Many expected the San Miguel Beermen to jump out of the gates and start their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup run strongly, as they look to reclaim the throne they lost hold of last season, but unfortunately, things went the opposite direction.
Apparently suffering from a hangover after winning their fifth straight Philippine Cup title three weeks ago, the Beermen were out of sync and got blown out by an injury-riddled yet surging NorthPort Batang Pier, 88-121, Wednesday.
As per the league’s stats chief Fidel Mangonon, this was San Miguel’s worst loss in eight years, or since getting massacred by guest team SMART Gilas Pilipinas, 68-109, in the 2011 edition of the mid-season conference.
The league’s reigning five-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo had no insights into the humiliating loss, except that it was simply a bad game by one the league’s powerhouse squads.
“Pangit ang nilaro namin ngayon,” lamented Fajardo, who finished with 19 points, five rebounds, and three blocks.
Fajardo admitted that the defeat – which saw them go down by as many as 38 points – was so bad that it left everybody from the Beermen camp disappointed, from the players, to the coaches, and to the bosses.
“Dismayado lahat, galit sila coach, mga boss namin. Isa ito sa pinaka-worst namin.”
Fajardo and the Beermen, though,refuse to dwell on the setback. Their sights are now set on redeeming themselves, and they will have a chance when they take on the Terrence Jones-led TNT KaTropa this Saturday.
“Kailangan namin mag-bounce back kasi sobrang short lang ng conference na ito. Every win counts,” said the seven-time PBA champion. “May two days kami na practice so kailangan namin mag-improve at bounce back.
“Mabigat yun (TNT) pero kailangan namin maglaro as a team, yun ang magpa-panalo sa amin.”
