Challenge to defend

Is San Miguel Beer’s stranglehold on the PBA Philippine Cup trophy about to end? It’s been an incredible run for San Miguel, winning the last five championships and June Mar Fajardo lording it over the league. Fajardo has been so dominant that he even took Best Player of the Conference honors in 2013-14, the last season where the Beermen didn’t capture the Philippine Cup crown and coach Tim Cone took San Mig Coffee to the throne.

But in the Clark bubble, San Miguel coach Leo Austria is missing Fajardo. And to make matters worse, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser opted to stay in the US for family reasons then Terrence Romeo suffered a separated shoulder after three games and is out for the conference or season since only the Philippine Cup will be played this year. Despite the handicaps, San Miguel managed to make it to No. 4 via the quotient system in the eliminations, tying four others (including Meralco) for third place with identical 7-4 records.

With a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, San Miguel could afford to lose the first game against No. 5 Meralco last Friday and still stay alive. In the elims, San Miguel beat the Bolts, 89-82 so Austria needed just to repeat for a semifinal slot. But entering the playoffs, San Miguel was a so-so 4-4 while Meralco won four of its last five. Meralco loomed dangerous with momentum on its side. Then, Alex Cabagnot was sidelined due to a hamstring strain in Friday’s game, crippling San Miguel’s rotation even more.

As it turned out, Meralco crunched a 78-71 win to force a do-or-die showdown tonight. Another win by the Bolts will dethrone San Miguel. It’s a challenge to defend the crown and Austria knows the way to the semis won’t be easy. Meralco coach Norman Black put a premium on defense in the elims, finishing No. 1 in rebounds allowed (43.2) and assists allowed (16.4), No. 2 in two-point field goal percentage allowed (45.9) and No. 4 in points allowed (91.6). In last Friday’s game, it was defense that won for Meralco as San Miguel was held 23 points below its average and to 35.1 percent from the field, down from 43 percent.

Black went from zone to man to zone, depending on who was on the floor. The defensive schemes left San Miguel in disarray and it didn’t help that Cabagnot, the Beermen’s stabilizer, couldn’t suit up. Arwind Santos, Mo Tautuaa and Paul Zamar struggled for a combined 0-of-8 from beyond the arc. Marcio Lassiter was 1-of-9 from deep when in the elims, he shot 41.7 percent. San Miguel shot a lowly 15.6 percent from triple distance. Austria’s consolation was the contribution of reserves Russel Escoto (10 points, 5 rebounds), Gelo Alolino (6 points) and Bambam Gamalinda (2 points, 7 rebounds). Meralco had more rebounds, 59-48, more assists, 21-17, more field goal attempts, 87-77 and more threes connected, 8-5.

Meralco’s senior statesman Reynel Hugnatan, who turned 42 last Nov. 3, rested the last two games and came out refreshed to lead the Bolts with 16 points and seven boards. The man of the hour for Meralco was Aaron Black, the coach’s son who delivered 14 points, 11 in the fourth period. Meralco led the entire stretch with 16 its biggest margin. The Bolts won the battle of the boards despite Raymond Almazan playing only 2:11 minutes after hurting his left knee in a collision with Von Pessumal in the first quarter. Aside from Hugnatan and Black, the Bolts got a boost from Cliff Hodge (10 rebounds), Bong Quinto (13 rebounds), Chris Newsome (11 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists) and Baser Amer (12 points). For tonight’s duel, Almazan should be good to go and Cabagnot, too.

Meralco has never made it to the Philippine Cup semis since entering the PBA in 2010-11 so a victory tonight will be a milestone. The last Philippine Cup where San Miguel didn’t qualify for the semis was in 2012-13 or seven years ago. Which trend will continue or break tonight?