So the San Miguel Beermen are the champions of the 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference, hammering Ginebra, 90-79. The Beermen led from start to finish, frustrating every comeback mounted by the Gin Kings.

I know I picked Ginebra to win, but I also offered a caveat that San Miguel would win if Marc Pingris went berserk (in a good way). And go berserk he did, punishing Ginebra’s small forwards on the block and off the offensive boards, so much so that Ginebra coach Jong Uichico was forced to counter with a big lineup. It worked in game 5, when David Noel had a good shooting game, but in game 6 and game 7, it paralyzed the Gin Kings offense. Ginebra’s halfcourt sets were uglier than Dorian Pena and Mick Pennisi.

I was surprised that Uichico refused to make bigger adjustments in game 7, keeping with his game plan of dumping the ball down low to Eric Menk, who looked like he was suffering from arthritis and rheumatism all game long. He played right into Siot Tanquincen’s hands.

I’d also noted how San Miguel’s players are a bunch of frontrunners, guys who play infinitely better when they’re leading all game. Their hot start in game 7, powered by Pingris and Gabe Freeman, was really the key to the whole.

I had neglected to mention the San Miguel backcourt’s performance in the series. Apart from taking advantage of the flat-footed Ginebra guards, who allowed more penetration than Hayden Kho’s girlfriends, Jonas Villanueva, Mike Cortez, and even Dondon Hontiveros also did a great job staying in front of their opponents on the defensive end.

San Miguel deserves all the credit in the world, but the most enjoyable performance of the series has to go to Jayjay Helterbrand, who was out there dragging his leg and willing his team to stay in the game. I know his team finished second, but Helterbrand was every inch the champion.

This marks the end of the 2008-2009 PBA season, but this only marks the beginning of the journey for our country’s best players, as the Powerade Team Pilipinas begins their first big test tomorrow night at the Jones Cup tournament in Taiwan. San Miguel’s Mick Pennisi and Ginebra’s Uichico, Helterbrand, and Cyrus Baguio will be joining the rest of the team. It should be a long flight for those guys to Taipei.