Rodney Brondial was instrumental in capturing San Miguel’s 31st PBA title.
San Miguel big man Rodney Brondial had a legitimate chance of emerging as the Finals Most Valuable Player in the recently concluded PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
After all, Brondial was among the most consistent Beermen in the series, posting averages of nine points on 63.9 percent shooting from the field, eight rebounds, one assist, 0.83 blocks and 0.33 steals.
His best performance came in Game 5, where he hauled down a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds, in SMB's 96-82 win over TNT.
But Brondial was under no illusion that he would end up hoisting the first-ever Ramon S. Fernandez Trophy.
“Ay, hindi na sumagi sa isip ko 'yun. Kasi role player lang naman ako, eh, 'di ba?” Brondial said after the Beermen clinched the title in Game 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“At saka isa pa, mahirap maging Finals MVP. Kasi dito, may tradisyon kami: 'Pag nag-Finals MVP ka, ikaw ang magbabayad. Lugi ako.
"Siguro kung papipiliin ako, hindi na rin kasi abunado pa 'ko diyan, eh, 'di ba? Hindi na, OK na 'ko. Sa kanila na 'yong award. OK na 'ko,” he added, drawing laughter from the press.
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For Brondial, he did not do anything special, especially on a night when June Mar Fajardo put up a conference-high 29 points and 23 rebounds in the clincher.
Fajardo was adjudged Finals MVP, his fifth and the most by any player.
“Para sa akin, sa totoo lang, ginawa ko lang naman 'yong trabaho ko. Wala namang special. Nagkataon lang sigurong gustong-gusto talaga naming manalo kasi,” he said.
“Laging ang mindset ko is matulungan si June Mar, matulungan 'yong defense namin, 'yong mga intangibles talaga. Bonus na lang sa akin 'yong scoring.”
[ALSO READ: Chris Ross continues to prove ‘age is just a number’ after SMB’s latest PBA title]
Apart from that, the 6-foot-5 forward was only making the most of the minutes he was getting in the prestigious All-Filipino conference.
Come the Commissioner’s Cup, Brondial is aware that his playing time will dwindle in a conference that features bigger imports.
“Ito 'yong parang mas mahaba 'yong playing time ko, tapos mas involved ako dito,” Brondial said.
“All-Filipino kasi eh. Siyempre, 'yong iba, kapag may import, alam naman natin, 'di ba, nasa mundo tayo ng halimaw doon. 'Pag sa import, tagapalakpak lang tayo doon. So ito, All-Filipino, special talaga siya.”
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.