Cyrus Baguio will not let All Filipino ring slip away

Alaska's veteran swingman Cyrus Baguio finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals.

LUCENA CITY - Somewhere in the middle of the packed hallway of the Quezon Convention Center, Cyrus Baguio stood in front of a camera and gave an interview to several reporters.

Alaska just claimed Game Three the best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup final series against San Miguel Beer, where the veteran swingman finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, easily one of his best all-around performances in the conference so far.

More importantly, the Aces took a commanding 3-0 lead against the Beermen - a hole that no team has ever climbed out of in the history of the PBA. For the 35-year-old Baguio, it puts him one win away from capturing his first ever All-Filipino championship ring.

"Siguro eto na 'yung pinakamalaking chance para sa akin na makuha 'tong All-Filipino," he said before the series, just as Alaska booked their ticket to the finals with a mastery over GlobalPort in the semifinals. "Sana eto, regalo sa akin."

He had been there the past year, too, as part of the epic seven-game series also between Alaska and the mighty San Miguel - which ended in an Arwind Santos three-pointer that shattered his dream of finally touching the most coveted PBA trophy before he walks away from the game for good.

Baguio is hardly the oldest player on a team with Eric Menk, Dondon Hontiveros, and Tony dela Cruz, but he is extremely conscious of the fact that basketball is not forever. He knows he has little time left on the court before he hangs up his sneakers, and the desire to go out as a winner grows steadier every game.

"Iba pa rin pag All-Filipino," he said. "Pag nag-champion ka kumbaga, pinaghirapan niyo. Hindi mo masabing, 'a kasi malakas import nila.' So eto talaga 'yung pinakamasayang championship pag nakuha namin."

Here in an unfamiliar arena in Quezon province, five hours away from Manila, Alaska put one foot inside the door. And, in the process of chasing the hands of time, Baguio turned back the clock on himself - he drained three treys, grabbed four defensive boards and four more on the offensive end, and played lock down defense.

The previous game, he gave fans a glimpse of his skywalking days as he gracefully finished a double clutch lay-up in transition - hanging in mid-air, where he took flight many times before.

For a moment there, "Skyrus" was back. And as he stood in the middle of that stuffy hallway three days later waiting to go home, he looked younger than he had ever been. His teammates and coaches kept video-bombing his interview, making faces and playfully pulling his hoodie over his head.

It was the joyous aura of a team up 3-0, but Baguio, soft-spoken and usually poker-faced, means business. The All-Filipino ring slipped from his finger last season, and he would do everything in his power to prevent it from happening again.

He is not alone in his quest, though. As he wrapped up his media session expressing his hope to finally clinch the championship on Sunday, Calvin Abueva put an arm around his shoulder and declared, "Kukunin na!"

And Baguio, despite himself, could not help but agree: "Sabi nga niya, kukunin na namin." — APG, GMA News