MANILA, Philippines - Feeling they have the tools and the right approach to go all the way this time, San Miguel Beermen ooze with confidence as they launch their quest for glory in the fourth Asean Basketball League tonight with a road game against defending champion Indonesia Warriors.
The Beermen, who have undergone massive revamp in the off-season in an attempt to make up for their disappointing runner-up finish last year, begin their bid for redemption at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) before an expected hostile crowd at Mahaka Square’s Britama Arena in Jakarta.
“Talagang gusto namin bumawi sa kanila (We really want to get back at them) Everybody expected us to be the champions last year but they foiled our plans,†said new coach Leo Austria, who has assembled what he described a “very competitive†team.
Imports Gabe Freeman and Brian Williams and veterans Asi Taulava and Erik Menk are tasked to man the shaded lane for SMB while Chris Banchero and Leo Avenido, two returnees from the 2012 squad, are tipped to deliver in the perimeter and do some penetrations.
“We’re a lot stronger now. We’ve picked up a lot of pieces and in terms of experience, only a handful of us haven’t played in the PBA yet. The bench is a lot deeper,†Banchero said of their team, which will also parade Mike Burtscher, JR Cawaling, Paulo Hubalde, RJ Rizada, Chris Luanzon, Acel Doruelo, Val Acuna and Hans Thiele.
The Beermen will have one less headache in the opener with the absence of Warriors’ injured ace Stanley Pringle (meniscus), the wiry Fil-Am who played a big role in their 2012 title drive. The Warriors will be led by returning import Steven Thomas, former Ginebra reinforcement Chris Daniels, Dutchman Swen de Ruijter, and new Fil-Am acquisitions Rich Smith and John Smith.
“We really respect Indonesia, especially with their performance last year,†said Austria, who tagged the Warriors as one of their toughest rivals this season.
“They are the team to beat simply because they acquired a lot of good players, including two imports, another Fil-Am, a Dutch and locals. I’m expecting they’re really going big but without Pringle, it will be hard for them,†he added.
Pringle is out for 12 weeks.
“It’s a great opportunity for us without Pringle but then again, complacency was our problem last time so we have to see to it we stick to the game plan and go out there and play hard,†said Austria.