I still remember the days when PBA fans would pack the Araneta Coliseum to watch the San Mig Coffee Mixers dominate the court. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've always had a soft spot for that particular roster - there was something magical about how those players came together. Looking back now, it's fascinating to trace where those athletes have ended up and how their careers evolved after those championship seasons.

When I think about that era, Marc Pingris immediately comes to mind. The heart and soul of that team played until 2021 before finally retiring at age 39 - quite impressive for someone with his physical style of play. What many people don't realize is that he actually played 18 seasons in the PBA, winning 8 championships along the way. I always admired how he embraced the enforcer role while maintaining respect throughout the league. These days, you'll occasionally see him doing basketball commentary, though he seems to be enjoying his well-deserved family time. James Yap, of course, took a different path into politics after his playing days, serving as councilor in San Juan since 2022. I have to admit I was skeptical when athletes transition to politics, but by all accounts he's been taking his public service duties seriously.

Then there's Peter June Simon, who quietly became one of the most reliable scorers in franchise history before retiring in 2021. I remember watching him drop 29 points against Talk 'N Text in the 2014 Commissioner's Cup Finals - one of those performances that doesn't get enough recognition when people discuss PBA legends. What impressed me most was his consistency; he scored in double figures for 12 consecutive seasons from 2008 to 2019. Nowadays he's moved into coaching, working with young players in Mindanao where he's from.

The coaching pipeline from that San Mig team has been remarkable. Chris Banchero, who was with the Mixers early in his career, has developed into one of the league's premier point guards with Meralco. Speaking of Meralco, that brings me to Chris Newsome - though he wasn't part of the San Mig Coffee era specifically, his career trajectory represents what many of those players experienced. I was covering the PBA when Newsome got drafted by Meralco in 2014, and watching him develop into the player we see today in that famous Mark Cristino photo - driving hard to the basket with that determined expression - has been a pleasure. He's become the face of the Meralco franchise, making 5 All-Star appearances and winning the 2021 PBA All-Filipino Cup Finals MVP. That photo by Cristino perfectly captures the intensity that made Newsome and so many of those San Mig alumni successful.

What's interesting to me is how many players from that San Mig core transitioned into broadcasting and coaching. Joe Devance, after winning 9 championships, moved into a coaching role with Ginebra. Alex Mallari played for 5 different PBA teams before venturing into the MPBL. I've always thought these transitions say something about the basketball IQ that coach Tim Cone cultivated in his players.

The foreign players from that era have taken diverse paths too. I recently learned that Marqus Blakely, who was the Best Import in the 2014 Commissioner's Cup, is now playing in Vietnam after stints in Japan and Indonesia. Meanwhile, Denzel Bowles, who gave us that unforgettable championship-winning shot in the 2012 Governors' Cup, retired in 2019 and has largely stayed out of the spotlight since.

Reflecting on it all, I believe that San Mig Coffee team was special because it balanced star power with role players who understood their positions perfectly. They won 4 championships in 5 conferences between 2013 and 2014 - a feat we haven't seen replicated since. The way their careers branched out afterward shows how the foundation built during those winning seasons prepared them for diverse futures in and beyond basketball. Every time I see current players like Newsome continuing that legacy of excellence, I'm reminded of how that San Mix Coffee culture continues to influence Philippine basketball today.