Resbak

There is a wise old saying that goes something like: "you will never know who your true friends are, not until you are in the face of adversity."

If you have been paying attention to the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup Best-of-Seven Finals between the Alaska Aces and San Miguel Beermen, "adversity" would be putting what the Beermen are going through a bit too kindly.

See, this is a team whose core has been together for maybe a good two or three years now but has always fallen short-- be it to injuries, drama or personal agendas by certain players. This season however, they have bought into a more "team oriented" philosophy and are actually going out of their own way in standing up and stepping up for a fallen comrade. Now you can see them laughing at one another, with one another. Now they just keep playing when someone takes a bad shot or, like Chris Lutz in Game 1, makes a giant booboo. They are there for one another, there is an obvious bond nowadays that was not always as transparent in recent memory.

With the newfound sense of camaraderie and sacrifice, the team has marched on into the PBA Finals in near dominant fashion. However, standing before them, is a group of guys who have been together just as long and played with a rugged, high octane style that leaves opponents with aching joints and bruises.

This is what the Beermen need if they are to prove themselves worthy to be called champions. To continue learning to play with each other, to trust one another hit or miss. To actually hit back at others, if only to defend a comrade, rather than to simply watch and sneer.

That whole choke-gate thing some years back? That was distasteful. If only because not a single player on the roster came to Arwind Santos' aide and stood up against their import Renaldo Balkman. Santos has been with them longer, yet no one came to his rescue when they saw him nearly being strangled and man-handled by a guy who's only been around a few weeks.

Now? We honestly feel that if anyone would lay a hand on Santos, that someone from the bench would come to his rescue and give out hard fouls (Ronald Tubid, David Semerad in Game 2).

They are being pushed and bullied, and they are pushing and bullying just the same. They may be down 1-2, but this is how a team should be if they are to win it all.

Tougher, together.