Meralco’s Chris Banchero. Photo from PBA Images.

MANILA — Veteran guard Chris Banchero is finally a PBA champion.

He played a leading role in the Meralco Bolts' first-ever championship in the league, steering the Nenad Vucinic and Luigi Trillo-coached squad past San Miguel Beer in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

But before this historic achievement, the former Alaska Aces guard first endured a painful loss against the Beermen in the 2015-16 All-Filipino Conference Finals.

READ: Meralco makes history, clinches first franchise championship at San Miguel's expense

"Year after year, especially with Alaska, it was just not meant to be. But those are all lessons, and the way God drew it up tonight is something special," said Banchero last Sunday.

In the 2015-16 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Alaska had a 3-0 lead against San Miguel in the best-of-seven championship series. But the Beermen completed a stunning comeback that has since been called the "Beeracle."

In winning a title with the Bolts, Banchero set aside the heartbreaks of the past. 

"It doesn't make any sweeter that it's San Miguel. Just to win it is enough for me," he emphasized.

"To go through them, obviously, they had a great season, so we knew what we're getting into, and the coaches gave us a really good game plan. To make it all the way to the top of the mountain and get knocked down continuously, and then climb it again and finally get it, there's not many words to describe it."

Meralco’s Chris Banchero. Photo from PBA Images.

What was more important for him, he said, was delivering on what was asked of him when he signed with Meralco in early 2022.

"When I signed with Meralco, Boss [Paolo Trillo], coach Norman [Black], and boss Al [Panlilio], they said we can get a championship. 'You're the piece we need,' and we got it done," said Banchero.

That is why now, Banchero said he and the rest of his teammates deserve to celebrate and relish their history-making triumph.

"It's been a special seven weeks or whatever it's been mentally and physically. To go through all that, I don't think anybody's really slept, but it was all worth it," he said.

"Tonight was our night, and there are not many words to describe your first one especially when you've been knocked down so many times. To get it like this is very special," he ended.