After winning the Commissioner’s Cup, the writing on the wall is very clear on what the San Miguel Beermen’s next mission will be: capture the very rare Grand Slam.
San Miguel, which just hoisted its second straight title this season and 24th overall, is on track to become only the second team in PBA history to achieve two Grand Slams after the legendary Crispa Redmanizers.
The Beermen are now psyching themselves up for what is expected to be a tough road that awaits them in the Governors’ Cup that starts on July 19.
“That’s always the goal for us every conference. We get ready for it. Anything less than a championship is a failure for us. We know the task at hand coming up,” Best Player of the Conference awardee Chris Ross said.
“Not a lot of teams were able to win that Grand Slam. We’re one championship away. Just like these last two conference, we’re gonna go in prepared, work hard.”
Ross is confident that San Miguel’s Governors’ Cup import Wendell McKines, who previously played for Alaska and Rain or Shine, can help the team achieve its goal.
“Wendell has been here for about a month so he knows how we play. He knows how the PBA is. He’s been here two or three times already. We’re gonna take it from there. We know the Grand Slam is gonna be hard. We’re up to the task and we’re ready to go once the conference starts,” Ross added.
Former PBA MVP Arwind Santos is also aware of the importance of clinching the Grand Slam.
“Grand Slam, isa yan sa history na hindi pa namin nakukuha, itong grupo na ito, itong batch na ito. Kapag magkakaroon, iku-compare ka sa mga players dati, sila Ramon Fernandez, sina Hector Calma, sina Danny Ildefonso,” Santos said.
“At least itong group na ito, hindi namin sinasabi na nasapawan namin sila. Ginagawa namin silang motivation. Hangga’t maari makakuha kami ng mga hindi pa nakuha ng mga players noon, itong grupo na ito. Next conference, pwede pa naman. Yung mga history na hindi pa namin makukuha, gawin namin. Kasi iba yun. Kapag may history ka, kahit matanda ka na or wala ka na sa mundo, isa yun sa maalala ng mga taong mahilig sa basketball.”
PBA Finals MVP Alex Cabagnot, for his part, said that he will first savor his latest title.
“We’re gonna celebrate muna. Get our bearings. I’m sure, the management, Boss RSA (Ramon Ang), Boss Alfrancis (Chua), Boss Robert (Non), and coach are adamant of getting this title (second conference). I’m happy that we got it for them,”Cabagnot said.
Beermen coach Leo Austria shared Cabagnot’s thoughts.
“We’re not thinking of the Grand Slam because we’re celebrating this one first, but it’s in the mind of so many people. But we’re the only team which is eligible to win the Grand Slam this season. But it’s a long shot. We have to get ready and prepare hard for the next conference dahil this conference, there were so many teams which built up their teams,” Austria said.