Lassiter: We have a big target on our chest

MANILA, Philippines -- Hot-shooting San Miguel guard Marcio Lassiter believes the Beermen have a big target on their chest entering the 41st PBA season.

After ruling two of the three conferences last season, the Fil-Am shooting guard had no doubt that the offseason buildup among the 11 other teams was geared towards toppling the Beermen from their championship throne.

“I think when you win last year, we are the target team and we know that so it’s a different approach coming into the season,” Lassiter told Philstar.com.

“Before (the start of) last season, we were hunting for the championship, but now, we’re the ones being hunted. So obviously, it’s a different pressure,” he added.

The 28-year-old Lassiter, who ranked third in three-point field goal shooting percentage last season (39.8 percent), admitted the Beermen have a lot of catching up to do in their title defense of the Philippine Cup.

For one, the sweet-shooting guard pointed out to the team’s spate of injuries, which has hampered the team’s offseason preparation.

“It’s still work in progress for us. We got a few new guys in the team so we need to work on our chemistry and get familiarize with everybody,” he said.

“But some guys are injured also, like June Mar is hurt so we haven’t had a chance to play as a team.”

Lassiter is also dealing with a right hamstring injury, which he sustained a month ago in practice.

The 6-foot-2 San Miguel gunner sat out the team’s past games, including the Beermen’s 92-81 defeat to the Barangay Ginebra Kings last Wednesday.

Lassiter, the fourth overall selection of Powerade in the 2011 PBA draft, said he’s been doing his rehab religiously in a race against time, hoping to swing back to action in San Miguel’s opening game against GlobalPort on Oct. 24 in Davao City.

Meanwhile, new boy Ryan Arana said he’ll just try to bring in his defensive spunk to a San Miguel squad that is loaded with shooters and thrives on the inside game of two-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo.

“My role, ganun pa rin, hustle, defense kasi star-studded na and team na ‘to so ayoko na makigulo sa scoring nila,” Arana said, who was acquired by San Miguel in a three-team trade that also involved Barako Bull and his former team Rain or Shine.

Arana, the former La Salle guard, spent his first eight season with Rain or Shine, before being traded.

He averaged 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds in 381 career games in the PBA.