A fan held up a home-made poster during Game 4 of the PBA Finals. It read: SMB - Samahan ng Mga Bagets. It was comical and poignant at the same time. The Beermen's two-game winning streak makes it a joke worth telling. Talk 'N Text's two-game skid punctuates the message. A team with some of the oldest players in the league is rejuvenated. It's funny how Olsen Racela and Danny Ildefonso can now claim to be Bagets. The Tropang Texters, however, aren't laughing. How do Forgets like Racela and Ildefonso play like Bagets? Perhaps the thrill of close games keeps them young. The high of a title chase protects them from the ravages of age, complacency, pessimism, insolence and, worst of all, indifference. A veteran who still cares (who still knocks himself on the head for missing an open three-pointer or dropping a perfect pass) always looks younger than a rookie who never does. Longevity, therefore, is not a birthright. It is learned. It is earned.
Meantime, the young from the other side became the restless. After two games, San Miguel had enough, finally got tired of all the talk. Jason Castro this. Jason Castro that. Talk 'N Text speed demon this. PBA Finals phenom that. The day after Game 2, the Beermen must've told Castro, "Since you're so cool, we'll hang out with you." As a result, San Miguel defenders stood by Castro's side in Games 3 and 4, all night, wherever he went, like presidential guards, like ardent suitors. All conference-long, Castro never felt so important. He also never felt as harassed.
Besides, Racela and Ildefonso are survivors in a hardwood jungle of MVP's, real-deals, punks and misfits. Human nature slows them down as it should. Personal attitudes, however, allow them to keep in step with today's players and today's game. They've been in the league too long to miss the significance of this series. They've been Beermen for too many years to belittle the chance to win one more championship, one last time. Together.
Even Ato Agustin recognizes the gravity. He trusted Racela and Ildefonso in the closing moments of Game 4. Racela sealed the win with free throws. Danny I scored an inexplicable lay-up. It was so old-school to trust experience to win the game. What is this? 2001? Bear with me. I can't tell these backtrack jokes for long. Olsen's career will be done by the time a champion is crowned. While Danny assured television producers after Game 4 that the Beermen will win the title in Game 6.
San Miguel is a gathering of elements. Alex Cabagnot represents the current Bagets; guys who will make San Miguel contenders for years to come. Olsen and Danny represent the forever Bagets; they just seem to be forever good, forever young. Samahan ng Mga Bagets nga; dahil balita lang ang naluluma. But winning, especially the type of winning that keeps Olsen and Danny relevant to this day, never gets old.
Mico Halili, GMA News
