San Miguel’s season-worst loss may have come at right time

MANILA, Philippines – The San Miguel Beermen, champions of 3 of the last 4 conferences, absorbed their worst loss in the past 4 seasons after back-to-back dominant victories towards the end of the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations. 

The 110-84 blowout came at the hands of sister team Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and from a big picture standpoint, it may have happened at just the right time as they gear up for the playoffs. 

“Alam ko naman na talagang darating at darating yung ganitong pangyayari (I knew something like this was bound to happen),” said Leo Austria on Sunday, April 3 after the tough setback that was his worst in two years so far PBA head coach. 

“The good thing is we’re still in a position to get number 1. And then yung tumalo sa amin pwedeng lampasan pa namin (we could still surpass our foes). It could be a blessing in disguise for us, a loss like this. Talagang mag-iisip mga players (The players will really think about it).” 

Before the lopsided defeat, the Beermen had been shooting the lights out in dominant back-to-back victories over Star and Alaska, winning by an average margin of almost 20 points. They also combined for 32 3-pointers in both games. 

Against the Gin Kings, the Beermen went cold and made only 8 of their 32 attempts from beyond the arc, and collectively shot just 37% from the field.

“Naging kumportable, na-overwhelm kami nung last two games namin against Alaska and Star (We became comfortable, we were overwhlemed in the last two games against Alaska and Star),” Austria said. “Kasi nung time na yun umulan ng 3-pointers, this time alam nila kung anong gagawin sa amin (Because that time it rained 3-pointers, this time they know what to do with us).” 

The result was a rare rout of at least 20 points for only the second time since Austria took over before last season – the other being a 113-93 defeat to TNT in March 2015 during last year’s Commissioner’s Cup. The franchise’s last huge defeat was in in the 2011 Governors’ Cup against Rain or Shine, 113-83, per PBA statistician Fidel Mangonon III. 

This is only the second time San Miguel lost by double figures this season since a 99-84 loss to Rain or Shine in November 2015 during the Philippine Cup. 

“I’m not expecting na magiging blowout itong game na ‘to para sa amin (that this would be a blowout game for us). I expected a very tough game,” Austria admitted, noting the absence of Ginebra’s Joe Devance, whose father passed away last week. 

Austria rued import Tyler Wilkerson getting into early foul trouble with local big man and reigning two-time MVP June Mar Fajardo unable to keep up after having just returned from a two-game absence due to a knee injury. 

Fajardo, who bared his knee still hurts a little, finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Team captain Arwind Santos also returned after missing a game since his mother passed away before the Holy Week break. He was clearly out of sync, missing all 7 of 3-point attempts, though still registering 6 points with 3 rebounds.

(RELATED: San Miguel shoots lights out for grieving Arwind Santos) 

Ronald Tubid also just returned from a hyperextended knee injury but played under 4 minutes as the Beermen dropped to 5-3 in third place. 

“Wala pa, hindi pa ako ready (I’m not yet ready),” assessed Santos, who is still grieving from his loss but returned to practice last Wednesday.

As San Miguel bids to secure a playoffs berth with one more win, such a trouncing could be a wake-up call to stay grounded and aggressive as they try to gain some momentum to wrap up eliminations against NLEX, Phoenix and defending champion TNT. 

“I hope they can recover going into the playoffs,” Austria ended. – Rappler.com