Potentially powerful but lacking in cohesion: Beermen seek end to title slump

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer, under new coach Leo Austria, has signed up free agent Bitoy Omolon but is still in search of two players to complete the roster that will try to end the team’s three-year title drought in the coming PBA season.

“Omolon has been signed up as our 13th man. We’re looking for two more, and we’re after guys who can really help and not just fill up our lineup,” Austria told The STAR.

“We’re waiting for the players still playing in the NCAA. They might not be signed up (by the teams who picked them up in the PBA rookie draft). The Semerad twins, Prince Caperal and John Pinto – we’re interested in these guys,” Austria also said.

San Miguel Beer opens its campaign in PBA Season 40 versus Rain or Shine in the 7 p.m. mainer on Oct. 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Veteran free agent Don Allado has shown up in San Miguel’s last two practice sessions while rookie hopeful Dexter Maiquez has also been trying it out to crack the SMB roster.

“We’ve yet to make a decision on them,” said Austria, inheriting a roster that includes MVP winners Junmar Fajardo and Arwind Santos and other key players in Sol Mercado, Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter, Ronald Tubid, Rico Maierhofer and Doug Kramer.

Despite its highly formidable lineup, San Miguel has gone without a title in the last three years under coaches Olsen Racela, Rajko Toroman, Gie Abanilla and the pair of Biboy Ravanes and Todd Purves.

“We’re starting out playing a different system and we’re working on the chemistry not only of the players but the whole team from the coaching staff, to the players all the way down to the ball boys,” said Austria.

“Malakas nga ang team mo, nagkakapaan naman. I want our team on the same page together,” Austria pointed out. “The good thing is that the players have accepted and believe in what I’m trying to instill on the team.”

Austria also believes that Purves, the team’s foreign coaching consultant, respects what he’s doing.

Under Austria, a champion coach in the Asean Basketball League, the Beermen will play a methodical, half-court set to maximize the strength and match-up advantage of players like Fajardo, Santos, Lassiter, Lutz and Tubid.

“We’ll really exploit the advantage of Junmar at the post and use the shooting skills of Marcio, Lutz and Tubid,” said Austria. “It’s not easy but we’re determined to work on that.”

In terms of roster power, Austria considers San Miguel Beer among a number of contenders.

“We’re a middle-of-the-pack team. Hopefully, we improve as the season progresses,” said Austria, pointing to San Mig Coffee, Rain or Shine, Talk n Text, Barangay Ginebra and Alaska as their top rivals.

Last season, the Beermen wound up fourth in the Philippine Cup, fifth in the Commissioner’s Cup and also fifth in the Governors Cup.