SMSCM's 3mendous 3Peat

Sabi nila, walang challenge yung pagiging SanMig fan nowadays.

Puro champion daw eh. So, natural lang na maging die-hard ka.

I was like… “What?”

Didn’t you remember that those championships won were all came from an almost drowning elimination round?

“Started from the bottom now we’re here”

Ilang sleepless nights din ang naranasan ko sa bawat conferences lalo na pag eliminations.

Yung tipong “Bakit natalo?” “Kaya naman, bakit hindi pa ni-push?” “Nagmadali pa naman akong umuwi, talo pala.” “Bakit hindi pa nagpapalit ng import?”

BUT, when playoff comes.

Nag-iiba talaga yung ihip ng hangin.

“Okay lang matalo ngayon, at least di na pinilit, for sure babawi sila next game.”

Ganyan na palagi ang mindset ko kapag playoffs.

Bakit?

7 straight semis appearance ba naman eh. 

And those appearances were never easy.

Halos puro do-or-die nga eh, isama mo pa yung quarterfinals.

Pero, this team develops the winning attitude partnered by the culture of hard work.

Ang sarap baragin ang mga mukha nung nagsasabing “Asa sa Refs” ang team na ‘to.

Hindi ba nila nakikita yung mga buwis-buhay at kayod-kalabaw na paglalaro ng players dito?

Can’t they still yet accept that our LOCKED (as in naka-kandado) DOWN DEFENSE rattles the opponent and would rather fell in love to shoot outside, rather than to be blocked (by Barroca. Ouuuuuuch!) and banged by Ping and any import si Bowles man yan, si Blakely and lately nga sin Mr. Everywhere na si James Mays without fouling?

Well, haters will always hate and bitter fans will always find loopholes.

Ahh! Well, just forget about them (hindi nakatutulong sa paglaki. Lol)

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This team is built with experience, trust and brotherhood.

Experience --- XP is the best teacher. Agree? Yeah of course. Actually, the team could have swept Alaska and Air21 if they really pushed through. But Coach Tim had other things or should I say, has always bigger things in his mind. He wants these guys to experience everything before going into a biggest battle. Team-do-or-die nga diba? Hehe

Trust --- This team has a coach who would bench his superstars for having a bad – worst game. BUT, this team has also a coach who would still give his superstars a lot of playing time even having a bad-worst game. Gets? If you can’t, don’t try to figure it out, because you will never succeed. Hahahah!  So, will you trust a coach like him?

Mixers will answer YES. They trust their coach, they trust the system. This team has individually talented players who may opt to make their own decisions and show off their skills, but that’s a NO, NO and they respect it.

This team has no consistent prolific scorer but they know who to pass the ball to when game is on the line. James – PJ – Ping and now plus Barroca. Players trust each other as Tim cone does.

Brotherhood --- We’ve been hearing that some teams with multiple stars having issues with each other. Pasikat, papogi, lider-lider-an, feeling coach or whatever.

Meron pa nga, dahil hindi masyadong mag-click eh, na-trade na yung iba at mas naging successful nung nahiwalay sa co-stars nila.

Pero sa team na’to. Hindi uso yun. James, Ping and PJ are together for how many years?.... and still counting. Bida yung isa, Masaya yung dalawa. Bida yung dalawa, Masaya pa rin yung isa. Walang inggitan, walang keme.

Click for more of the Big 3: 

http://rizfernandoallblogs.blogspot.com/2014/05/big-three-peat.html

We’ve been hearing a lot of bench players asking to be traded to have more playing time.

Meron pa nga, may playing time na kahit papaano, nagrereklamo pa rin kasi feeling nila hindi sila deserving na mas matagal naka-upo.

Pero sa team na’yo. Wala kang maririnig na ganun.

 “Di ko naman kailangan yung playing time,”.

 “Aanhin mo yung playing time? Di mo naman makakain yun,” he japed.

“Ang hirap kasi e,”  “Parang pamilya kami dito. Gusto kong masali dun sa 12 pero alam ko naman deserving rin yung mga ibang kakampi ko.”

