Beermen exude confidence, grit

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SAN Miguel Beer is raring to regain its lofty place in the conference it usually won in the past–the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

REINVIGORATED: San Miguel Beer star CJ Perez, here soaring past Ginebra counterpart Scottie Thompson last season, will be boosted by his Gilas stint in the World Cup and Asian Games. PBA PHOTO

Beermen coach Jorge Gallent is convinced his charges can hack it, especially with the much-needed experience that former six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, and Chris Ross got while playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup and 19th Hangzhou Asian Games where they won the gold.

SMB also added bull-strong forward Jeron Teng in the off-season and signed rookie Troy Mallilin and veteran center Noy Baclao.

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“We have three new players, and we just have to get rid of our injuries again. Terrence (sprained ankle) and Chris Ross (calf) are injured but come Nov. 15, I think they’re gonna be okay,” Gallent said yesterday during the pro league’s media day at the One Esplanade in Pasay. “Jeron’s a big addition to our team and he’s gonna help us a lot, and we have June Mar and he’s healthy. We have 20 days to prepare.

“They learned a lot from coach Tim Cone (SMB players who played for Gilas in the World Cup and Asiad). Their confidence is high so you know the gold that they got will be an added boost this season,” he added.

The Beermen will parade 6-foot-8 big man Tyler Stone–son of American actress Sharon–as their import in the season-opening tilt set to kick off Nov. 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Gallent is hoping Stone will be a tailor-fit reinforcement for the squad that has changed imports three times from original choice Thomas Robinson to Diamond Stone and finally to Devon Scott in last year’s Second Conference where they lost to foreign guest team Bay Area 1-3 in the semifinals.

“We hope our import is a good fit and he stays long. It’s hard to look for replacement imports,” Gallent said. “There are a lot of teams and a lot of countries looking for imports also like in Japan and other countries. Tsamba talaga ang pagkuha ng import.”

Another freshman who can promptly make an impact for SMB is MPBL and YouTube sensation Kyt Jimenez, tabbed 76th overall in the last draft.

Jimenez, a high-scoring guard who got a two-year deal with the Beermen, has to finish his commitment first with GenSan in the MPBL before he suits up for SMB.

“Kyt has a problem with his MPBL stint so if he fixes that, he is welcome to the team, but he must fix that first. The rookies are good. They give us energy, they give us that ‘young spirit’ that we need, guys who can come off the bench and give us energy,” Gallent said.

“The only thing I told Gee (Abanilla, team manager) is let Kyt finish first what he’s supposed to finish and then he’s welcome to San Miguel Beer.”

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao gave his nod to the rule changes Asia’s first play-for-pay league is set to implement in the new season, deeming it will be beneficial to Gilas and other Philippine quintets in international jousts.

“Natutuwa ako kasi we’re getting closer to the FIBA rules and as I’ve said before that’s going to help our players who will become Gilas players,” Guiao said. “Madalas din tayo ngayon lumabas at maglaro ng international games even iyong mga individual teams not just our national team.

“Kami, nakapaglaro sa Jones Cup. Ang Meralco nakapaglaro sa Dubai. Iyong EASL, isa pang international tournament na we regularly participate in so dapat talaga adjust na tayo towards international rules.”

The new rule prohibiting players from calling timeouts will serve the league in good stead, according to Guiao.

“Isang malaking adjustment diyan iyong no player timeouts that will also require tactical adjustments sa coaching aspect. It will also require adjustment sa players’ side na hindi na puwede sila tumawag,” he said. “One good thing about that is it’s going to reward good defense.

“It’s going to reward effort and defensive intensity so wala ka nang bail out with the timeouts, so I think that’s a good development.”

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