Where to, San Miguel Beermen?
The San Miguel Beermen defeated the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in the elimination round. It was possible. The Beermen knew it, the Mixers knew it too.
The Mixers were coming off a day turnaround as they played their last elimination game the night before the quarterfinals started. The Beermen were rested, the Mixers were a bit tired.
PJ Simon, San Mig Super Coffee’s starting point guard, did not even head to the Smart-Araneta Coliseum because of back spasms. The absence of this dangerous scorer was a huge hit for the chances of the Mixers. The Beermen knew they had the advantage, the Mixers knew it too.
But it the end, like most of their past do-or-die games, the Beermen sputtered in the end. They built an early 13 point lead in the first quarter off a 27 point outing but as the game went on the momentum slowly left their side. In the end, a huffing and puffing San Miguel Beer squad could do nothing but watch as their sister team barged into the semifinals again.
The Beermen lost 97-90. They’ll exit the competitions in the quarterfinals even if their lineup is good enough to win championships.
What went wrong for SMB? Let’s start with the minutes.
Reggie Williams and Arwind Santos both played 43. June Mar Fajardo had 40. No player from the other side played more than 39 minutes.
Williams took command of the ball game for the Beermen late in the fourth quarter but the fact he often ended up playing one on one cost them a lot of good opportunities. Santos chipped in just three points in the fourth quarter after dropping nine in the third.
However, the biggest reason for SMB’s defeat against the Mixers was Fajardo. No, it was something he didn’t do. It’s something that was forced upon him.
How many times have we seen Fajardo gassed out in the last quarter? How many times have we seen him score and get rebounds to start the game then disappear in the end? Again, not his fault. The guy is playing balls out basketball but if you force a big guy like Fajardo to play 40 minutes in a game, you’re dooming your team.
Again, the San Miguel Beermen are good enough to win championships in the PBA on paper but on paper does not mean a lot if you don’ adjust during the game and throughout the conference. Something is wrong with these Beermen and they have to figure it out quick.
Another conference, another cause for heartbreak for San Miguel Beer fans. Now their team consultant has promised a top to bottom look at the entire team in an effort to build it to a championship contending team.
For sure there will be movement in personnel. The only questions now are who and where to.
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