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Tough trip to Finals
November 1989
If there was any team that worked the hardest in order to reach the Reinforced Conference finals, it was Anejo Rum 65 which had to pass thorny paths just to earn the right for a showdown with early qualifier San Miguel Beer.
Considering the playing days of strength-sapping performances against the toughest ballclubs of the land, including two great escapes from the hands of Purefoods by a one-point margin.
Think about the bodily checks which affected the play of small but intensity fiery Carlos Briggs and the heartstopping down the wire finishes that could have killed a man with a lesser heart. Just like the tune that the Bandang Diehards ng Anejo strikes whenever the crowd favorites step into the hardcourt, “Anejo Rum 65, may sarap na babalik-balikan.”
What can one say about Anejo except that it is a complete Suspense Theater by itself, a thriller with blood, guts and glory which has endeared them more nad more to the public as the years passed by. The fact that they could hold the fans’ interest until the very last second made them more exciting and lovable as they teetered on the brink of elimination.
With an unusual import in Briggs this Conference, the 65ers are eyeing to win the title so as not to end the season empty-handed. But how they’re going to do it is something worth waiting for. As Robert Jaworski said, “Walang sister-sister team sa labanang ito. Kawawa naman ang mga fans kapag hindi kami naglaro. We might be sister teams in some aspect, but our management is different. If San Miguel Beer is to become a champion, it must earned it the hard way.”
Pound for Pound, SMB has more men to choose from but not the kind of crowd support which Anejo has. The Sixty Fivers have added some artillery in their masterful armory with the arrival of a band, courtesy of Don Pablo Carlos, a hardline supporter of Jaworski since his halcyon days in Toyota.
No, LTDI and SMC aren’t spending a single cent for the enthusiastic kids from Roosevelt High School. They earned their keeps from the pocket of the former Toyota team manager aside from having the opportunity to cheer for their favorite ballclub.
San Miguel Beer coach Norman Black agrees that having Anejo as their opponent is good for the fans and the PBA as well. “It could have been easier if it was Purefoods even if Dexter Shouse was around. In the case of Anejo, it has an extremely talented import and Jaworski himself who is its spiritual leader. Whatever happens, this is the best time for us to get our grand slam because by next year, some of my players will be gone,” said Black.
Movie star Sharon Cuneta was shouted at to head for home while Gretchen Barreto, Jackie Lou Blanco and Elvis Gutierrez got loud cheers. As the bands outscreamed each other, it was clear 90 percent Anejo and ten percent Purefoods fan ratio. No one could have been happier than the Anejo diehards who braved-hours and hours of waiting outside ULTRA just to buy tickets.
The fanfare did not stop at ULTRA, it went all the way to millions at home who watched the tight, tight game on TV. There were sporadic fights outside, including a word war between Rudy Distrito and Glen Capacio over Briggs whose body seemed to have absorbed the worst beating he ever had in the game.
As we were trying to patch up our respective stories at the ULTRA operations room for faxing purposes, fax machine operator Angie and Operations manager Vina Pareja accompanied us to see the extent of damage at the Purefoods dugout. The dressing room mirror was smashed beyond unimaginable damage as foot marks were strewn around. “Nakita ko kasi si Sonny Cabatu na sumisigaw ng “Sinong matigas diyan!” a few seconds before a loud crashing was heard inside.
Oh yes, Baby Dalupan and Ding Panganiban protested as the scoresheet was signed but PBA commissioner Rudy Salud claimed that many reporters heard Purefoods President Rene Buhain say that referee Bernie de Dios’ call was drowned by the noise of the crowd as well as the competing bands.
All’s well that ends well, but not after a mighty struggle by the two teams. Purefoods had nothing to be ashamed of, they played valiantly without an import and nearly turned the tables around with the newest hardcourt sensation, Dindo Pumaren. Anyway, there’s next year to look forward to.
November 1989
If there was any team that worked the hardest in order to reach the Reinforced Conference finals, it was Anejo Rum 65 which had to pass thorny paths just to earn the right for a showdown with early qualifier San Miguel Beer.
