THIS night wasn't about San Mig's heroes, or the four straight PBA championships, or the grand slam.
This was about the fans.
On Friday night, San Mig players, coaches, and officials treated the team's faithful fans to a victory party they would never easily forget at San Miguel Corp.'s main headquarters in Ortigas Center.
Mixers supporters who braved the heavy afternoon downpour just to be with their idols did not go home disappointed as their idols gamely sang and mingled with fans in a party that lasted for more than an hour.
Outspoken coach Tim Cone, who has appeared on this same stage a number of times in San Mig's run to four successive championships, appeared to have finally ran out of things to say.
"I've been doing this for four times already and I don't know what else to say," said the two-time grand slam coach, "but I just want to say thank you to all of you from the bottom of my heart."
The program was opened with members of the team being called up on stage before the 'Big Three' of James Yap, Marc Pingris and PJ Simon gamely sang the Maroon 5 hit She Will Be Loved with a lucky female fan.
"Ito 'yung way namin na mag-give back sa mga fans namin, 'yung makasama nila kami, maliit lang ito kumpara sa mga suporta nila," said Yap, who was named the Finals MVP for a second straight conference.
"Kahit man lang masuklian namin sila through picture-taking, shake hands, wala na hiya-hiya, para sa kanila gagawin namin ang lahat," said Simon.
The party for the fans was the best night for Pingris, who gamely posed for every photo op request and signed every shirt, paper and whatever it was his fans shoved infront of him.
"Ito 'yung pinaka masarap na gabi, 'yung mag-celebrate kami kasama sila (fans)," said Pingris.
"Binibigay namin ito para sa mga fans gagawin ko lahat para sa kanila kasi ito 'yung kabayaran namin sa kanila sa pagsigaw nila, sa suporta nila, sa lahat."
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