October 31, 2024

"Samahang Walang Katulad" lives and persists through die-hard members of SMB fandom

"Samahang Walang Katulad" lives and persists through die-hard members of SMB fandom
Art by Mitzi Solano/One Sports
Others may say that it's rare to find someone loyal these days, but don’t tell that to the San Miguel Beermen.

 

Meet Dennis Miralles, a 42-year-old freelance photographer, whose love and loyalty for SMB never once wavered since the 90s.

 

His story began in Tacloban, Leyte. It was then that he learned that such a ball club existed and the players who he grew to idolize made him fall in love with the league even more.

 

"Naging fan po ng San Miguel dahil sa lolo ko, sa radyo pa lang po kami nakikinig noon sa DZRH," Miralles proudly recalled to One Sports. "Ang mga naabutan kong players noon sina Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, 'yung mga era nila noon sina Ramon Fernandez po."

 

Like many other promdis, this writer included, Dennis dreamed of going to Manila to watch the PBA games live.

 

When he had the first taste of the live action, he knew that there's no letting go. 

 

"Noong nasa probinsiya pa po ako sa Tacloban, pinangarap kong makapunta ng PBA para makanood po ng live," he said. "Nakapunta po ako dito 2002, nagkaroon ako ng chance makanood sa Araneta. Simula po noong nakapanood ako sa Araneta hindi na po ako nag-pass manood kahit out of town."

 

"Nakilala ko po itong mga fandom, nakilala ko po sila, nagkaroon ng Facebook, nagsama-sama po kamim naging solid po kami. Ang [pangalan] po namin SMB Fandom po," he added.

 

For Miralles, nothing compares to being an SMB fan. Win or lose, it’s San Miguel always and in all ways.

 

Samahang Walang Katulad is real, and this is prime proof.

 

"Sobrang sarap [maging fan ng SMB] lalo na kapag nagcha-champion tapos kalaban namin 'yung Ginebra, mga team-to-beat, Talk 'N Text, tapos ngayon Magnolia," he said. "Kapag uuwi kayo na panalo kahit pagod na pagod okay lang, pero kapag natatalo hindi makakain, hindi makatulog, ganoon po kami ka-die hard sa team namin."

 

SMB drew the first blood against Magnolia in the best-of-seven Finals series on Friday at the MOA Arena and Miralles believes that his team got what it takes to win it all.

 

"Nakikita ko po sa lineup pa lang, si June Mar, mga veterans po ng San Miguel plus import namin si Bennie Boatwright ang lupit, may Terrence Romeo ka pa, may CJ Perez. At saka 'yung nararamdaman po namin na makukuha nila 'yung championship po," he said.

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