Considering the playing days of strength-sapping performances against the toughest ballclubs of the land, including two great escapes from the hands of Purefoods by a one-point margin.
Think about the bodily checks which affected the play of small but intensity fiery Carlos Briggs and the heartstopping down the wire finishes that could have killed a man with a lesser heart. Just like the tune that the Bandang Diehards ng Anejo strikes whenever the crowd favorites step into the hardcourt, “Anejo Rum 65, may sarap na babalik-balikan.”
What can one say about Anejo except that it is a complete Suspense Theater by itself, a thriller with blood, guts and glory which has endeared them more nad more to the public as the years passed by. The fact that they could hold the fans’ interest until the very last second made them more exciting and lovable as they teetered on the brink of elimination.
With an unusual import in Briggs this Conference, the 65ers are eyeing to win the title so as not to end the season empty-handed. But how they’re going to do it is something worth waiting for. As Robert Jaworski said, “Walang sister-sister team sa labanang ito. Kawawa naman ang mga fans kapag hindi kami naglaro. We might be sister teams in some aspect, but our management is different. If San Miguel Beer is to become a champion, it must earned it the hard way.”
Pound for Pound, SMB has more men to choose from but not the kind of crowd support which Anejo has. The Sixty Fivers have added some artillery in their masterful armory with the arrival of a band, courtesy of Don Pablo Carlos, a hardline supporter of Jaworski since his halcyon days in Toyota.
No, LTDI and SMC aren’t spending a single cent for the enthusiastic kids from Roosevelt High School. They earned their keeps from the pocket of the former Toyota team manager aside from having the opportunity to cheer for their favorite ballclub.
San Miguel Beer coach Norman Black agrees that having Anejo as their opponent is good for the fans and the PBA as well. “It could have been easier if it was Purefoods even if Dexter Shouse was around. In the case of Anejo, it has an extremely talented import and Jaworski himself who is its spiritual leader. Whatever happens, this is the best time for us to get our grand slam because by next year, some of my players will be gone,” said Black.
***
During Sunday’s Anejo-Purefoods humdinger of a ballgame, emotions ran so high that fans from both sides got into a fight among themselves. Very angry and uptight men threw coins in protest against what they thought were awry calls, and the furious fans tried to drown each other’s cheers as the game progressed.Movie star Sharon Cuneta was shouted at to head for home while Gretchen Barreto, Jackie Lou Blanco and Elvis Gutierrez got loud cheers. As the bands outscreamed each other, it was clear 90 percent Anejo and ten percent Purefoods fan ratio. No one could have been happier than the Anejo diehards who braved-hours and hours of waiting outside ULTRA just to buy tickets.
The fanfare did not stop at ULTRA, it went all the way to millions at home who watched the tight, tight game on TV. There were sporadic fights outside, including a word war between Rudy Distrito and Glen Capacio over Briggs whose body seemed to have absorbed the worst beating he ever had in the game.
As we were trying to patch up our respective stories at the ULTRA operations room for faxing purposes, fax machine operator Angie and Operations manager Vina Pareja accompanied us to see the extent of damage at the Purefoods dugout. The dressing room mirror was smashed beyond unimaginable damage as foot marks were strewn around. “Nakita ko kasi si Sonny Cabatu na sumisigaw ng “Sinong matigas diyan!” a few seconds before a loud crashing was heard inside.
Oh yes, Baby Dalupan and Ding Panganiban protested as the scoresheet was signed but PBA commissioner Rudy Salud claimed that many reporters heard Purefoods President Rene Buhain say that referee Bernie de Dios’ call was drowned by the noise of the crowd as well as the competing bands.
All’s well that ends well, but not after a mighty struggle by the two teams. Purefoods had nothing to be ashamed of, they played valiantly without an import and nearly turned the tables around with the newest hardcourt sensation, Dindo Pumaren. Anyway, there’s next year to look forward to.
