MANILA – Defending champion San Miguel Beermen is not about to push the panic button despite getting in an unfamiliar territory – a 0-2 start in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
San Miguel stays positive despite back-to-back defeats at the hands of Meralco Bolts (85-93) and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (119-123), veteran Beerman Arwind Santos said.
“Hindi maganda (iyong 0-2 start), siyempre maikli lang ang (conference),” said Santos. “Pero ang maganda rito, may pag-asa pa naman kami na ma-i-defend iyong title, at malayo pa.”
“Pwede pa rin namin makuha iyong top two. Iyon ang goal namin eh. Pero kung hindi kami papalarin, ganoon talaga buhay, hindi laging doon ka sa ibabaw, minsan nandodoon ka rin sa ilalim,” he added.
Despite its loss to Painters on Sunday night, San Miguel still sees a silver lining – particularly the impressive showing of Filipino-German rookie Christian Standhardinger, Santos said.
Compared to his PBA debut where he had 4 points, the 6-foot-8 center bounced back against Painters with 17 points and 15 rebounds as he took over the spot of ejected import Troy Gillenwater.
“Hindi naman namin nakita na malaking kawalan iyong import namin kasi marami nang beses dumaan ang San Miguel sa ganyang sitwasyon,” Santos said. “Lalo na andyan si Christian – malaking bagay kahit wala kang import.”
“May mga adjustment kaming gagawin, and ’di ko lang alam baka may changes kami. May sinabi iyong mga coaches na may changes, so sila na bahala doon,” he added. He refused to elaborate./PN
