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PBA finals: SMB's Balkman frustrated, but calm in defeat

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/08/09/20180808-pba-ginebra-sanmiguel-jc-02.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>San Miguel import Renaldo Balkman drives against the defense of Greg Slaughter. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – The Renaldo Balkman Redemption Tour did not end the way he wanted it to.The prolific Puerto Rican import was unable to lead San Miguel Beer to a title in the 2018 PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup, as they fell in six games to the Justin Brownlee-powered Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.Balkman did all he could in the series, averaging 24.5 points and 13.3 rebounds per game while taking point in defending the equally superb Brownlee. But they could not solve Ginebra&#x27;s defense, particularly in Game 6 where they were limited to a paltry 8 points in the third quarter.The import would not deny that he was &quot;a little frustrated.&quot; He had come to San Miguel to win a championship, believing it to be the final step in his quest for redemption after famously getting banned from the PBA in 2013.&quot;Yeah, I&#x27;m a little frustrated. Of course, I mean, you lost a championship game,&quot; said Balkman, who had 24 points and 14 rebounds in their 93-77 loss in Game 6.&quot;But at the end of the day, you know, we can&#x27;t win &#x27;em all,&quot; he added. &quot;I&#x27;m not a sore loser. Give all the credit to them, they did a great job preparing for us.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/pba/news/2018/08/09/pba-marcio-knows-wasn-t-super-game-6-45448">READ: Marcio knows he wasn’t super Game 6</a></li></ul>Indeed, the 34-year-old Balkman said that despite the loss, it was &quot;all good.&quot; &quot;It was a hard battle, and they came out with the win… Fell short this season, but it&#x27;s okay,&quot; he said.He offered his congratulations to Ginebra, particularly to Brownlee, who was his teammate in Alab Pilipinas when they won the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) crown earlier this year.&quot;You know what they say, well-deserved,&quot; said Balkman.As for what&#x27;s next, Balkman said he wants to rest and recuperate from the various injuries that he accrued over the long season. He does have &quot;a couple of offers on the table,&quot; but is also willing to come back to San Miguel next year for another go at it.&quot;If I&#x27;m available next year, and they want me, of course I have no reason to say no,&quot; said Balkman. &quot;If I do, it will be another great year for me to come back and redeem myself again.&quot;Yet Balkman also believes that even though he was unable to win a PBA title in San Miguel, it was already a sensational year for him. Not only did he win a championship in the ABL, but he also managed to return to the court after suffering from what he thought was a career-ending injury last year.&quot;This whole has been a great year for me,&quot; he said. &quot;Period.&quot;&quot;At the end of the day, I sat out for a whole year, and I didn&#x27;t expect to play basketball due to my injury. But through the grace of God, He gave me another chance to play basketball again,&quot; said Balkman. &quot;At my age, I&#x27;m still playing at a high level.&quot;Thus, as tough as it was to have lost a championship, Balkman is nothing but positive.&quot;Like I said, I&#x27;m not a sore loser,&quot; he said. &quot;And if I come back next year, I&#x27;ll be stronger and much better.&quot;For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

PBA finals: SMB's Balkman frustrated, but calm in defeat

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PBA finals: SMB's Balkman frustrated, but calm in defeat

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 09, 2018 03:34 PM PHT

Read More:

PBA

PBA Commissioner's Cup

San Miguel Beer

Barangay Ginebra

Renaldo Balkman

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