PBA Season 45: Battle royale

MANILA, Philippines — Without injured June Mar Fajardo, the cornerstone of their five-peat feat, the San Miguel Beermen brace for their toughest campaign yet in the coming PBA Philippine Cup, where the challengers can’t wait to capitalize on this power vacuum.

“Talagang mahirap ngayon for San Miguel Beer. Kumbaga, first time feeling namin kami ang underdog. Wala si June Mar. June Mar has been part and parcel ng aming championships,” SMB governor Robert Non said during yesterday’s PBA pre-season press conference attended by the board of governors led by chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa and commissioner Willie Marcial.

“Still, naniniwala pa rin ako na we can come up with something na kahit wala si June Mar, we can be competitive. We’ll still be there fighting. Gusto namin mag-establish ng history. Baka masungkit namin ang six-peat. History ulit yun, and for June Mar also. Sana we can adjust fast sa bagong situation ng SMB,” Non added.

Fajardo is out of commission indefinitely after fracturing his shin, a development seen to make the coming all-Filipino a virtual battle royale. PBA Season 45 starts March 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Fajardo’s sidelining coincides with the uncertain situation of Barangay Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter, who took a break after his contract lapsed, and the injury that forced Meralco’s slotman Raymond Almazan out for the early part of the season opener.

For Non, it will be TNT which will pose the most serious threat to SMB’s reign while also expecting two-time Philippine Cup runner-up Magnolia, newly-crowned Governors’ Cup kingpin Ginebra and Columbian Dyip to be in the mix.

As SMB and Ginebra deal with the loss of key players, the rest bolstered their rosters.

TNT KaTropa signed Ray Parks to a one-year extension and made a move to acquire marquee big man Poy Erram in a pending proposed trade with Blackwater and NLEX.

“We’re trying to build up our team and hopefully with the demographics, including seasoned players and young players, we’ll be able to do that,” said Vargas.

Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua said the onus is on SMB to fill in Fajardo’s big shoes and as to the Gin Kings, he said they will do just fine even with Slaughter on sabbatical.

“I think Ginebra is ready because we won a championship (both) with him and without him (before). Naramdaman na pareho, hindi katulad sa San Miguel, they’re winning championships na andun si June Mar, ngayon mawawala,” said Chua, who also tagged the KaTropa as the team to beat.

Even with the giants out of action, PBA vice chairman Bobby Rosales of Columbian maintained SMB and Ginebra remain a power.

“Yung teams nila June Mar at Greg malakas pa rin kahit wala sila so it will be a challenge to all other teams. Of course it will be a big loss to San Miguel and also Ginebra but I’m sure they will make adjustments. They’re champion teams so they’re used to adversity,” said Rosales.