Agustin hopes to end SMB's All-Filipino title drought

For San Miguel rookie coach Ato Agustin, winning a title in his first full season as the Beermen’s mentor would just be a bonus, since he wants to end the team’s decade-long title drought in the All-Filipino Conference. The Beermen, the winningest franchise in the 36-year history of Asia’s first ever pro league, has not won the Philippine Cup title for nearly a decade now. Agustin said SMB’s title drought could be an added motivation for the team when the Beermen begin their semifinals series against sister-team Barangay Ginebra on January 5 at the Araneta Coliseum. “Medyo matagal-tagal na rin," said Agustin, a key player of the 1989 San Miguel team that completed a Grandslam, and later became the lowest drafted player to win the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1992. San Miguel’s last conference title without an import came in 2001 when it beat Ginebra in the Finals, 4-2. Agustin was still an active player in his finals season with Red Bull when the Beermen pulled off the feat. Ironically, Uichico was the San Miguel mentor that won its last All-Filipino crown. The Beermen, the No. 2 seeded team going into the playoffs, last played on December 19 when they beat the Air21 Express, 97-75, in the quarterfinals. The Kings, meanwhile, completed an amazing comeback against the Alaska Aces in the quarters. Agustin said they need to be determined against Ginebra since they will be up against a franchise handled by champion coach Uichico. “We need to be ready. Alam naman natin na malakas na team ang Ginebra," Agustin said. San Miguel swept Ginebra, the third-ranked team, in the elimination round, with the Beermen winning both games by a single point. The Beermen rallied from a 21-point deficit to escape with a 69-68 victory in their first meeting, then made it two straight, 79-78, behind Jay Washington’s tip-in basket in the final 13.4 seconds. Agustin said he expects the best-of-seven series to be closely fought. “Mas mahirap ang laban ngayon. Different level na dahil semifinals na ito." – JVP, KY, GMANews.TV