SAN Miguel Beer showed up in Game 6 with a back-against-the-ropes mindset despite holding a 3-2 lead against Magnolia. And this spelled the difference.
“They just didn’t give up. They just showed how composed they are,” Beermen coach Jorge Gallent said. “Even when we were down 9, 10, they didn’t panic.
“They played in the flow and stepped up their defense, and good things happen when you play defense,” he added.
Gallent spoke after his charges fashioned a dramatic 104-102 victory over the Hotshots, who simply faltered when it mattered most last Wednesday night to bag the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown.
SMB’s gripping come-from-behind triumph from a 13-point third-quarter deficit served as a fitting follow to a 108-98 win over Magnolia in the fifth game five nights back and wrapped up the title battle 4-2.
The Beermen annexed their 29th title overall–which leads the pro league– and first in the same edition of the import-spiced tourney since 2019.
SMB initially paraded Ivan Aska as its import but changed horses midstream by tapping former USC Trojan Bennie Boatwright.
The import switch promptly bore fruit as the Beermen cruised to a franchise-best 11-game winning streak dating back to the eliminations, quarterfinals, and a sweet 3-0 sweep of Ginebra in the semifinals.
The 6-foot-8 Boatwright proved to be a perfect complement to the inside game of reigning seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
Getting Boatwright galvanized SMB’s title bid in the season-opening tilt, according to Gallent.
“The last two games of Ivan Aska,” Gallent said of what turned things around for the Beermen. “He really played his butt out. Those games were against top teams (Ginebra and TNT) that lifted us up.
“He knew he was gonna get changed, but he still played his heart out.”
As the confetti rained on the Smart Araneta Coliseum hardcourt, on one side SMB’s fans rejoiced in the glitz and glamor of their title conquest.
On the other side, it was an agonizing sight as the Hotshots’ six-year title dry spell continued.
The Beermen’s do-it-all star CJ Perez punctuated his brilliance in the Big Dance with 28 points in the clincher, while Fajardo chipped in 19 markers and 12 rebounds. Perez was later named finals MVP.
Boatwright also added 19 points, 13 boards, and eight assists for SMB, which also drew 12 and 10 markers, respectively from Jericho Cruz and Don Trollano.
Gallent won his maiden diadem as a head coach, and it will not hurt if he adds more for the winningest ballclub in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.
“We’re gonna enjoy this first with my coaches, with my players, and we’ll see what happens,” he said. “That’s our dream, that’s what CJ said. It’s easy to say but that’s hard work.
“If the Lord wants to give me one more, of course, I’m gonna be grateful for it as a blessing.”
