Another Philippine Cup trophy is safely ensconced in the San Miguel Beermen's already overflowing cabinet. The "Death 5" (or whatever permutation of it they roll out on a given night) proved once again that when healthy and firing, they are virtually unstoppable in an all-Filipino conference. Eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, ever the humble titan, articulated the next, grandest goal: the PBA Grand Slam. It's the one major achievement that has eluded him, a personal Everest he shares with grizzled veteran Chris Ross.
“That’s our ultimate goal. It’s written on the mirror in my room: Win a grand slam,” Fajardo revealed, his voice steady despite the enormity of the aspiration. “As much as possible, if we get an opportunity like this, we’ll grab it. We know it’s not easy to get a championship. But we are capable. As long as we are healthy.”
And that's the core of it for San Miguel. They are capable. Their local talent is unmatched. Fajardo is a league unto himself. But as history, and even their own recent attempts, have shown, the path to a Grand Slam is fraught with peril. TNT's bid just fell short. SMB's own quests in 2016-17 and 2019 ended without the treble.
Here's the rub: to achieve the Grand Slam, San Miguel needs to find an import that can match, or even surpass, the league's established import titans.
The Philippine Cup is their domain. But the Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup introduce foreign reinforcements, and that changes everything. These are the conferences where the playing field levels, where one dominant import can carry a team deep into the playoffs, or even to a championship.
Think about it:
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of TNT: A legitimate NBA-caliber talent who can score, rebound, pass, and defend multiple positions. He's a true do-it-all, modern import who transforms TNT from a contender to a champion. He was Best Import in the 2024-25 Commissioner's Cup (which just concluded in March 2025) and has consistently shown he can go toe-to-toe with anyone.
Justin Brownlee of Ginebra: The undisputed King of PBA Imports. Six championships with Ginebra. An emotional leader, a clutch scorer, and a consistent force regardless of the opponent. He makes Ginebra, already a formidable local unit, virtually unbeatable when he's on his game.
These are the benchmarks. These are the players San Miguel's import will need to consistently outplay, or at least neutralize, to navigate two more import-laden conferences.
San Miguel's import choices in recent years, particularly in the Commissioner's Cup (which typically allows unlimited height), have been a mixed bag. They've tried various names – Quincy Miller, Torren Jones, Jabari Narcis, and Devon Scott in previous iterations – but none have truly embodied that consistent, two-way, series-altering force that RHJ or Brownlee bring. They've occasionally relied on returning imports like Bennie Boatwright for the Governors' Cup (which has a 6'6" height limit), who is a lethal scorer but perhaps not the defensive stopper they might need against elite import talent.
Fajardo admits, "Alam ko naman na mahirap makakuha ng grand slam. Hindi porket sinasabi natin na gusto natin mag-grand slam, makukuha natin agad. Kailangan natin pagtrabahuan." That hard work, for San Miguel, isn't just about their locals. It’s about scouting. It’s about recruiting. It’s about finding that perfect import who not only complements Fajardo but can also stand on his own as a dominant force against the best the PBA has to offer.
The Grand Slam is the ultimate prize, the final frontier for Fajardo and Ross. They have the local firepower, the coaching, and the championship DNA. But for the next two conferences, their true quest for history will hinge on whether they can unearth, and perfectly integrate, an import who can consistently match the brilliance of the league's very best foreign reinforcements. Anything less, and that Grand Slam mirror will remain just a hopeful reflection.
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