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2018 PH club basketball in review: San Miguel Corp. flexes muscles in PBA, ABL

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ABS-CBN News

<p>It&#x27;s as if anything San Miguel Corp. touched turned into gold in 2018. </p><p>Bagging four championships in one calendar year — three in the PBA and one in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) — is a rare feat, demonstrating yet again why SMC is in a league of its own when it comes to supporting pro basketball clubs.</p><p>Here are the biggest stories in domestic club basketball this year:</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/27/ph1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/27/ph2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/27/ph3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/27/ph4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/27/ph5.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/27/ph6.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/27/ph7.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/27/ph8.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/12/27/ph9.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><h1 class="heading">S.M.C. GROUP NETS P.B.A. &#x27;GRAND SLAM&#x27;, A.B.L. TITLE</h1><p>Magnolia, Barangay Ginebra and flagship club San Miguel Beer respectively copped the Governors&#x27; Cup, Commissioner&#x27;s Cup and Philippine Cup titles.</p><p>For good measure, the food-and-beverage conglomerate backed Alab Pilipinas en route to the ABL crown.</p><div><cite>Jonathan Cellona and George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><h1 class="heading">ALL-FILIPINO CHAMPION BEERMEN BACK &#x27;4&#x27; MORE</h1><p>San Miguel Beer kicked off a banner year for its mother company by downing sister firm Magnolia in the finals to win the Philippine Cup in April, the Beermen&#x27;s fourth straight and record-extending eighth all-Filipino trophy overall.</p><p>June Mar Fajardo went home with his sixth best player of the conference award, also a record.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/06/18/pba-dominant-june-mar-dynastic-san-miguel-top-magnolia-to-win-ph-cup-title">Dominant June Mar, dynastic San Miguel top Magnolia to win PH Cup title</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/04/18/pba-no-surprise-as-june-mar-bags-record-6th-best-player-of-the-conference-award">No surprise, as June Mar bags record 6th best player of the conference award</a></li></ul><div><cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><h1 class="heading">GINEBRA&#x27;S TITLE TURN IN COMMISSIONER&#x27;S CUP</h1><p>Justin Brownlee returned to Barangay Ginebra, helping the league&#x27;s most popular ball club defeat San Miguel 4-2 in the finals to win the Commissioner&#x27;s Cup title in August.</p><p>While June Mar Fajardo won a seventh player of the conference award, Scottie Thompson bagged finals MVP.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/08/18/pba-kings-again-as-ginebra-topples-san-miguel-to-win-commissioners-cup-title">Kings again, as Ginebra topples San Miguel to win Commissioner’s Cup title</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/08/18/pba-for-cone-finals-mvp-scottie-thompson-embodies-ginebras-nsd-attitude">For Cone, finals MVP Scottie Thompson embodies Ginebra’s NSD attitude</a></li></ul><div><cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><h1 class="heading">TRANSITION COMPLETE, AS MAGNOLIA WINS GOVERNORS&#x27; CUP</h1><p>Magnolia welcomed its first championship in the post-James Yap era, thanks to efforts by player of the conference and new franchise cornerstone Paul Lee, and finals MVP Mark Barroca.</p><p>The Hotshots defeated Alaska in 6 games in December for their first title since their Grand Slam year in 2014.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/19/18/pba-magnolia-throttles-alaska-to-win-governors-cup-title">Magnolia throttles Alaska to win Governors&#x27; Cup title</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/21/18/monkey-off-his-back-as-paul-lee-delivers-title-as-magnolia-main-man">Monkey off his back, as Paul Lee delivers title as Magnolia main man</a></li></ul><div><cite>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><h1 class="heading">ALAB PILIPINAS HOISTS A.S.E.A.N. LEAGUE TROPHY</h1><p>During the ASEAN Basketball League season, Alab Pilipinas became the de-facto national team, repaying a rabid following by beating Thai club Mono Vampire 3-2 in the finals to win the championship in May.</p><p>Led by Renaldo Balkman, Justin Brownlee, and finals MVP and 2-time local MVP Ray Parks Jr., Alab rose from the bottom of the standings all the way to the top. At one point, it lost its original corporate backer, but <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/01/18/alab-pilipinas-unveils-san-miguel-as-new-official-sponsor">San Miguel</a> swooped in to rescue the club in February and the squad never looked back.