MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel is facing the grim prospect of being eliminated early in the current PBA Commissioner’s Cup. And coach Ato Agustin partly blames the trade of his four veterans for three Air 21 rookies for the team’s slump. “In every trade there’s always a big risk. Besides, we’re in the middle of the tournament when the trade happened,” Agustin said of SMB which lost to Ginebra, 106-94, Sunday night. “The good thing is that the management is very supportive. Alam din nila na it takes time for the team to jell.”
Unless the Beermen win their next three assignments, they will miss the bus for the quarterfinals of the shortened tournament – a painful scenario they have not had experienced in nearly six years.
With a 1-5 win-loss record, chances to advance are very remote considering their fate also depends on other teams.
Apart from the must-win games against Philippine Cup champion Talk ’N Text on Friday, B-Meg Derby Ace on March 27 and Rain or Shine on April 6, the Beermen are also praying that only five teams will reach four wins to gain entry into the knockout stage.
The trade shipped SMB’s key members Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle, Dorian Peña and Paul Artadi to the Express for rookies Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Rey Guevarra.
It was a shocking deal considering that before the trade, Agustin, a former league MVP, steered the team – composed of the veteran players – to a runner up finish behind Talk ‘N Text.
Seigle has been with SMB since 1999, while Peña joined the franchise in 2001, followed by Hontiveros in 2002. Artadi only joined the team before the Philippine Cup.
Agustin, though, remains optimistic with his rookie-laden squad.
“We got players who are rookies. They’re still adjusting in the PBA. When they joined our team, panibagong adjustment na naman sa kanila, and pati na din sa amin. Pero maganda ang future ng team kasi talagang potential ang mga players na nakuha naming.”
Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