 – Jerwin Gaco

Speaking of Jerwin Gaco, let’s now talk about this beautiful puzzle’s pieces.

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Yan sila Jerwin Gaco, si Val Acuna, si Isaac Holstein at JR Cawaling, bench 

players man kung tawagin, sila yung mga nagpapalakas sa players natin every 

practice. 

Credits to them, for they are all ready to play kahit mahaba o maiiksing minutes man yan. 

Sila Ken Bono at Lester Alvarez who are always there supporting the team and been there in practices as well. You guys are all part of this SWEET 3 PEAT. 

You are one of the pieces that complete the puzzle.

How about our Daddy Yancy de Ocampo and Daddy Long Legs Rafi Reavis?

Nung una maraming nag-aalala kasi hindi na ganun ka-competitive yung center position ng team.

Tumatanda na daw kayo. But, you still can deliver well when needed. Thanks Rafi for those rebounds, block and extra points. Thanks Yancy for those nice passes and sweet mid-range shots. 

Thanks to both of you for giving your opponents, “nice-fouls” hehe

And of course yung mga honorable mentions natin na sila Ian Sangalang, Justin Melton, Alex Mallari, Joe de Vance at Co-MVP na si Mark Barroca, hope you continue what you have started.

Click here for more of the Honorable Mentions-

http://rizfernandoallblogs.blogspot.com/2014/05/to-honorable-mentions-and-co-mvp.html

How about a"Mays"ing James?

He proved his doubters wrong, including ME. Yeah I admit. I was one of those saying, "we can't reach the finals with him." But he really made things happen. He compliments well with the team. He didn't waste Coach Tim's trust in him. He's not the best import but he got the ring! Thanks a lot James Mays. You're such a blessing. 

Click for more of James Mays --- > http://rizfernandoallblogs.blogspot.com/2014/05/you-amaysed-me.html

How “sarap” it is to have this kind of team right?

Why wouldn’t be?

It is lead by a group of extraordinary people:

Coach Tim --- fond of collecting trophies. Hehe (Sabi po ni sir Mico haha)

Click here for more of Coach Tim -à http://rizfernandoallblogs.blogspot.com/2014/05/dear-master-cone-and-to-your-ngiting-3.html

Assistant coaches:

Johnny Abarientos --- Di nakapagtataka, bakit patuloy na nag-bo-blossom sina Barroca, Melton and Mallari. He’s the Flying A the source of Flying B.

Richard del Rosario --- well, according to Marc Pingris, siya ang nagtuturo ng mga post moves. J And ofcourse he has that great sense of humor that light things up.

Olsen Racela --- :(  :’( Ra-ra-Racela. Siya yung katuwang ni Johnny A sa pagpapalakas ng guards natin… L His experience and fighting spirit are always available para ma-ishare niya sa players natin. Pero… aalis na siya… :(

Jeff Cariaso --- :(  Siya lang naman yung kanang-kamay ni Coach Tim. No doubt, his smarts, experiences and skills were all a great contribution to this sweet three-peat. Sila ni Johnny A yung kabisadong-kabisado ang triangle, kahti nakapikit. Kaya mabilis nakaka-pag adjust ang players natin. Pero… AALIS NA DIN SIYA… :(

To Coach Ols and Coach Jeff, thanks sa lahat-lahat. I don’t wanna be selfish kaya I’m wishing you all the best sa lilipatan niyong team. A lot of pressure to you now for you are about to try to awaken the sleeping NSD of Ginebra and give them the championship they have been long waiting. God bless!

Team Manager --- That hug. That emotional, familiar hug. No other team manager can do that best but you. Alvin Patrimonio. My 1^st-ever PBA crush. The very spiritual leader of the team. Your heart and passion for the game are being transpired to the Mixers.

Next mission ------ GRANDSLAM. Hello Mr. Everywhere! Hello Allein Maliksi! #Exciting to!

This is our team.

All Heart. All Hard Work.

Not #LarongMayaman

Not #LarongPapogian