The heart-wrenching loss to the Meralco Bolts in the recent Philippine Cup finals serves as motivation for the San Miguel Beermen as PBA's new season unfurls.
San Miguel came close to sweeping PBA Season 48, but ultimately failed in its final mission.
After picking up their 29th title in the Commissioner’s Cup, the Beermen looked poised to add to their haul in the Philippine Cup, a conference which they ruled six times since 2015.
Eyeing a rare elimination round sweep, San Miguel ran into Meralco, which gave the Beermen their first defeat instead in what turned out to be an ominous sign of things to come.
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They met anew in the finals where the Bolts, taking pride in their defensive prowess, refused to give the perennial titlists a moment of comfort in a swashbuckling best-of-seven finale and eventually bagged their first franchise crown.
The Beermen had to painfully watch the balloons fall on the new champions after Game 6 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But such experience only motivates powerhouse San Miguel even more.
“We’re all excited na makabawi,” CJ Perez told One Sports.
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Terrence Romeo, who hardly had an impact in the finals, echoed Perez’s sentiment.
“Excited na, siyempre. Gusto naming bumawi. Ako, gusto kong bumawi,” Romeo said.
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“Pinaghahandaan namin lahat ng teams this coming conference.”
Perez, the Commissioner’s Cup Finals Most Valuable Player, clarified that the Beermen have moved on from their failed bid in the Philippine Cup as they now shift their focus on conquering the upcoming import-spiced conference.
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They instead chose to take the bad with the good.
“We moved on doon sa nangyari. We take it as a good learning experience,” Perez said.
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San Miguel opens its campaign against Phoenix on Wednesday, August 21, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
(With reports from Cara Velayo/One Sports Digital)