Top 5 Trades and Transactions Made by San Miguel Beermen

One of the most popular team in the PBA for a decade is the San Miguel Beer. Even changing their name to Royal Tru Orange, Magnolia Beverage Masters up to the latest, the Governor's Cup Champion, the Petron Blaze Boosters.

And since it is the off season, and we all know that this is the time where all 10 teams are busy making their roster a force to reckon this coming season.

To begin with, let us look back on how San Miguel Beermen change the phase of their basketball legacy through their trades and transactions made over the past three decades. There are too many to mention but we will go down to top 5 memorable trades and transaction made by the 19th time champion.

TOP 5 (The trade between Ramon Fernandez and Abet Guidaben Part II.)

This trade happened when I was 7 years old and not so aware about the happenings in the PBA. This happened when Ramon Fernandez, by that time is the Purefoods' Playing Coach, is "accused" of dropping the game. He was benched by Chris Calilan, the team's manager, during their game against Anejo Rhum 65. And because of that, he was traded again to Abet Guidaben, who is playing for San Miguel Beermen. This is their second time that they were traded with each other. And after the trade, Don Ramon lead the Beermen to 1988 Reinforced Conference, all the way to their 1989 Grandslam. He also got his 4th and final MVP award during his stint with the Beermen.

TOP 4 (Olsen Racela to San Miguel Beermen)

Before the 1997 season, Ron Jacobs handle the team from Norman Black. The team was very serious in their "rebuilding mode". One of the key position they want to rebuild is the position that Hector Calma vacated. The Director is the vital piece of their numerous championships and the rare grandslam. And after he retired at some point in 1994 - 95, SMB is nowhere to found his replacement. They drafted Siot Tancquincen, Matt Makalintal and even use Frankie Lim as their pointguard, but they were unsuccessful in bringing back the glory.

Enter the Olsen Racela, a seldom used point guard in the rotation of Purefoods, became a free agent. And without hesitations, Ron Jacobs sign him and became the main PG of the team. And the rest is history! Numerous championships, mythical selections and national stint. After the Philippine Cup 2010, Olsen announced his retirement and become one of the assistant coaches of Petron.

TOP 3 (Danny Ildefonso as the 1st pick)

The 1998 PBA Draft is one of the most awaited draft during that time, and its because of the National University Standout, Danny Ildefonso. Unluckily, the Shell TurboChargers got the 1st pick, while the SMB got the second. Still in their rebuilding mode, they want Danny Ildefonso to be their pick in the said draft. So after some negotiations, the Shell and SMB swapped picks and Shell got Noy Castillo, a Fil-Am sweet shooting guard. Shell accepted the swap because they still have Benjie Paras. Some of the rumors back then, Shell agrees to swap their picks as long as the SMB wont sign Chris Jackson, a free-agent by that time, whom Coach Ron wants to be in his team, which is very known about this defense.

TOP 2 (Danny Seigle as Direct Hire)

1999, it was the year where PBA and arch-rival, MBA, is competing on who's the greatest basketball show in Asia. That's why every team is allowed to pick one direct hire Fil-Am aside from the 1999 PBA Draft. SMB set their sights on Asi Taulava, who played for Blu Detergent in the PBL. The management is very silent in negotiating about the Fil-Tongan. But suddenly a rumor comes to Asi that if ever he will be hired by SMB, he will be immediately traded to Marlou Aquino (i don't know if this is true). So Asi decided to accept the offer of Mobiline. Upset by Asi's decision, SMB set their sight to Andy Seigle's brother, Danny Seigle. A NCAA Division 1 player, who can play the 2-3-4 positions. Then after signing him to a contract, together with Danny Ildefonso, they build a SMB Dynasty from 1999 to 2001 winning several championships, including his 5 finals MVP. And if not of his injuries, he might be a PBA MVP, which is a close fight during the 1999 PBA Awards. Because of the Fil-Sham issue, the MVP award goes to Benjie Paras. Some says that Danny Seigle is very close to broke Paras' record of being the MVP and Rookie of the Year at the same time.

TOP 1 (SMB - Air 21 Blockbuster Trade)


This trade broke the million hearts of every SMB fans nationwide (including me). Danny Seigle, Dorian Pena, Dondon Hontiveros and Paul Artadi was traded to Air 21 in exchange of the Top 3 Rookies of the PBA 2010 Draft, Noy Baclao, Rabeh Al-Husseini,  and Rey Guevarra.

Some fans shouted "FOUL!". Why did SMB traded their stars, who gave them numerous championships in the past, to some unknown players who are not yet proven winners during that time. The management explained that SMB is in serious rebuilding mode and the team is aging.

So after the trade, SMB got eliminated during the Commissioner's Cup, while Air21 enters the semis. But during the Governor's Cup, Petron (formerly SMB) bagged the championship against Talk and Text, while Air21 got eliminated first without registering a win.

But in this offseason, Dondon Hontiveros finds a way back home. Check out my first blog about my analysis about the trade aftermath. CLICK HERE.

So that's all. I hope you will enjoy my second blog. Thanks a lot.

sincerELY.