Basketball justice is served: Beermen lose in ABL Finals

Fazekas came up short for Beermen

When San Miguel Corporation made it known to the ASEAN Basketball League and the basketball scene in general that it was ready to set shop and take over where the AirAsia Philippine Patriots seem to have faltered, expectations were high and the team more than lived up to it.

Opting to carry the proud Beermen moniker in its ASEAN conquest, the team opened the season with inconsistent play and poor coaching from newbie Bobby Parks, Sr. By midseason, the team retooled by adding notable PBA veterans such as John Ferriols and Roger Yap plus high profile imports Duke Crews and Nick Fazekas who were coming off sterling runs in the PBA as well. Chris Banchero also came back from injury and so their title run was on-- simply overpowering teams left and right (including the hapless Patriots).

And just to ensure that the team wins the ABL championship in its first year, they brought in basketball sage Rajko Toroman to assist Parks on the sidelines.

It became pretty obvious that whatever the Beermen needed to win, management was bound to get them-- hell, wouldn't be surprised if the team suddenly pulled Alex Cabagnot or Arwind Santos from their PBA Petron Blaze Boosters if it meant a sure title romp.

Alas, it just wasn't meant to be.

In three games, they were beaten by a rising Indonesia Warriors squad (who only lost Game 1 due to an early celebration and mental lapse in the end game) bannered by bruising imports Steve Thomas and Evan Brock. Fazekas was being owned in the paint, Crews was being forced to try and outrun Brock several times on the floor to get his points (which resulted in him basically sucking all the air out of the Beermen's offense). Banchero met his athletic superior in Fil-foreign guard Stanley Pringle, another late yet timely addition for the Warriors.

Wonder if Brock will ever strut his stuff in the PBA?

Not to sound unpatriotic here (or a Patriots fan), but the Warriors' title win was just right on several accounts much like how the Dallas Mavericks' 2011 NBA Finals win over the hated Miami Heat was.

Had the Beermen won, it would've made the ABL look like a very weak league that's open to be taken over by all comers. With the Silent War still in full swing, you could very well bet your bottom Peso that Team MVP would enter the ABL at one point or another just to ensure that they have a team out there to challenge Team SMC. Same goes for any other multi-million/ billion ASEAN out there who would greatly benefit from all the exposure.

Based on the game, it was clear that the Warriors were meant to walk out of the Ynares Center with the ABL title by the way their guys were playing. Crisp passes, looking for the open guy whenever Brock was on lock and just knowing when and were guys were at all times.

How poorly was Parks coaching his team? On one telling inbound play, Banchero and Froilan Baguion almost collided on the left side of the court-- not knowing who was supposed to receive and orchestrate.

On the flip side, despite playing with 3 point guards in Pringle, Mario Wyusang and Jerrick Canada, the guys all knew the pecking order and were almost, always out of each other's way on the floor. That Tim Cone clone is good.

All in all, it was a great series that wasn't as close as the box scores would suggest. One team had a game plan while the other was content in riding its superstar import. For the Warriors, you'd have to wonder if they can still keep this up once Pringle gets a few dozen phone calls from PBA scouts. As for the Beermen, they're on the right track to challenge for the title each year.

Also, Leo Avenido, hailed ABL Best Local Player, disappeared in the most crucial game of the season.