Philippines, 13 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


SAN MIGUEL VOWS COME BACK


PhilBoxing.com


"It aint over, till it's over!"

Believing in the proposition introduced by New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra, San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria yesterday vowed to bounce back from a big 0-2 hole his title-defending Beermen are in after two games of their best-of-seven series against the Alaska Aces for the All Philippine Cup championship of the PBA.

"The story of he conference is not yet finished," Austria declared on the eve of of the Beermen's Game 3 date with coach Alex Compton's Aces set at 7 p.m. today at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

"For as long as there's still a chance to win. we'll not lose hope, with or without June Mar (ace center June Mar Fajardo who didn't see action in Game 1 and 2 due to knee injury suffered in SMB's semifinal encounter with Rain or Shine.

And, according to Austria himself, he won't be fielding his prized 6-foot-10 behemoth, the heart-and-soul of his team's crown glory last year, unless he is 100% healthy.

A victory by the Aces moves the Wilfred Uytengwu-owned franchise to within anoher win to clinch the title. A situation Austria and the Beermen and even the SMB management wouldn't want to happen.

This is because, for the record, no team in the 41-year history of the first play-for-pay league in the country and in Asia has extricated itself from that giant 0-3 deficit in a first-to-win-seven series to win the crown.

For the record, too, the Beermen, have never won a best-of-7 series, much less forced a Game 7, after going down 0-2.
Reason why Compton is expecting the Beermen, whether Fajardo will play or not, to give their all in today's Lucena City showdown.

?We expect a real battle in Lucena,? Compton said. ?While it is a huge opportunity for us to really assert ourselves in this series, it is also a great opportunity for them.?

A piece of record does not sound good too for the Aces, especially since six out of 43 teams in the past still lost a best-of-7 series despite leading, 2-0, and three of them the Alaska team.

The Aces won the first two games of the series, 100-91, and, 83-80, both in struggling fashion. lt relied on a strong finish to prevail in Game 1 last Sunday, but had to depend on the breaks in Game 2 last Tuesday when the seldom-used Yancey de Ocampo gave Alaska's big men rough time.

The Aces also walked through the proverbial eye of the needle in Game 2, relying on big breaks in the last 57 seconds to win, 83-80, in a game where SMB?s Yancy de Ocampo, who pinched-hit for Fajardo, gave the Aces a pretty tough time only to miss a pair of charities at crunch time.

Fajardo's absence though is not the only problem confronting the Berermen and Austria. So are their point-guards, particularly Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross, who both looked not to understand their respective role on the team.

Cabagnot, for instance, emerged the high-point man with 20 points and 23 points, respectively in Games 1 and 2, forgetting that his first option was to create situations for his teammates at the wing.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Yanon is PBF flyweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.