By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

WE, avid fans of basketball games, watched on TV how the two professional teams of San Miguel Corporation booted out their respective opponents convincingly in the quarterfinals of this year’s Governors’ Cup held last March 17 and March 19, and both entered the semifinals. Yes, we saw how the league’s multi-titled squad San Miguel Beer unmercifully defeated the Converge five, 121-105, while the dreaded and darling of the crowd team Ginebra mercilessly routed the import-less NLEX,127-93.

Unfortunately, the two quintets of tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan will clash with each other in the best-of-five series and whoever emerges the victor will enter the championship round against the winner between the tournament top seeded TnT and fourth ranked Meralco both to commence on March 24 at Ynares Sports Arena. The pulsating battle last March 22 between Meralco and Magnolia that forced the game into overtime, 96-96 saw Meralco, enjoying the twice-to-beat advantage, eventually prevailing in  the five-minute overtime period, 113-107. It was a running battle from the start up to the fourth quarter, Meralco edging first Magnolia in the first canto by a mere point, 22-21 but Magnolia seized the front in the second, 49-47, protected its two-point lead in the third, 78-76. Then Meralco’s seasoned guard-forward Aaron Black sank in a buzzer-tying two-point shot to force the overtime. Finally, the five-minute extra period worked for the more experienced Meralco five starred by the skilled Fil-Am forward Chris Newsome, scoring seven points including a three-point shot. As expected, the elimination round pennant winner and top seeded TnT mercilessly kicked out eight-ranked Phoenix team, 132-105, and last March 22 to enter also the semis to face Meralco.

PBA records say San Miguel Beer (SMB) already won five Governors’ Cup championship crowns starting in 1993. SMB won again in 1999 and successfully defended its title in 2000 and triumphed anew in 2011 and the last (so far) was in 2015. SMB did not only win the coveted Governors Cup diadems but also victorious in other PBA’s conferences like the Philippines Cup, Commissioner’s Cup, All-Filipino Cup, Fiesta Cup, to name some, with a total of 28 championships. Yes, SMB is the most winningest team in the history of PBA since SMB entered the league in 1979. Second to SMB I believe is Ginebra with 15 championships, and four of these titles were from the Governors’ Cup, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021. These two multi-titled squads of MVP including Magnolia are obviously dominant forces of Philippines professional basketball league and on the roll again to win the prestigious coveted tiara. One will surely fall and the other will surely enter the championship rounds. Admittedly, I don’t know who, and I’m not also sure who will be its opponent in this year’s best-of-seven title dispute. My guess is it will be TnT. Hopefully, I’m not wrong. Let’s wait and see.

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A 42-kilometer mountain bike race will be held in Mapandan, Pangasinan on March 25 in conjunction with celebration of its town fiesta. This is the first bicycle race project of the town’s new chief executive Karl Christian F. Vega. The bikefest is for Mapandan mountain bikers only, according to former police Msgt. (ret.) race director Jesse Mosada of the said town. Of course, cash prizes and medals are at stake.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly sensual, demonic. JAMES 3: 14-15

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