The last time TNT won in a playoff series over San Miguel Beer was a long time ago.
It was in the 2012 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, when they went all the way to reign supreme in the all-Filipino joust.
Since then, however, the Texters have not won a series over San Miguel.
In the five playoff meetings they’ve had from 2015 to 2018 – including their clash in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup Finals – the crown jewel of the Manny V. Pangilinan Group had always gone home with heads hung low and hearts broken.
And that losing skid has now extended to six conferences.
In had been their best chance to upend their rivals, the KaTropa played atypically. The Beermen flexed their muscles and showed why they have been the all-Filipino kings for four years now, en route to the 96-86 victory.
“Start namin panget. ‘Di kami nakahabol dun sa umpisa na natambakan kami,” rued Troy Rosario, pertaining to the 23-7 start of San Miguel that they banked on to en route to the 2019 Philippine Cup semifinals. “Hats off to San Miguel.
“Talagang nakapag-adjust sila ng husto, nakapag-prepare sila ng husto.”
However, hope isn’t lost for the KaTropa. For the 27-year-old Rosario, he still believes that the day will come when the KaTropa can exact revenge on the Beermen for all the heartbreaks and frustrations they have caused.
“Lagi sa quarterfinals, lagi kami nagtatapat… Ewan ko kung bakit lagi na lang nagtatapat yung TNT at tsaka San Miguel. Pero darating din yung araw na makakalusot din kami,” said the four-year pro out of National University.
“Kailangan namin maging consistent kung gusto talaga namin umangat.”
