San Mig Super Coffee slams it forward

They did it.  For the first time in eighteen years, a PBA team swept all three conferences in one season en route to a coveted Grand Slam, which has been accomplished only three times in thirty-nine years of league existence. 

The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, under the leadership of master bench tactician Tim Cone, with the full support of team management, and the tremendous heart and determination of its players, capped off their PBA year with a hard-fought five-game series win against the gritty Rain or Shine Elastopainters, under fiery head coach Yeng Guiao, to seal the deal.

San Mig has actually won four straight championships, dating back to the Governors’ Cup 2013.  The accomplishments of the Mixers are, to understate the matter, impressive, especially considering the ups and downs the team had in all four of the conferences.  The team would usually start off slowly, wavering from time to time, if not often, but would gather itself just in time to make amazing playoff runs ending up with the championship trophy. 

Despite the four straight championships signifying a seeming era of dominance for San Mig, the underlying stories towards each crown are replete with suspense, setbacks, and drama so high that the end result tends to mask the immense struggles that the team went through, but at the same time makes the triumph that much sweeter.

Cone has won the most championships in PBA history (18) and led the only two teams he has coached (Alaska and San Mig) to Grand Slams.  During his tenure with San Mig, the team has won five of the past nine conferences as he held on to a core of players so solid that, oftentimes, they would will the team to victory on sheer grit. 

Everyone knows the so-called Big Three of James Yap, who, at 32, still undoubtedly lived up to his moniker of “Big Game James” throughout each playoff run, Marc Pingris, also 32, who just plowed away doing the dirty work and hustling, and PJ Simon, a sprightly 34, who picked up the slack at the most opportune times, particularly on the scoring end.  The trio could easily be expanded to a “Big Five”, since Joe Devance, now 32, also contributed, although a chunk of his contributions would not show up in the stat sheet (i.e., good entry passes, bringing the ball up the court, tipping the ball to teammates, etc.), and Mark Barroca, 28, proved he already is and will continue to be one of the most clutch players in the PBA.

What is amazing though is how the team has continued to improve its personnel around the aforementioned quintet, concocting the right mix of veterans and bench players who all know their roles, never rock the boat, and, best of all, usually deliver when called upon.  I have said before that continuity in the PBA seems to be a winning recipe, and San Mig is testament to that, but the subtle changes the team made are as much to commend as staying put.

Having veterans as part of the second unit always helps.  Raffy Reavis, Jerwin Gaco, and prior to the just-concluded Governors’ Cup, Yancy de Ocampo, would always be ready to bang bodies with the opposing team’s frontline.  When de Ocampo was traded, there was a tinge of sadness among San Mig fans, who knew that despite Yancy’s shortcomings, he was a part of the well-oiled San Mig machine.  Gaco, a player born ready, has his own fans’ club whose members go crazy whenever he enters a game, which is not often.  He never lacks effort.

When you speak of deep bench players, aside from Gaco, San Mig has had many more.  Val Acuna, supposedly a shooter off the bench, hardly got the chance to shoot in his four seasons.  He was traded together with Yancy.  Ken Bono and Lester Alvarez seem to be “reserves for life” and hardly ever suit up as they sit behind the bench and not on it.  Then from the 2013 Rookie Draft, the team chose lanky Isaac Holstein who, after one season, is still a mystery to PBA fans as he played sparingly and usually in the dying minutes, if not seconds, of decided ballgames.  JR Cawaling was also chosen in the same draft. 

Why were they on the roster anyway?  Well, Coach Tim seems to identify good character as well as he scouts good talent and, as he acknowledged after the Grand Slam was secured, these bench players are some of the biggest reasons why San Mig was able to achieve the feat.

As for the more familiar additions, Alex Mallari, 27, came on board after an ineffective rookie conference with Petron (now San Miguel Beer) and slowly but surely grew into his role as energizer at the guard position, with quickness and athleticism.  Also from the 2013 Draft came Ian Sangalang, 22, and Justin Melton, 27. 

This Mutt and Jeff duo (younger readers, do your research) crept their way into the regular rotation by proving their worth as each game, each conference went on. Sangalang particularly stepped up his game in the playoffs, while Melton teamed up with Mallari to form a speedy backcourt tandem that could run with the best of them.  Allein Maliksi, 26, arrived in a trade, showed flashes of the talent everyone knows he has, suffered a serious injury, but made it back in time to be a key man in the Governors’ Cup 2014.  He could grow into the lead scoring role, but needs to be a more willing passer.

Ronnie Matias, 30, and well-traveled Yousef Taha (five teams in six conferences), 26, came on board in the YDO/Acuña trade and got themselves a championship.  They are both reliable players and Taha, in particular, seems to be a keeper, and may have found a home.  He’s a big man with lots of effort and intensity who has a positive attitude.

When Sangalang won Best Player of the Game honors in Game 3 of the Governors’ Cup Finals, I discussed with Coach Ryan Gregorio and Dominic Uy, who sat with me on the TV panel, how Sangalang can no longer be considered a rookie as he had been a regular on two championship squads already, and played well under the spotlight.  His upside is sky-high.

Also, in import-reinforced conferences, San Mig has been blessed with perhaps not the most talented recruits, but with guys who just seem to fit in perfectly and who are willing to do whatever it takes to win.  Marqus Blakely has played for San Mig three times and has never failed to lead them to the finals, winning two out of three.  James Mays in the Commissioner’s Cup 2014 frustrated San Mig fans often, but how can they argue with the end result?

What does the future hold for San Mig?  Some say they’re not done yet, since the team, by all indications, will be practically intact.  While it has no choice but to give up a few players to the Expansion Draft for the two incoming teams (Kia and Blackwater), the regular rotation will still be there.  The Big Three has a couple of years left, and will gladly mentor the younger fellows.

The Coach is not going anywhere.  He may have lost vital pieces of his coaching staff to Ginebra (Jeff Cariaso and Olsen Racela), but he has a more than capable support group, which includes all-time great Johnny Abarrientos, and the La Salle trio of Richard del Rosario, Jason Webb and Mon Jose, with the inspiration of The Captain, Team Manager Alvin Patrimonio.

Management has done everything to perfection, it seems, to structure a squad that may not necessarily have all the best players in the league, but, at this time, surely has the players that are the best for the team.  Let’s see how far they can take it.

Congratulations to Coach Tim Cone and the entire San Mig Super Coffee Mixers team!  It has been a pleasure watching you these past few conferences.

You can follow Charlie on Twitter @CharlieC.