(PBA image)
More than an hour before Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals tipped off on Sunday, Alfrancis Chua was already inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum, quietly navigating a familiar yet delicate balancing act.
As Barangay Ginebra prepared to face San Miguel Beer in a best-of-seven duel, the Gin Kings governor and SMC sports director made his way courtside, briefly settling beside San Miguel stalwarts June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross while the TNT Tropang 5G–Meralco Bolts series was already heating up. Moments later, he stood up and relocated to what has now become his postseason refuge: a “neutral corner” at halfcourt, behind the technical committee table.
There, Chua took his seat alongside PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, San Miguel governor Robert Non, and later Magnolia consultant Erick Arejola. It is the spot he will occupy for the duration of the SMB–Ginebra series, a self-imposed middle ground befitting his unique role overseeing multiple San Miguel Corporation teams.
Chua explained that the arrangement was not his idea alone. Initially seated with Ginebra, he said both San Miguel and Magnolia requested that he step away from the bench when sister teams collide, a move intended to keep things fair and above suspicion.
“Actually, sa Ginebra pa ako nauupo noon,” Chua said. “Pero nag-request ‘yung dalawang teams na huwag na ako maupo sa bench. Pare-pareho ko naman silang kinakausap. Sabi ko, no problem.”
The setup, he stressed, came with the full knowledge and approval of SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang.
“Kinausap ko si Boss RSA about that,” Chua said. “Lahat ng ginagawa ko dito, alam niya. Hindi ako kumikilos nang hindi niya alam, at nire-report ko sa kanya kung ano ang nangyayari.”
For someone synonymous with Ginebra’s passion-filled sidelines, the restraint has not been easy. Chua admitted that when sister teams clash, emotions must be kept firmly in check.
“Pareho kasing atin,” he said. “Ang iniisip ko na lang, sana maglaro sila nang maganda para masiyahan ang mga tao. Hindi ka pwedeng mag-react, hindi ka pwedeng pumalakpak. Parang Magnolia rin, pare-pareho mong nakakausap.”
Despite concerns from some quarters that the shared corporate umbrella could soften the edge of playoff competition, Chua dismissed the notion outright. According to him, the players know exactly what is at stake every time they step on the floor.
“Wala sa amin ‘yan,” he said. “Sinabi ko na sa kanila from the start, hiwa-hiwalay ang bonuses. Naglalaro kayo para sa PBA at para sa pamilya ninyo. Kung maglalandian lang kayo diyan, e di practice game na lang.”
Unable to openly root, Chua finds comfort in a simple certainty: one SMC team will make the Finals.
“‘Yun ang nagpapasaya sa akin,” he said. “Siguradong may papasok kaming team sa championship.”
As for who might emerge from the other bracket, Chua was characteristically candid but noncommittal. Meralco, he noted, thrives on collective aggression, while TNT’s lineup is built on speed, mobility, and perimeter shooting.
“Sa TNT, si Chot Reyes na lang ang hindi tumitira ng tres,” he quipped. “Lahat doon may tira sa labas. Magkakaalaman pa ‘yan.”
While the Finals picture remains unresolved, one detail is already clear: Chua knows exactly where he will sit when the title series arrives.
“Pag Ginebra pumasok, on the bench ako siyempre,” he said. “Pag San Miguel, either sa gitna muna ako o behind the bench, lalo na pag crucial, para pakalmahin ang emosyon at manatili ang concentration.”
For now, as the semifinals unfold and loyalties are carefully managed, Alfrancis Chua remains stationed just a few steps from the action, savoring the games from the safety and neutrality of his courtside corner.