Beermen’s PBA title kicks off year-long festivities for SMC

CEBU, Philippines – Bringing home the PBA Philippine Cup championship isn’t just about ending a title drought for the San Miguel Beermen.

The championship also heralds the start of a year-long celebration of a major milestone for both the most diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation and its flagship subsidiary San Miguel Brewery Inc.  a top company official said.

“Winning the All Filipino Conference championship is indeed a great start for our parent company, San Miguel Corporation, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary,” SMB president Roberto N. Huang said of perhaps the most prestigious of championships in Asia’s first pay-for-play league.

“From our end, this championship is very special as we dedicate this to our flagship brand, the iconic San Miguel Pale Pilsen, which is also celebrating its 125th anniversary, being the first product—and the first beer, for that matter—to be brewed, bottled and sold in the Philippines and in Asia.”

Huang, who also serves as the team’s governor, recounted that the company has been longing for a championship, especially since the franchise went back to SMB after the company loaned it to its sister firm Petron Corporation.

Under the banner Petron Blaze Boosters, the team won the 2011 PBA Governor’s Cup over Talk ‘N Text TropangTexters, in a thrilling Game 7 fashion.

But as far as the All-Filipino conference is concerned, the Beermen last won in 2001, according to Huang.

“Our organization has waited 14 years for this moment. On behalf of management, I congratulate the San Miguel Beermen for bringing back the title,” he said.

The company official also took note of the performance of the Alaska Aces, who kept on rallying until the final buzzer sounded.

“We want to thank the Alaska Aces who pushed us to the edge. They tested our limits and when you are playing against that kind of team, you cannot be complacent,” he said.

“With the way both teams played in the Finals, one thing is very, very certain: this is an exciting time for the PBA,” he continued. “We wish that the PBA continues to excite both the teams and their legions of fans as it celebrates four decades of professional basketball in the Philippines also this year.”

Huang also credited the thousands of fans who trooped to the Araneta Coliseum and cheered on the Beermen, especially during the pivotal third period while the Aces mounted yet again a furious comeback.

“We’d also like to express our gratitude to the fans of the Beermen who stood by the team through thick and thin. Your support continues to inspire the team to play harder just as they play for their families and loved ones,” Huang said.

“We are counting on your support for the Beermen on and off the court,” he added.

Huang expressed excitement in the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup, even as he conceded that more work needs to be done because all teams will be preparing against them.

“The upcoming conference won’t be a walk in the park. All teams will be out to get us,” he said.

“As Coach Leo Austria keeps on telling the team, we have to keep working hard to win the PBA’s greatest prize. For the Beermen, the long hours they spend on practice paid dividends in the form of a championship each of the players longed for.” (PR) (FREEMAN)