But there’s also no overlooking the luck of Larry Fonacier, who just picked up his third pro championship with his fourth team.

“Luck comes to those who work the hardest,” Fonacier said yesterday, just a couple of days after Talk ’N Text captured the Philippine Cup championship over San Miguel Beer.

“I think I really put work into it. I invested time and sacrificed that’s why I was able to win those championships. But it’s a plus also that the teams I end up playing with have players who are dedicated to win.”

More than just riding on his good fortune, however, Fonacier made the most of his minutes in a star-studded TNT lineup.

Several times in the series, Fonacier came off the bench and drained triples that served as the Beermen’s knockout blow.

“[Coach Chot Reyes] just trusted that I’d make the right decision and shoot at the right time,” said Fonacier, who averaged 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the Finals series.

“Playing a lot of minutes speaks a lot about the trust he has given me.”

During the 2010 PBA Draft last August, Fonacier was traded by Alaska in exchange for draft rights.

The move came as a surprise as Fonacier delivered steady performances in the Aces’ arduous championship run in the Fiesta Cup Conference last year.

Before that, the 6-foot-2 swingman also had a stint with the Beermen from 2007 to 2008.

“I think whenever a trade happens, there’s a reason behind it,” he said.

“It’s easy to feel bitter, but I just looked at it constructively. Like when I was traded by San Miguel, I realized that I wasn’t ready for a lot of things, so I just worked harder.”

But Fonacier made an impact right on his first year in the pros, bagging the Rookie of the Year plum in the 2005-2006 season despite getting drafted 14th overall—far back in the second round—in 2005.

“It just motivated me to work harder, to defy the odds,” he said.

“Many said that my knees are not going to hold up, that the injury would take years away from your game, so many teams passed on me,” added Fonacier, noting the criticisms after he ended his collegiate career with an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury.

But at 28 years old, Fonacier has already won championships at all levels.

Before securing his three pro crowns, Fonacier shone as Ateneo’s varsity star both in college (Finals MVP in the Blue Eagles’ 2002 UAAP championship run) and high school (1999 MVP aside from their many juniors title conquests) and also in the amateurs (2002 PBL crown with Hapee).

“I n all those championships, we all end up liking to play with each other,” said Fonacier.

“It’s not about the individual awards or stats, we forget about those things and just focused on winning the championship. I think that’s the common denominator.”

Jasmine Payo, Phil. Daily Inquirer