THE veteran core of this San Miguel team knows a thing or two about PBA grand slam bids, almost achieving the rare feat not just once, but twice over the last decade.
The Beermen came close to sweeping the league’s three conferences in 2017 and 2019, only falling short in the season-ending Governors’ Cup both times.
This time, they try to take a page off their opponents in those two seasons to deny a rival team of its own crack at the improbable hat-trick in the Philippine Cupn as they take on TNT in the 2025 Philippine Cup Finals.
READ Jericho on TNT Grand Slam bid vs SMB: ‘Papahirapan namin sila’
June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, and Chris Ross are the remnants of those near-grand slam runs that saw them win the championships in the Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup in 2017 and 2019.
“Me, Chris, and June Mar understand the toll it takes on your body and it’s not easy,” Lassiter recalled. “Mentally, how hard it is to keep grinding, especially physically. That’s why they have a lot of wear and tears. It’s a challenge that we’ve been through a couple of times already.”
Indeed, the Tropang 5G are feeling the consequences of sustained success this season, with Kelly Williams doubtful for the title series and Roger Pogoy listed day-to-day owing to a hamstring injury that has caused him to miss the last four games of the semifinals against Rain or Shine.
“Like what Marcio said, grand slams are hard. it takes not only skill, preparation, determination, but it also a lot of luck. You need luck on your side – with health, the ball bouncing your way, and things like that,” Ross said.
The stars aligned for the Beermen when they relied on their so-called Death Five with Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot in the 2017 and 2019 All-Filipino conference title runs, before leaning on solid imports Charles Rhodes in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup and Chris McCullough in the 2019 edition of the midseason tournament.
But SMB just couldn’t get over the hump in the Governors’ Cup both years where they failed to have import stability. In the 2017 edition, they had three imports in Wendell McKines, Terik Bridgeman, and Terrence Watson. In 2019, it looked like the Beermen found the one in Dez Wells, but a fight in practice with the locals led to a switch to John Holland. In both conferences, Barangay Ginebra eliminated them in the quarterfinals.
This time, the Beermen try to do what the Gin Kings did to them in those seasons, against the Tropang 5G this time.
But while they try to pounce on a hurting TNT side, the Beermen have stressed during the finals press conference that preventing TNT from winning a grand slam is the last of their concerns.
The Beermen are simply eager to reclaim their lofty tag as the kings of the all-Filipino conference after ruling the league’s most prestigious conference for a record five straight years from 2014 to 2019.
After winning it again in 2022, the Beermen lost their Philippine Cup crown last season to Meralco for the Bolts’ first-ever league championship.
“Me being around Chot in the SEA Games a couple years back, I know what kind of competitor he is. I know how he prepares. I know what he demands from his players, so I know that he’s going to have those guys ready,” said Ross, a two-time SEA Games gold medalist, including in the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh.
“And being around Leo and being around our guys, I know we’re going to be ready, so I’m excited for this series to say the least,” he was quick to add.
Ross resurgence
The 40-year-old Ross showed he has plenty of gas left in the tank after putting on a vintage performance in Game Seven of the Final Four against Ginebra with 19 points, seven assists, and four steals to spark SMB’s 100-93 win.
And the 10-time champion and two-time Defensive Player of the Year is driven to keep winning, this time for his SMB teammates who have yet to taste championship success.
“It’s going to be a battle, because they’re gunning for something special and we’re gunning to get our position back in the all-Filipino, because last year we lost. And losing isn’t a good feeling.”
“I’ve won ten championships. I’ve lost two. And the two that I’ve lost, they got the most of me, so losing really, really sucks. And we’re going to try to help these guys win this time,” he added.
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