2017 was the year of the San Miguel Corporation in the PBA, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop them
The group, whose president is Ramon Ang, won all three PBA conferences. The San Miguel Beermen dominated the Philippine Cup and the Commisioner’s Cup, while the Barangay Ginbera laid claim to the Governors’ Cup. They even negotiated a controversial trade that landed San Miguel top prospect Christian Standhardinger in the PBA Rookie Draft a few weeks ago.
Quietly, SMC could also have a banner year in volleyball.
When the Philippine Superliga calendar started, the Petron Blaze Spikers made off-season moves that made their intentions clear: dominate everyone.
They added stars like Mika Reyes, Cherry Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Remy Palma, Rhea Dimaculangan, and Ria Meneses, leading to a decisive championship campaign in the All-Filipino Cup.
Rondina and Pons then went on to obliterate the competition in the PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup, winning the title with a spotless record.
In the 2017 Chooks-to-Go PSL Grand Prix, Petron did not let up in their aggresive team building, adding prized veteram imports Hilary Hurley — a known power hitter with remarkable campaigns in Europe and Asia — and Lindsay Stalzer, a former PSL MVP who had led the Foton Tornadoes to back-to-back Grand Prix titles before jumping ship to Petron.
While management might not say much, Petron head coach Shaq Delos Santos is well aware of SMC’s pedigree for success.
“Hindi man nila sinasabi, pero makikita mo sa the way magbigay ng suporta ang management kung gaano nila kagusto na maging successful kami,” Delos Santos said.
“Masasabi ko talaga na binibigay sa amin ‘yung kailangan namin para manalo, so kailangan namin suklian ‘yun by giving our best effort in every game.”
Petron were blazing through the competition until they hit a roadblock in the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in their literally hot encounter in Bacolod last Saturday.
Sitting on a 3-1 record, Petron are still in prime position for a top four finish heading into the quarterfinals. Improving every game and continuing to develop chemistry are the priorities, according to Delos Santos after suffering their first loss.
“Sabi ko lang na wag mag-panic at marami pa kaming lalaruin this season,” quipped the former FEU Tamaraw.
“What matters is nagi-improve kami. Kailangan lang namin ituloy ‘to and, hopefully, pagdating ng elimination games, readyng-ready na kami.”
