San Miguel Beermen Basketball Games Updates

San Miguel Beermen: The Strongest PBA Team Today?

The San Miguel Beermen will be again coming into the All-Filipino/Philippinne Cup strong - on paper. This was the same scenario last pre-season when the team's superstars lent from Team Philipinnes including Danny Seigle and Dondon came back together with newly acquired Larry Fonacier.

The team's performance in the Philippinne Cup was a disaster. The star-studded lineup was swept by Red Bull Barakos in the quarterfinal round. Chemistry, playing time, and defense were big issues that resulted to the trade of former Ateneo players LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier to Alaska in exchange for Mike Cortez and Ken Bono and Enrico Villanueva to Purefoods in exchange for defense specialist Marc Pingris.

Will it be dejavu once again? That's something to be seen after the 2008 All-Filipino Conference.

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

Source: Journal Online
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.

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Note: Some sections changed to reflect errors in the writer's news copy regarding rosters details.