Lassiter: There’s more left in us

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel sniper Marcio Lassiter feels that with a healthier crew that’s more determined than ever, the Beermen will be back to their old deadly form in the next PBA Philippine Cup.

Once the kingpin of the All-Filipino, the five-peat champs found themselves taking an unceremonious exit in the last bubble tournament in Clark.

“Looking forward to getting back on the court and just trying to show that we’re still there,” Lassiter said during The Chasedown sports program on Cignal TV last Saturday.

“We still have the blueprint and definitely our core still has a lot more left in us. We just got to come out and prepare, stay poised and play the San Miguel way as we’ve done before.”

Key injuries to main man June Mar Fajardo plus Terrence Romeo and a brutal bubble schedule eventually took its toll on six-peat-seeking SMB. The fourth-seeded Beermen squandered a twice-to-beat advantage versus No. 5 Meralco and crashed out in the quarterfinals.

Lassiter said the Beermen aren’t the “aging” squad others see.

“It was unfortunate the guys got hurt but it’s part of the game. I really feel we could have pulled it off again and it would have been special. (But) there’s always the next one I hope we can bounce back for,” he said.