The San Miguel Beermen are once again kings of the PBA Philippine Cup after crushing the TNT Tropang Giga, 119-97, in Game 7 Sunday night.
Down by five to open the fourth quarter, the Beermen went on a murderous 17-0 run to turn the game around and win the 9th all-Filipino championship of the franchise and 28th overall.
Already without head coach Chot Reyes due to health and safety protocols and forward Glenn Khobuntin due to a knee injury, the Tropang Giga were further decimated late in the first half after center Poy Erram was ejected from the game after a flagrant foul penalty 2 on SMB's Mo Tautuaa -- who had to briefly lead the game to get six stitches on a cut on his head.
The Tropang Giga appeared to have taken control of the game in the third period after outscoring San Miguel 34-18 behind 19 points from Jayson Castro.
But the Beermen came out with guns blazing in the payoff period, outscoring their opponents 35-8 to regain the title they last won in 2019.
It was a crushing loss for the Tropang Giga, who blew a 3-2 series lead. The 22-point deficit was the largest ever in a PBA Finals Game 7, according to PBA statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
But the odds were already stacked against them before the game after Reyes tested positive for coronavirus, while Jayson Castro still wasn't 100% after spraining his ankle in Game 5.
"We fought till the end, but they're really strong," Castro said in Tagalog. "You can see their second unit is really strong and we couldn't stop them. When we did stop them, they'd always have a counter. Congratulations to San Miguel. They deserve it."
"I could not imagine us winning another championship," San Miguel coach Leo Austria said. "We were struggling in the playoffs. In the semifinals it went to a seventh game, and we were so lucky to win that. They gave us a chance to play in Game 7. I know the players were determined to really win the game."
As the curtains draw to a close on 2022 Philippine Cup, here are three thoughts on the game:
Finally, a championship for the new Beermen
A lot has been said about San Miguel breaking up their aging core that won eight championships -- including five straight Philippine Cup titles between 2014 to 2019.
There were questions about whether the players they added had what it took to replicate the team's previous success.
All that talk can now be put to rest, as the new guys chasing their first title -- CJ Perez, Vic Manuel, Mo Tautuaa and Simon Enciso -- were instrumental in this run.
Perez capped a brilliant performance in his first-ever PBA finals with 25 points, including two huge triples in the fourth that helped the Beermen pull away. Manuel, who was 0-5 in the Finals before this one, chipped in 16.
Enciso's hot shooting in Game 6 carried over to the deciding game as he buried four triples. Tautuaa returned from the locker room in the second half with his head heavily bandaged to finish with 13 points and seven rebounds.
"After all the heartbreak, it's so satisfying to finally win one," Manuel said in Tagalog. "That's the main goal of every player in the PBA. Hopefully we can win more."
Manuel was part of the ill-fated Alaska Aces team that blew a 3-0 lead against the Beermen in the 2016 Philippine Cup. So there's a hint of irony that he finally won one with the very team that caused him so much misery in the past.
"I never thought about giving up," he said. "I knew as long as I was in the PBA I'd have a chance of winning a championship. I was 0-3 (in the finals) against them (the Beermen), and I won a championship with them. It feels good."
Enciso, who was 0-2 in the Finals before joining the Beermen, was in disbelief as he said: "It's my first championship. I don't think it's hit yet, but it means so much to win.
"I've been to the finals twice. This is my third time and to win it is just a blessing. There are no words that can explain. I'm a champ now.
"All my life I've been doubted. So to rise above the naysayers and haters, it's a blessing. I'm a champion now. They can't tell me sh-t. I would like to win more. That's the goal."
Austria is hopeful that this breakthrough title will spur the new guys to want to win more.
"When a player wins a championship, he won't want to let go," he added. "He'll want to win more. The passion to win a championship, the attitude will be there. For me, it's not really hard to coach them because they know the glory of winning a championship.
"More than half (of the players) came from other teams and didn't have experience in a championship. I think we were able to develop the winning attitude during the playoffs."
But while the new guys put in valuable contributions, Austria was quick to give credit to the three veterans left from his original champion starting five, stating: "They call Chris Ross a playoff player. His leadership was there. That's what carried us.
"Then of course June Mar (Fajardo) is always our go-to guy. And then (Marcio) Lassiter. The three left from what you guys call the Death Five. Their spirit rubbed off to a lot of players because they know that these three players are winners."
What this title means for Leo Austria
Entering the finals, Leo Austria had five Philippine Cup championships as a coach.
This latest one elevates him to rarefied air as he joins Reyes and Baby Dalupan, after whom the Coach of the Year award is named, as the only coaches who have won the Philippine Cup six times.
Yet there are some fans who still refuse to give him credit for San Miguel's success. So during his interview after the confetti had nestled on the coliseum floor, he said he was sorry to disappoint his critics once again. "Nagmukhang magaling na naman ako!"
"Going into the finals or the playoffs, there are a lot of people on social media, these critics," Austria said during the post-game press conference. "They say I'm just lucky because I have good players. There are so many doubters.
"I have to admit I couldn't do this on my own. My coaching staff and management helped a lot. I have to work hard. There's pressure to win after winning five all-Filipino (titles). I was confident I could win another championship."
'The Kraken' is finals MVP
It's safe to say that pre-injury June Mar Fajardo is back. 'The Kraken' won his fourth finals Most Valuable Player award, tying him with Danny Seigle and LA Tenorio for most all-time after averaging 19.0 points and 16.6 rebounds and shooting a phenomenal 69.6% from the field.
Fajardo had to sit out for over a year after he cracked his shin in a non-contact injury in January 2020. When he came back for the 2021-22 season, it was obvious he was still far from the form that won him six straight MVPs.
But this season, all the hard work he put in while rehabilitating had paid off. So it was no surprise that almost half of the people he thanked during his acceptance speech were either physicians or physical therapists.
Austria, who has been Fajardo's coach for majority of his playing career, already saw the hunger in his star center's eyes even before the finals.
"June Mar, after playing in the SEA Games, I knew he was really determined to win a championship because his conditioning was great," revealed Austria.
"Since Game 1 it was very evident. His determination was there. There's nothing else I can say about him, just provide the help for him to succeed. When he's successful we also get lifted up. I'm so lucky to have him and he makes me look good."