Did San Miguel Intentionally give up the game to Meralco?
First of all, we do not have evidence to know if it's true or not. The San Miguel vs Meralco game is a battle of playoff positioning. If San Miguel wins over Meralco, they will go to a best of 3 series vs Ginebra and if San Miguel loses to Meralco (which what happened SMB 91-MER 95) San Miguel will face North Port Batang Pier in a twice to beat disadvantage.
Looking at the format, San Miguel has the power to choose whom they want to take. Logically speaking, either SMB faces North Port or Ginebra, SMB needs to win twice in order for them to advance because Ginebra is a best of 3 series and North Port is a twice to beat disadvantage for the Beermen.
Again, either way, SMB needs to win twice.
Let's look at the starters.
SMB VS GIN
C - Fajardo vs Slaughter - Time has proven that Slaughter can take on June Mar on single coverage. Without the need of double-teaming Jun Mar at the post, SMB's shooters will have a hard time shooting.
PF - Stanhardiger, Nabong, Santos as (SF or PF) vs Aguilar, Devance - Slight advantage for San Miguel.
SF - Mccullough, Ganuelas-Rosser, Santos as (SF or PF) vs Brownlee - Take no anything away from Santos and Ganuelas-Rosser they are one of PBA's best defenders but Justin Brownlee is unguardable. Let's go to Mccullough and Brownlee. Based on the previous performance of Mccullough, he's pretty much like Brownlee a SUPER offensive import. Mccullough and Brownlee will pretty much just cancel each other out and offset each other in terms of scoring. What a match up! Any PBA fan will want to see this.
SG - Lassiter, Romeo, Pessumal vs Pringle (PG or SG), Thompson - A great addition here by the Gin Kings, this matchup can easily go in favor of SMB but now they have Pringle and the tables have turned! Stan is like a Machine he can play the whole 48 mins including overtime and only rest during timeouts and halftime but fortunately for Pringle, he still has Thompson and the veteran Mark Caguioa to give him a breather. This SG matchup is just equal.
PG - Cabagnot, Ross (PG or SG) vs Tenorio, Pringle (PG or SG) - The classic match up.
SMB does not have an advantage here. The core strength of San Miguel is June Mar, now if he's taken on a single coverage vs Slaughter, SMB's shooters will dramatically drop their shooting percentage because they will find themselves guarded all time and suddenly, if they can't hit a basket and Gin Kings gets it rolling, SMB can easily be outscored by Ginebra. Fortunately for them, they have Mccullough and Romeo to create and make something happen. But if Jared Dillinger and Art Dela Cruz can play and come back, Ginebra will be a handful.
SMB VS North Port
C - Fajardo vs Tautaa (C, PF), Ibeh - Mo is big and strong, he can occasionally stop June Mar but unlike Slaughter, Mo lacks height, time to time they will need to double-team June Mar and it will be a disaster every time June Mar kicks out the ball to SMB shooters. Great move here by North Port for taking a center defensive import, Ibeh can neutralize other big men like June Mar but the real problem here is the PF, SF, SG, and PG positions.
PF - Stanhardiger / Nabong / Santos vs Tautaa (PF, C), Anthony (SF,PF) Jervy Cruz - Slight advantage on SMB.
Thanks to Tautaa.
Thanks to Tautaa.
SF - Mccullough vs Anthony (SF, PF), Ferrer and who else? - OH MAN... This is the matchup nightmare for North Port. Anthony is a great defender on locals and imports but Mccullough's shooting, speed, and athleticism are ridiculous. They need to use some "Calvin Abueva" defense-like to stop him. Put random defenders and give "playoff fouls" to Mccullough with a championship determination. Stoping Mccullough is like the Philippines on the Fiba World cup, it looks impossible but it's not.
SG - Lassiter, Romeo, Pessumal vs Bolick (PG SG), Mercado, Elorde (PG, SG) - The super rookies - Perez of Columbia, Parks of Blackwater, and Bolick of North Port. Can the super rookie of North Port deliver? Of course, he can! but this one it's like the Philippines on Jones Cup, tough but makable. Mercado, nice to have a veteran here and Elorde as a role player but a clear advantage here for SMB.
PG - Ross, Cabagnot vs Bolick (PG, SG), Elorde (PG, SG), Lanete, Taha, Grey - Oh Mr. Bolick and Elorde! Welcome back! Yes, this matchup will most likely rotate to each of these guys.
CONCLUSION:
SMB looks like they dodge the Gin Kings after all. Even with a twice to beat disadvantage over North Port, they felt North Port is more doable. San Miguel Corporation is also notorious for doing anything on their power (trades and winning systems) to make their 3 sister teams (SMB, MAG, and GIN) to reach the semi-finals and importantly advance to the finals. Unfortunately for San Miguel Corporation even if the SMB "dodge" the Gin Kings, Magnolia and Ginebra will still do the series. Now the risk they have to take of course is surpassing North Port. The favor of winning will still be on SMB even on a twice to beat disadvantage but North Port will be a tough customer, take note that they won over SMB this season, 88 to 121 but SMB's import was still Charles Rhodes back then.
