Game changer

So the San Miguel Beermen made history by being the first team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to rebound from being down 0-3 in a best-of-seven finals and win the title.  For many, it’s nothing short of a miracle (or “beeracle” as some fondly call it) to win four straight games over a dogged and spunky Alaska Aces side.  Before the series started, I predicted an Alaska victory in seven games.  And when the Aces swept the first three, I thought, okay I was wrong about the number of games.  But like a phoenix from its ashes, San Miguel slowly sprung back into contention, forced a Game 7, and copped its 22nd PBA crown.  So I was right about the number of games after all, but dead wrong about the victor.

May I say however that I made the prediction with the belief that June Mar Fajardo would not suit up in the finals following a knee injury in the semis.  The 6’10” two-time MVP was suspected of having sustained a partial tear on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after tests were done just before the championship series.  And even if he managed to play later on in the finals, would he have been 100%?  Both Alaska and San Miguel were talent-laden and well coached.  We all agreed it was going to be a tight title match.  But a Fajardo-less Beermen would be at a slight disadvantage, I thought.  With June Mar healthy however, I would have picked San Miguel to grab the crown in six games.