san-miguel-beermen

With the recent failures of the San Miguel Beermen to snatch an elusive championship, it’s no wonder that it keeps improving its lineup going into a new season. It will march into the Philippine Cup strong – on paper.

Remember what happened last pre-season when the team’s stars including Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros returned after their stint from the RP National Team? That was also the time that they acquired Larry Fonacier from Red Bull.

Despite a star-studded lineup that time, the team’s performance in the Philippinne Cup was a disaster. They were swept by the Red Bull Barakos in the quarterfinal round. The painful loss due to poor chemistry, playing time disputes, and defense were big issues addressed that resulted to the transfer of former Ateneo players Larry Fonacier and LA Tenorio to Alaska in exchange for Ken Bono and Mike Cortez. Enrico Villanueva was also shipped to Purefoods in exchange for defense specialist Marc Pingris.

Will this nightmare hound the team once again? Well, only their performance this conference can tell.

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SMB extra-strong? Don’t tell that to Tanquingcen

Source: Journal Online (journal.com.ph)
By Zean Macamay | September 16, 2008

There’s a joke going around that the only men San Miguel Beer needs to obtain to cement its status as a truly all-stars unit are movie actors Richard Gutierrez and Piolo Pascual.

Coach Siot Tanquingcen doesn’t think it’s hilarious. That’s because he doesn’t even believe that the Beermen are mighty at all.

“To be honest, we’re not strong,” he said.

Really? Why?

“Strong on paper doesn’t mean victories,” said Tanquingcen. “It will still be on the basketball court where we should be winning games, and that’s the place where we should display how strong we are.”

In a pre-season that has witnessed some surprising player movements, the Beermen were the ones who appeared to have gotten the best, snatching Jay Washington from Talk ‘N Text after trading its third pick in the Rookie Draft last Aug. 31 and then acquiring Mick Pennisi from Red Bull in exchange for a first round pick in 2010.

That addition of those two players has made the already star-studded San Miguel ballclub much deeper. But as Tanquingcen would put it, deeper doesn’t equate to basketball championships right away.

He has a valid reason to believe so.

Then known as Magnolia, the team that has won the most titles (17) in PBA history failed to advance into the Finals in both the Philippine Cup and Fiesta Conference last season despite high expectations, its campaign weakened by injuries on starters’ Danny Seigle, Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena.

“Historically, that’s our weakest point,” said Tanquingcen. “But that’s part of the basketball game, that’s something you have to be prepared for.”

A healthy Seigle and Ildefonso in the coming Philippine Cup that kicks off on Oct. 4 certainly spells trouble for other teams. Defense doesn’t seem to be a problem with Marc Pingris and Pena around, and the back-court line-up can match with the best with Olsen Racela, Mike Cortez, and Jonas Villanueva.

The shooters are equally fearsome, composed by Lordy Tugade and Chris Calaguio — and of course, Dondon Hontiveros. The reserves are Samigue Eman, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 Draft, Wesley Gonzales and former UAAP MVP Ken Bono.

Still, Tanquingcen knows that they still have a lot of work to do.

“We always like to improve,” he said. “We’re always trying to do everything that we can to win a basketball championship. Maganda yung added players (Pennisi and Washington) to help you out.”

The Philippine Cup will be defended by Sta. Lucia Realty, which is still in the U.S. preparing.

Meanwhile, the seven production outfits trying to earn the right to stage the league’s opening ceremonies will make their formal presentations today at the PBA office.

Given one hour to present their concepts are Rommel Garcia’s ATB Expedio, Gina Quizon’s G12 Global Designs, Maris Nicolas’ MTV, BG Melicano’s Livewire, John Balajadia’s Blink Media, Jovy Astillero’s CREASIA Inc., and Miguel Silerio and Vikki Ramirez’s Black Tie Event.

Commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios, however, will not be around to personally witness the presentation. He is still in the U.S. and is expected to be informed of the details by officer-in-charge Rickie Santos.

The winner is expected to be announced within the week.