A new day for the Beermen

Infectious energy and hustle from Mr. A to Z
(Photo credits to Sports5.ph)

We will be the first ones to admit it.

We were unfair, unjust and downright mean.

Mean, in expecting the San Miguel Beermen to just steamroll through the opposition the rest of this season after their PBA Philippine Cup title romp which appeared to have put all of their fans' frustrations of the last few years re: on and off-court chemistry to rest. Unfair and unjust, in writing and tweeting so many things about how the Beermen perhaps needed a shake-up, or that guys were "coasting" rather than just buying into the whole "they are tired/ exhausted/ injured" excuse.

So after spending much of the PBA Commissioner's Cup looking and playing like an expansion team, the Beermen are now back in the PBA Governor's Cup with a much more respectable 4-2 win-loss record. Now THIS, is what we expected last conference. A team that's just loaded with superstars, even if they unloaded some guys during the start of the season and since then, should always be in contention atop the standings and nowhere near the cellar.

We are sorry for the hate in the 2nd conference, but in some ways, we were also right.

See, champions, superstar teams, are supposed to find ways to win. We'd buy into the whole "exhausted" thing and blaming the schedule had this team not featured two legitimate, in their prime PBA MVPs (Junemar Fajardo and Arwind Santos), two national team-level stars (Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter), arguably the most polarizing point guard in the PBA (love him or hate him, Alex Cabagnot has mad skills), a pesky pitbull (Chris Ross) and a still serviceable two way star off the bench (Ronald Tubid).

Now? This team appears to have moved on from whatever funk it was they were going through in the PBA Commish Cup. They are being led by the duo of import AZ Reid (39 mpg, 26 ppg, 10 rpg, 4 apg) and Fajardo (34 mpg, 17 ppg, 13 rpg, 2 bpg), while getting ample support from Lassiter, Cabagnot, Ross and Tubid. Lutz is still finding his rhythm, while the one guy that seems to be out of place early this conference is Santos (who is too good a player to stay quiet, game impact-wise).

So, how high should we see the Beermen go this conference?

Well, it wouldn't be that far-fetched to think Playoffs-- Finals, even.

IF every one is indeed on the same page, and that guys are willing to recommit and "sacrifice" again, then the Beermen are still the most loaded and proven roster in the PBA. Their first six (to seven, if you count Tubid) guys on the rotation could win games individually and as a unit. Ross has taken his game to new heights this season, adding some offense here and there while still being his annoying self on defense.

Now, someone please tell Coach Leo Austria not to jinx it again by calling "grand slam..."