The San Miguel Beermen are already assured of a spot in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals, but what will be their seeding in the said stage has yet to be determined.
The Beermen could have made everything certain and assure themselves of a best-of-three affair in the quarters had they conquered the Meralco Bolts Wednesday.
Now, their fate basically lies on the outcome of the TNT KaTropa-Magnolia Hotshots game which is going on as of press time. The result of it will tell if they will place sixth or seventh.
Should the Hotshots win, then the Beermen will end up at sixth, which is a pretty good spot to be in as it puts them in a best-of-three affair versus the third-seeded Blackwater Elite.
Should the KaTropa reign victorious, though, San Miguel will fall to the seventh spot, and that places them in a twice-to-beat disadvantage against the NorthPort Batang Pier.
Terrence Romeo admitted that this is not the situation they envisioned, especially after winning their unprecedented fifth straight Philippine Cup championship about two months ago.
But at the same time, Romeo said that this is now gut-check time for him and the rest of the Beermen.
“Kailangan naming i-take as a challenge for us. Galing kaming championship pero ‘di naman namin inasahan na ganito ang mangyayari,” said Romeo after the match, where he had 11 points.
“Dito masusubok yung character ng team namin, kung paano kami babalik. Paghahandaan namin kalaban namin.”
With the possibility of San Miguel facing NorthPort looming, one can’t help but think if that will serve as extra motivation for Romeo, as he was once the star of the Batang Pier.
But for the six-year pro out of Far Eastern University, should that happen, it will not be about him and his former team.
“Nandoon na yun pero maliit lang ang mundo ng basketball. Ang mahalaga, mag-prepare kami. ‘Di naman ito ako lang versus sa former team ko eh. Team pa rin ito.”
