MARCIO Lassiter has been used to winning championships with San Miguel that he couldn't remember the last time this proud franchise failed to make the PBA playoffs.
Or at least during his tenure with the Beermen since 2012.
“It’s been long…I think,” was his curt reply when asked about the possible situation staring the embattled reigning Commissioner’s Cup champion straight in the eyes following a tough loss to TNT on Sunday night.
“But I don’t want to really think about that. I just try to think what’s in front of us.”
And what’s in front of the Beermen is the likelihood of not being in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years after finishing their elimination-round campaign with a 115-97 loss to the Tropang Giga at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The 18-point blowout pushed San Miguel out of the Magic 8 as it now stands on very shaky ground at 5-7 - good for 10th place.
The Beermen trail Magnolia and NLEX by a full game in the race for the eighth and last quarterfinals berth as the Hotshots and Road Warriors tote similar 5-6 slates for a share of the No. 8 spot.
Both the Hotshots and Road Warriors still have a game left against Meralco and Eastern, respectively.
A win by either team meant outright elimination for San Miguel, whose only hope right now is for both Magnolia and NLEX to lose in their final assignment to forge a three-way tie at eighth spot.
“There’s a chance, but it might be slim. But there’s still a chance. We’ll see how those results go,” said Lassiter.
If ever, this will be the first time San Miguel won’t be in the playoff party since the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup when it tumbled out at ninth place after a 0-4 start behind import Ronald Roberts, and later on, Arizona Reid.
It would have been a different case had the Beermen managed to get past the Tropang Giga.
“Definitely it was a tough pill to swallow. But give credit to TNT,” said Lassiter, humbled by the heartbreaking defeat.
The 37-year-old Fil-Am added all the Beermen could do now is to wait and see how things pan out in the final two playdates of the eliminations.
“We’ll see what happens and watch from here,” Lassiter said.
The league’s all-time three-point king stressed there’s certainly lessons learned in what he describes as an ‘up and down’ campaign for the mighty Beermen.
“We have to figure it out. You can learn in every game, win or lose,” said Lassiter. “But you know, you can’t dwell on it too long.”
But until the Beermen are officially eliminated, they still are the defending champions.
“Yes, we are,” said Lassiter in trying to comfort the team’s bruised ego.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