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/02/18/abl-hometown-heroes-as-alab-pilipinas-brings-title-back-home">Hometown heroes, as Alab Pilipinas brings title back home</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/03/18/abl-in-aftermath-of-winning-title-finals-mvp-ray-parks-jr-says-dad-we-did-it">In aftermath of winning title, finals MVP Ray Parks Jr. says — ‘Dad, we did it’</a></li></ul><div><cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><h1 class="heading">JUSTIN BROWNLEE, LOCAL BASKETBALL&#x27;S ADOPTED SON</h1><p>Everywhere Justin Brownlee went in 2018 — whether he was with Ginebra or <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/04/18/abl-sigaw-ng-gi-ne-bra-bumati-kay-justin-brownlee-sa-paglipat-ng-liga">Alab Pilipinas</a> — he brought along throngs of supporters with him. Never letting the adulation get in his head, he took the time to mingle with fans whenever he could and even once played a random pickup game on the streets.</p><p>He played nonstop for almost an entire calendar year, <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/03/18/look-justin-brownlee-adds-abl-trophy-to-his-championship-collection">securing championships</a> in the ASEAN Basketball League and the PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup. That winning résumé and down-to-earth nature led some Philippine congressmen to file a bill seeking to naturalize Brownlee.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/15/18/house-files-bill-seeking-to-make-justin-brownlee-a-filipino-citizen">House files bill seeking to make Justin Brownlee a Filipino citizen</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/02/18/video-ng-1-on-1-ni-justin-brownlee-at-naka-tsinelas-na-fan-nagva-viral">Video ng 1-on-1 ni Justin Brownlee at naka-tsinelas na fan, nagva-viral</a></li></ul><div><cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><h1 class="heading">RENALDO BALKMAN, P.B.A. BURY HATCHET</h1><p>Five years since the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/11/13/balkman-banned-pba-life">PBA banned</a> him for life for choking teammate Arwind Santos, Renaldo Balkman found his way back to the league, after commissioner Willie Marcial reversed the ruling in March.</p><p>Balkman has long regretted the incident, saying his stint with <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/01/18/balkman-sees-alab-stint-as-chance-for-redemption">San Miguel Alab Pilipinas</a> in the ABL was his way of redeeming himself. He rejoined San Miguel Beer in the PBA on May 19 as a replacement reinforcement, leading the Beermen all the way to the Commissioner&#x27;s Cup finals, where they lost to Barangay Ginebra.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/16/18/its-showtime-for-balkman-in-san-miguel-pba">It&#x27;s showtime for Balkman in San Miguel, PBA</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/18/18/pba-arwind-santos-glad-to-see-balkman-bring-positive-energy-to-beermen">Arwind glad to see Balkman bring ‘positive energy’ to Beermen</a></li></ul><div><cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><h1 class="heading">TERRENCE ROMEO, CALVIN ABUEVA TRADED</h1><p>In one year, Terrence Romeo changed addresses twice — first from GlobalPort to TNT in April, then from the KaTropa to San Miguel Beer in December.</p><p>Alaska also moved on from Calvin Abueva, also one of the most popular players in the league, sending the forward to Phoenix.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/03/18/pba-globalport-on-romeo-trade-split-team-wont-stand-in-way-of-ones-happiness">GlobalPort on Romeo trade, split — team won&#x27;t stand in way of one&#x27;s happiness</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/07/18/pba-alaska-ships-calvin-abueva-to-phoenix">Alaska ships Calvin Abueva to Phoenix</a></li></ul><div><cite>PBA Media Bureau</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><h1 class="heading">PACQUIAO LAUNCHES MAHARLIKA PILIPINAS LEAGUE</h1><p>It took a while to get his organization off the ground, but Manny Pacquiao pulled it off by founding the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and kicking off its first season in January.</p><p>Opening with 10 teams and Batangas as the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/19/18/batangas-holds-off-muntinlupa-to-win-inaugural-mpbl-championship">inaugural champions</a>, the league roster ballooned to 26 clubs from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, taking the sport to various cities around the country.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/12/18/mpbl-expansion-teams-new-faces-and-stars-headline-datu-cup-curtain-raiser">Expansion teams, new faces and stars headline Datu Cup curtain-raiser</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/26/18/concept-for-mpbl-was-inspired-by-nba-pacquiao-says">Concept for MPBL was inspired by NBA, Pacquiao says</a></li></ul><div><cite>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></div></div></div><p>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</p>

<p>With four major basketball titles in 2018, San Miguel Corp. proved that it's indeed in a league of its own when it comes to supporting pro basketball clubs.</p>

With four major basketball titles in 2018, San Miguel Corp. proved that it's indeed in a league of its own when it comes to supporting pro basketball clubs.