Huang. #PBA2018 pic.twitter.com/EbQ4qB5VFQ

— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) April 10, 2018

The amiable executive looked back at the past decade where San Miguel only got three crowns the 2000s and waited for 14 years before once again hoisting the all-Filipino crown in 2015.

“We had popular players, but I feel bad whenever I look at the team and we could not match up. Do you remember how good Jimmy Alapag was? When Jayson Castro arrived, things got harder for us,” he continued, remembering the dark days when TNT always got the better of the Beermen.

“That’s why now that God is blessing us, I tell the players to not be boastful.”

Ang gave a toast to San Miguel for ruling its fourth straight Philippine Cup, acknowledging that what keeps this dynasty going is the players’ camaraderie as they have shown their willingness to sacrifice for the greater good of one another.

“I think we’re lucky that we have a team that has a good chemistry. The other teams have superstars, and so do we, but what makes us different is we treat each other like family. That’s the secret of this team,” he said.

The SMC head honcho, though, is one in hoping that this crew replicates the success the Beermen had in 1989, when the Ramon Fernandez-led squad claimed the PBA’s third Grand Slam.

“Your job isn’t finished yet,” Ang told the players. “We need to play well in the next two conferences and I hope we achieve the success we all desire. We’re all praying for that.”