By JONAS TERRADO
How San Miguel Beer will play minus the injured June Mar Fajardo is expected to add drama in the chase for the prestigious Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy as the season-opening PBA Philippine Cup starts on March 8.
“Nawalan sila ng kanin kaya tignan natin how they gonna react, how they gonna adjust and yun ang gusto ko makita,” San Miguel Sports Director Alfrancis Chua said after the PBA’s press launch Tuesday at the Forbes Ballroom of the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.
The absence of Fajardo, who will be out for at least the whole duration of the Philippine Cup, has put the Beermen’s bid for a sixth straight title in the most important tournament of the pro loop in jeopardy.
San Miguel team governor Robert Non acknowledged the tough road the Beermen are facing with the threat from the perennial contenders like last season’s Governors’ Cup champion Barangay Ginebra, Magnolia and corporate rival TNT KaTropa.
But Non remains confident of SMB’s chances to keep its title reign even without the gentle giant.
“The last five championships (in the Philippine Cup) we have June Mar there. Pero pag tinignan mo lalo na last season, balanse na yung teams even with June Mar. Balanse na talaga e,” Non said.
“This year, ito ang pinakamabigat,” he added. “Kailangan talaga mag-step yung team namin. May mga konti kaming adjustments because of the absence of June Mar this All-Filipino hanggang third conference and hopefully Mo Tautuaa can fill up the big shoes and the other guys have to step up also.”
Fajardo’s injury not also leaves a big hole for SMB but also put the PBA without one of its crowd drawers.
“He’s an essential part of not only the PBA who brings people in the coliseum because he has a lot of fans but also that of Gilas (Pilipinas),” PBA chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT said. “You know, June Mar is a staple in Philippine basketball representing the country so we wish him well that he gets better pretty soon. And we need him back in the PBA.”
The PBA enters the season trying to deal with a four-percent drop in attendance but with 25 percent rise in online viewership.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial acknowledged the struggles in trying to fill the venues but added that the live stream could another aspect the league wants to capitalize.
“Lahat ng mga tao nasa gadgets so papunta na rin po kami dun sa digital. Tinitignan namin kung paano natin maayos yung sa venue,” said Marcial, who was given a three-year extension to run the PBA ship.
San Miguel faces Magnolia on March 8 to kick off the new season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum following the Leo Awards and the opening ceremonies.
The eliminations will run until May 16 with three out-of-town games in Balanga, Dipolog and Cagayan de Oro aside from the regular games at the Big Dome, Mall of Asia Arena and Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
There’s a chance the league may holds games at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Philsports Arena, venues that were refurbished before the recent Southeast Asian Games.
3X3 EVENT
Meantime, the PBA will introduce the men’s 3×3 basketball with 14 teams taking part, including 12 from the pro league.
Member teams are the Alaska Aces, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Blackwater Elite, Columbian Dyip, Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok, Meralco Bolts, NLEX Road Warriors, NorthPort Batang Pier, Phoenix Pulse Fuelmasters, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, San Miguel Beermen and TNT Ka Tropa.
Additional squads are Mighty Bond and Dunkin’ Donuts, who expressed their intention to participate.
Rosales said games will be held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the PBA playdates. The 14 teams will be split into two groups for the 42 elimination games and 12 playoff matches.
Semifinals and finals will be played in a best-of-three format. (With a report from Kristel Satumbaga)
