SAN Miguel Beer coach Jorge Gallent is not crying over spilled beer.
“That loss hurts but you just can’t win them all. But this coming conference, medyo we will prepare more and try to win the championship,” Gallent said, referring to his charges’ painful loss to the Meralco Bolts in the last PBA Philippine Cup finals. “We kind of started early. We started July 10 so we could prepare for this coming season but I’m sure it’s gonna be tough kasi mayroon nang imports.
“So, we just don’t know the calibers of the other imports pero I’m sure a lot of teams got good imports, so we just have to pick up and practice early,” he added.
While admitting the season-opening Governors’ Cup set to open shop on Sunday, Aug. 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum is a different animal with imports backstopping teams, Gallent is convinced the Beermen have what it takes.
“Of course, it’s gonna be tough but you know, we just have to play as a team and then we have to play our own brand of basketball,” Gallent said.
“Just forget about iyong Meralco loss sa finals and just pick up this coming conference. I think we’re going to be OKay.”
SMB initially linked up with Lithuanian Tauras Jogela as its reinforcement, but the team opted to change import, bringing in former Memphis Grizzlies Jordan Adams due to his long-range arsenal that will come in handy since Asia’s pioneering league will introduce the four-point line.
The jury is still out on the PBA’s innovation, according to Gallent, who has the likes of Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez, Simon Enciso, Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano, and new addition Kris Rosales as able shooters from deep.
“We gotta try something ‘di ba? So, it might work, it might not work pero doon sa long run at least the PBA tried it,” he said. “If it works, if it doesn’t, as I said, we could just take it out.
“So, at least nagka-opportunity to try the four-point shot.”
Gallent has high hopes Rosales can promptly make an impact for SMB.
“He was, I think, released by NorthPort and it was an opportunity for us to get Kris,” he said. “We just took that opportunity and I’m sure he’s gonna fit well sa team.”
Adding Rosales to an already potent Beermen five should make them one of the teams to beat.
