By NIKOLE JAVIER
From brewing strong coffee, rookie Brandon Bates went up against even stronger big guys to help Meralco accomplish its maiden PBA title in the Philippine Cup against heavily favored San Miguel.
The 27-year-old big man from Australia, who was drafted last year by the Bolts and was signed to a two-year deal, loved every moment of his matchup against his counterparts from powerhouse San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.
Though it would only get tough from here, Bates is now looking to make more significant contributions for the Bolts in the Governors’ Cup in August while carrying the precious lessons he’s earned over the course of the conference leading up to the championship.
There, Bates is set to face bigger guys following the board’s approval to entirely scrap the height limit for the import-laden conference.
If coming up against Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar were not enough challenges in their semifinal clash against Ginebra which they won in Game 7, standing on his way in the finals battle was 10-time BPOC June Mar Fajardo flexing every bit of his might until the last second.
“It was probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my life honestly. [June Mar Fajardo] one of the strongest guys I’ver ever played against. Having a guy like him after having a guy like [Christian] Standhardinger and Japeth [Aguilar]. It was monumental. It was really difficult and my body is feeling it right now,” said Bates.
“I think it’s incredibly important [to be] playing against the best of the best on a seven-game series. I’ve learned a lot from it, so hopefully, I’ll be able to take it into my second season,” he added.
Still, Bates refused to believe he was a surprising factor in Meralco’s eventual conquest of the conference as he was just merely doing what was asked of him — sometimes even coming up short while he was at it.
But there to pick up his slack were his veteran teammates, seniors he could lean on when he was losing steam or focus.
“We have so many other great players. So many other vets who have guided me, who have shown me the ropes, showed me how to play. It wasn’t surprising. I still don’t think I did that well. All things considered. It’s just part of the course,” he said.
One day, the Fil-Aussie was simply living life as a student-barista. Next, he was a PBA champion half a year into getting acquainted with the Bolts’ system.
“I think this is the most surreal moment in my life. It’s like a movie, I’ve said it to everyone before. This time last year I was just making coffee, I was up at four in the morning. Now I’m a champion. No one can take that away from me,” he said.
