FORGETTABLE is one word that can be used to describe the year for San Miguel Beer as injuries to key personnel led to its Philippine Cup dynasty coming to end.
Here is a lookback at 2020, most of them low points, of the Beermen.
Injured June Mar claims another MVP
For the sixth straight time, June Mar Fajardo captured the MVP trophy for his sterling performance in the 2019 season of the league. But Fajardo went to the Leo Awards at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum to claim his trophy on a scooter in March after the San Miguel big man sustained a complete fracture in his right tibia during practice a month prior during the team’s preparation for the Philippine Cup. The injury left a lot of questions to the Beermen’s build-up to the 2020 season as to how the team will fare with their prized center out with a major injury.
SMB wins the only game of 2020 with audience
The Beermen opened their season without Fajardo on a bright note on March 8. With the newly-crowned MVP watching on the sidelines during the first half, the Beermen captured a win in their first game of 2020, defeating Magnolia, 94-78, at the Big Dome. The match turned out to be the only one with fans in attendance, as the league postponed its games days after due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before the PBA resumed in a bubble set-up on October.
Terrence Romeo injury
Injuries continued to affect San Miguel in the bubble, with Romeo forcing to exit the bubble early after sustaining a dislocated right shoulder. The 2019 Commissioner’s Cup finals MVP suffered the injury in the early days of the bubble in October against TNT following a collision with Ryan Reyes. Even after Romeo’s injury, a few San Miguel players were also playing hurt.
Dynasty ends
The Beermen still had a decent campaign in the bubble despite the absence of June Mar Fajardo and Terrence Romeo as the play of Mo Tautuaa, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, and Alex Cabagnot led to a 7-4 record and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. But that incentive evaporated against a determined Meralco squad that dominated San Miguel in the rubber match with a 90-68 win. The loss brought an end to San Miguel’s run of five straight Philippine Cup titles.
Austria hints at revamp
Shortly after the heartbreaking loss in the quarterfinals, San Miguel coach Leo Austria made a shocking revelation where he hinted at a possible line-up changes to their ageing roster in order to sustain their championship form. The response to Austria’s statements were mixed, with some still saying that the Beermen remain capable of stringing up titles with their veteran core.
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