San Miguel vs. TnT: Battle Royale

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This is a championship that basketball fans have been waiting for. How much better can it get? San Miguel Beer vs. Talk N Text. San Miguel Corporation vs. the PDLT/Smart group. RSA vs. MVP. La Salle vs. Ateneo. The litany of match-ups can go on and on, but one thing is certain: this championship series of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup is no ordinary series. It’s a championship series that features the two biggest names/supporters in/for sports. It’s not just a basketball series per se, it’s a whole lot more.

The entire Philippine sports world knows all too well that behind both teams are the biggest sports fans/supporters/sportsmen that the country has ever known. Let’s face it. Without MVP and RSA, where would Pinoy sports be today? The PDLT/Smart group of companies manage the PBA’s Talk N Text, Meralco and NLEX teams. They are also the major backers of the national team Gilas Pilipinas that sees action in the FIBA World Cup very soon. MVP is the Chairman Emeritus of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the country’s national sports association for basketball, while Al Panlilio is the SBP’s President. MVP also sits in the powerful Central Board of the FIBA. They are also the chief backers of the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles basketball team in the UAAP. But that’s not it. They also support teams in the semi-pro volleyball scene: PDLT and Cignal. And if that isn’t enough, they also own TV5, ESPN5, Cignal and One Sports, TV stations/networks that feature tons of sports events. MVP’s presence is also felt in boxing where Ricky Vargas sits as President. The MVP group also supports other sports like taekwondo, badminton, football, and futsal, most of which are under the radar and the popularity of basketball, boxing and volleyball. On the other side of the fence, San Miguel’s history dates back to the founding days of the PBA. Today, under the leadership of Ramon S. Ang or “RSA,” San Miguel maintains three PBA teams in San Miguel, Ginebra San Miguel and Magnolia (Purefoods). Their other most visible sports team is no less then La Salle where Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. runs the show. Like the MVP group, they also manage a volleyball team in Petron. And they also support other sports through either managing teams or supporting competitions. If we do a measure of how much both sides have invested in sports, I’m pretty sure both have spent the most, and no other private firm comes even close.

And this is why the San Miguel vs. Talk N Text championship series suddenly becomes more than just a finals series. It isn’t written anywhere in the script, but this finals becomes an ultimate showdown between the two biggest boys in Philippine sports. Both sides carry with them the weight of entire side that also includes all their other sports investments, albeit unconsciously. I can already imagine how the likes of Ateneo, Cignal and PLDT are also cheering for TNT. Ditto for La Salle and Petron. Then you have the employees of all the companies under both groups to be monitoring the finals closely. I wonder how many of them will be allowed to get off work early just to watch a game in the finals. Then you have the eventual “twists of freebies” from both sides. How many bottles of beer will be given away for free at bars and viewing parties? Maybe free Petron fuel for people wearing San Miguel jerseys? Or will the MVP group give away iPhones or Huawei cellphones to loyal fans? Or maybe free load for prepaid subscribers of the Smart/TNT/Sun networks? Fee subscription for Cignal cable TV clients? Do both own car dealerships? I’ll be lining up for a free car if ever they decide to give some away too.

From the big picture to the actual showdown, which I’m sure will be tight, close and exciting. Both teams feature NBA-level imports in Terrence Jones for TNT (34 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists a game) and Chris McCullough (34-14-3 a game) for San Miguel. Both can dominate a game and can also get their other teammates involved. TNT’s locals also have their share of the offense with RR Pogoy (17ppg), Jayson Castro (14ppg) and Troy Rosario (11ppg). San Miguel’s locals? June Mar Fajardo (16ppg, 11rpg), Alex Cabagnot (15ppg), Marcio Lassiter (13ppg), Terrence Romeo (10ppg). Lassiter is out with an injury but they have a deep bench that includes Arwind Santos, Chris Ross and Christian Standhardinger. San Miguel is favored to win it all, being the strongest team in the league today and having won all the major championships of the PBA. And they got even better with the late arrival of McCullough. TNT is no pushover but will have to dig deep up against a team whose championship experience is unmatched. On a lighter note, I’m cheering for Cebuanos Fajardo, Pogoy and Brian Heruela, all who trace their roots to the University of Cebu, and a trace of UV for Heruela. While Fajardo and Pogoy have always been in the spotlight (and also part of Gilas Pilipinas), Heruela has stepped up and played quality minutes for TNT at the backcourt.

I’m just grateful to both the MVP and San Miguel groups for keeping Pinoy sports alive today. And both deserve to be in the championship series; a finals for the ages.

So what will it be? Beer or Cellphones? Drink or Data?



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