SAN MIGUEL Beer will be a hunted prey in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup that kicks off a week later than its original schedule on March 8.
With five-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo recovering from a fractured right tibia, the Beermen are a virtual “donut” team—without the behemoth Cebuano manning the center position—giving the other teams the opportunity to strike.
“This year will be the hardest for us,” San Miguel Gov. Robert Non told Tuesday’s press conference for the all-Filipino conference at the Conrad Manila. “We normally miss June Mar for one to three weeks. This time we don’t know if he can be available in the second or third conference.”
The Beermen are the five consecutive Philippine Cup champions with Fajardo as their man. With him sitting out at least the entire opening conference, the 45th season is potentially a free-for-all affair.
The Philippine Cup fires off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the annual Leo Awards that will honor the previous season’s top individual performers.
Shortly after the opening ceremony, San Miguel Beer faces Magnolia in the lone encounter at 7:30 p.m.
“Still, we will fight. I hope the team could adjust fast,” said Non, hoping that their other bigs, including Moala Tautuaa, could fill Fajardo’s big shoes.
Greg Slaughter, the 7-foot giant, meanwhile, did not sign with Barangay Ginebra for a contract extension, fanning speculations he is on his way to NorthPort in exchange for Christian Standhardinger.
Another center, Raymond Almazan, has yet to recover from a knee injury that slowed him down during Meralco’s losing effort in the Governors’ Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra.
Image credits: Roy Domingo