Ato Agustin is aware that his name is being mentioned in the past few days, given what’s at stake in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals showdown between his San Miguel Beer crew and TNT that began at press time.

“We are really hoping for a repeat Game 1 win,” the San Miguel assistant coach told the Inquirer in Filipino prior to Game 1 tipping off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “But of course, TNT has won the last two conferences, so we have to have a better game plan for this series.”

The series opener can help determine if the Tropang 5G can have a clear shot at completing only the sixth Grand Slam in PBA history against the Beermen and avoid the heartbreak that came in 2011 when Agustin authored a Governors’ Cup upset.

TNT is aiming to complete the treble this time and erase all memories of that debacle 14 years ago when Agustin coached the team used to be known as the Petron Blaze Boosters.

Agustin was in his rookie season as coach after a successful run in the amateurs with San Sebastian in the NCAA and in the defunct Philippine Basketball League in 2010 behind the same Stags core that carried the Excelroof brand.

His first chance at a PBA title fell short earlier that season when TNT beat San Miguel, 4-2. The two teams met anew two conferences later, albeit with the rebranded Petron team saddled with a slew of injuries, leaving the Blaze Boosters as heavy underdogs.

And that was appearing to be the case in Game 1, as TNT led in a big way behind season MVP Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, Ali Peek and Larry Fonacier.

But Petron battled back behind the late import Anthony Grundy, Arwind Santos and Danny Ildefonso, who would win the game for the Boosters with a midrange shot at the buzzer, 89-88.

“Getting that Game 1 win was really huge because it boosted the morale of the players,” Agustin said. “And of course with Danny I, his experience of winning championships carried the team plus the way Arwind Santos and our import Anthony Grundy played.”

The two teams would trade two wins before TNT took Game 6 to force a decider. But Petron was not to be denied in Game 7 as Santos finally got the first of his nine championships while Grundy, Ildefonso, Alex Cabagnot and Denok Miranda came out to deliver an 85-73 victory, leaving TNT one win short of the Triple Crown.

Grundy had 26 points, seven rebounds and three steals, Santos produced 16 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and three blocks and the PBA Press Corps Finals MVP award while Miranda added 16 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Ildefonso came up with 13 points and seven rebounds and Cabagnot nearly put up a triple-double with his 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Petron prevailed despite missing Jay Washington, Joseph Yeo and Rabeh Al-Hussaini to injuries, thus the vital roles of the likes of Miranda, Jojo Duncil, Paolo Hubalde, Nonoy Baclao, Mick Pennisi, Rey Guevarra and Sunday Salvacion.

“We got a lot of injured players that time but my second group really stepped up in that series. And luckily, we were able to win the championship,” said Agustin.

He will look to provide some of his inputs as part of San Miguel coach Leo Austria’s staff in this latest attempt to foil TNT’s march to history. The Beermen advanced by way of defeating Barangay Ginebra in the semis, setting a potential repeat or a potential reverse of the past. INQ

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