Beermen will be unpredictable without June Mar Fajardo, says Leo Austria

Defending champion San Miguel is planning to shift to a ‘small ball’ system for the upcoming Philippine Cup due to the impending absence of main man June Mar Fajardo who has been ruled out for the duration of the season-opening conference.

The 30-year old Cebuano, who is on well on his way to an unprecedented 6th straight Most Valuable Player award, sustained a fractured right tibia and is currently recovering from the surgery.

Without the strong low-post presence of the 6-foot-10 Fajardo, Beermen head coach Leo Austria is tinkering with the idea of playing a guard-oriented scheme once the team’s remaining bigs get into foul trouble.

“Marami kaming guards. Baka mag-small ball kami just in case na yung mga big man namin ay magkaroon ng foul trouble. You can never know eh. We are trying to prepare just in case those things happen,” explained Austria.

The team just recently signed free agent guards Gelo Alolino and incoming rookie Wendell Comboy to compliment its already loaded backcourt composed of Chris Ross, Alex Cabagnot, Terrence Romeo and Paul Zamar.

“We have a lot of talented players from the guards. Nagkakaroon ng equal opportunity. They have to do their role. And that’s what will happen. Unpredictable, you don’t know kung saan kami pupunta eh,” said the 8-time PBA champion mentor.

“Unlike before, alam nila pupunta lagi kay June Mar. Ngayon, there’s so many weapons. But I told them na you have to run according to our system,” he added.