Philippines, 10 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


SMBeer has eyes on franchise?s second Grand Slam


PhilBoxing.com


The past three seasons in-a-row saw San Miguel Beer crowning itself the Philippine Cup champion making the Beermen the only team capable of coming up with a Grand Slam. They came up short though in as many times.

This year, coach Leo Austria?s charges, again, emerged the All-Filipino crown owners, opening anew the door for SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang to fulfill what every franchise owner dream of owning the much-coveted honor of becoming the only second team in the play-for-pay?s 43-year history to do so twice.

Only the legendary Crispa Redmanizers had done the trick in 1975 and 1983.

And no less than Mr. Ang himself, RSA to team members and employes, who made known his wish during the thanksgiving party he hosted in honor of the Beermen shortly following their Philippine Cup title conquest.

?No, it wasn?t a marching order, pero the fact na binanggit niya ang wish niya, nangangahulugang dapat na naming tuparin ito,? Austria told this writer in an interview on the eve of the Beermen?s debut against the Meralco Bolts in the on-going import-laced Commissioner?s Cup Tuesday.

?Kung maari lang daw naman,? skipper Arwind Santos butted in. ?But the fact na ngayon lang nagsalita si Boss RSA tungkol sa Grand Slam, dapat gawin na naming obligasyon na ibigay sa kanya ang gusto niya.?

And for that purpose, Austria had to call his players from vacation barely three weeks after the All-Filipino coronation night to prepare for the Commissioner?s Cup, where the Beermen are actually the defending titlists.

For that purpose, too, the Beermen acquired what team management thought is the best import in the market ? six-foot-eight Troy Gillenwater ? sid to be a veteran campaigner in the Asian and European leagues.

And so far, with the way he?s been performing in practices since arriving in Manila at the time the Beermen were defending the All-Filipino against sister team Magnolia Hotshots, Gillenwater, according to Austria, looks what the team really needs.

The Beermen, of course, boast, too, of the presence of the much-ballyhood 6-7 draftee Christian Standhardinger, a Fil-German, whose height and bulk are sure to compliment four-time MVP June Mar Fajardo?s usual dominance at the paint.

As in the past campaigns, the team?s strength is built around its tested starters in Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter. Santos, also as in every import-reinforced conferences, will be tasked defending the imports more than offensive prowess.

?Puwede din namang tumulong sa opensa kung kakailanganin, pero ang assignment ko na naman ay ang dumepensa sa mga import ng kalaban,? Santos said with a grin.

?The addition naman of Christian (Standhardinger), medyo nakumpleto na ang rekado, kumbaga, ng team,? Santos assessed. ?And if Troy (Gellinwater) will come up with what is expected of him, malakas at puwede na talagang katakutan gaya ng bali-balita.?

?Itong first game namin against Meralco and, probably, our next three to four games ang magsisilbing sukatan kung saan kami makararating sa aming misyon na manalo ng grand slam,? Santos added drawing concurrence from coach Leo.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “Pitbull” Cruz Battles Skilled Lamont Roach Next!
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Eddie Hearn Warns: Dana White's Push to Amend Ali Act Could Hide Fighter Revenues and Undermine Boxer Protections
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • SEBASTIAN "EL TRUENO" JUAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • WBC No. 2 Cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki reinjured
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • DAVE ALLEN VS ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV SHEFFIELD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • HANOI OPEN DAY TWO: CHUA, GORST, BIADO, SHAW AND DUONG CRUISE INTO LAST 64 IN HANOI
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • BOSTAN AND FAWAZ TRADE VERBAL BLOWS IN SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE FACE-OFF AHEAD OF TITLE REMATCH – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Yoelvis Gomez Set to Face Unbeaten Antraveous Ingram in Title Clash on DAZN
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Set to Make Southern California Debut Against Power Puncher Wesley Vanderlinden on October 23 at Fight Club OC
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • 8th AQ Prime FIDE Standard Open chessfest slated
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • A Filipino and an American Homecoming
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Tragedy Strikes Again: Arturo Gatti Jr., Son of Boxing Legend, Found Dead at 17 in Mexico
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Golden State Making a Bid for NBA Title
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT START IN HANOI | 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • RED-HOT CUBAN MIDDLEWEIGHT YOENLI HERNANDEZ: “I’M READY WILLING AND ABSOLUTELY ABLE TO FACE THE BIG NAMES IN MY DIVISION.”
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS ENNIS GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH LIMA AHEAD OF 154LB DEBUT – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • ALLEN AND MAKHMUDOV MEET FOR FIRST FACE-OFF IN SHEFFIELD AHEAD OF HUGE HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Amateur Boxer Tyrone Welch Dies After Match in Saginaw
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • AJ Lim Captures Fourth PCA Men’s Singles Title, Extends Dominance in Philippine Tennis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 18: JOE FRAZIER VS. GEORGE FOREMAN FIRST ENCOUNTER - THE SUNSHINE SHOWDOWN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • 5th Zhengxing Cup Philippine Xiangqi Rapid Open tournament on October 12
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Joey Canoy back in training; preparing to face IBF champ Beaven Sibanda in February
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • RED OWL BOXING ANNOUNCES BROADCAST TEAM AND FULL FIGHT CARD FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT’S “BOXFEST XVI”
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Tyson Fury back in 2026?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 6 OCTOBER 2025: Cecilia Braekhaus Retires After Defeating Ema Kozin
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 07 Oct 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.