I doubt it.
There is no PBA squad that can repulse the Beermen in a best of seven championship series. The 4-1 near sweep last Friday of Magnolia gave SMB coach Leo Austria his sixth PBA trophy while etching his name as the only mentor to grab the All Filipino tournament four times in succession.
The bench is just too deep.
June Mar as center, Arwind Santos as big forward, Marcio Lassiter as small forward, Chris Ross as shooting guard and Alex Cabagnot as point guard.
These guys are the best five one can gather in a team.
The three-point game tying shot of Santos saved SMB from losing the match after the first overtime.
All, as you have seen, not only could play long extended minutes but their movements without the ball were synchronized like the hands of a clock with precision and timing.
The Magnolia Hotshots gave the fans the thrill and excitement every underdog is expected to unleash.
First, Paul Lee and his gang came up with a come from behind win in the opener that truly raised quizzical eyebrows.
Although undermanned with Pingris and Melton in the injured list, they erased a 20-point deficit and came up with big shots in the fourth quarter to edge their foes.
That however enraged the Beermen more.
I am sure Austria scolded his boys with a stinging dressing down. They went back to the drawing board obviously and in the next four games, June Mar imposed his hulking altitude and dominated his counterparts like he was Lew Alcindor of old in the US NCAA when the UCLA Bruins ruled the collegiate basketball tourney.
Again, his supremacy in the middle gave Fajardo the “Best Player of the Conference” award.
Now that it has become moot and academic that no team seems to stand a chance in a long finals series against SMB, how do you see the entry of Christian Standhardinger as the latest recruit of the Beermen?
The 6’8” Fil-German has displayed star quality as a Gilas rookie where he fought foreign counterparts in the FIBA tournament last year.
Standhardinger’s presence in SMB’s line-up will definitely tip the imbalance in the PBA more in favor of Austria and his boys as they will have the tallest line-up.
Plus, give him 5 points as average contribution as well as 5 rebounds plus 1 block shot and 2 assists. These factors are not negligible.
Let us see how new PBA commissioner Willie Marcial will solve this dilemma that exploded in the face of just resigned commissioner Chito Narvasa.
Reminds me of the near death of Asia’s first play for pay league in the early 80s when only two ballclubs – Crispa and Toyota – were acknowledged as the only serious title contenders for every conference.
KIA, I am guessing, is not interested so much in building a title contending squad because it gave away some of its promising and able-bodied players in trades to other teams, including Standhardinger.
Financial constraints?
If the PBA cannot produce a team worthy enough to challenge SMB’s dominance, fans will surely shy away from watching.
In the meantime, here’s a toast to SMB. Isa pa nga! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Prov. 8:34: “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
