MANILA, Philippines – The San Miguel Beermen are in danger as they await the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round outcomes. After their regular season campaign, the reigning champions must watch the last two games from the sidelines in hopes of advancing to the playoffs.

After losing 115-97 to TNT Tropang Giga on Sunday night, the Beermen fell to 5-7 and were out of the Top 8. After losing, they lost control of their destiny to other teams. With their playoff prospects hanging in the balance, all eyes are on the forthcoming matches that will determine their quarterfinal place.

Marcio Lassiter, a veteran sharpshooter, was optimistic despite the uncertainties. He stressed that while advancing is unlikely, it is possible depending on the upcoming games. NLEX vs. Eastern on Wednesday and Magnolia vs. Meralco on Friday will be crucial games for the Beermen.

Magnolia and NLEX are tied for the eighth and final playoff berth with 5-6 records, ahead of San Miguel. Both teams losing would produce a three-way tie at 5-7, which would give the Beermen hope. If this happens, the PBA quotient system will choose the quarterfinal team. Magnolia or NLEX winning will remove San Miguel from the postseason and finish their title defense.

According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, the Beermen last missed the playoffs in the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup. Since San Miguel has been one of the league’s most consistent and dominant clubs, their current situation is rare. For a championship-winning team, missing the quarterfinals would be devastating.

During the conference, Lassiter acknowledged the team’s inconsistent campaign. He said the team’s ups and downs contributed to their current condition. Despite setbacks, he advocated moving forward and not dwelling on past disappointments. He stressed that the club will keep hoping as long as there is a mathematical chance of entering the playoffs.

San Miguel struggled in this conference due to injuries, uneven play, and tough opposition. The Beermen showed moments of brilliance in the elimination round but struggled to maintain it. Their inability to win consecutively left them susceptible in the eliminations.

The loss to TNT drove them down the ranks and revealed their shortcomings. Beermen defense struggled against Tropang Giga, letting their opponents control the game. San Miguel also lacked firepower, with important players underperforming. The loss reminded us that every game matters in a competitive tournament and that one mistake can have serious implications.

The Beermen now have to accept that they have little control over their playoff destiny as they await the outcomes of the remaining games. Given that they lost multiple chances to guarantee their spot in the quarterfinals earlier throughout the season, the players and coaching staff can only wait and hope for the best.

This waiting period is also a period of introspection for San Miguel. Going forward, the team will have to assess what went wrong and pinpoint areas that require development. This conference has taught them the value of consistency, resiliency, and flexibility in a very competitive league, regardless of whether they qualify for the playoffs or not.

Should the Beermen win a favorable tiebreaker and slip into the playoffs, they will have to get back together fast and get ready for a difficult journey. In order to have a chance of moving on, a player with a lower seed must perform at their peak because they will be up against a more formidable opponent in the following round. Nevertheless, the team will have to turn its attention to rebuilding and getting ready for the upcoming conference if they fall short and don’t qualify.

After a difficult Commissioner’s Cup voyage, San Miguel is now left to wait for their fate with nothing but excitement. Their season will ultimately continue or end abruptly based on the final two playdates. In any case, this experience will serve as inspiration for the Beermen to return to competition with greater vigor.