Blackwater def San Miguel, 103-101 [PBA on Tour | July 2, 2023]

Making do with the material he has.

That’s what coach Jorge Gallent has been doing with his San Miguel Beer squad that has an acute manpower problem in the PBA On Tour.

“Usually, seven or eight (players) lang kami. Siguro mga close to a month na,” said Gallent Saturday on the eve of his Beermen’s clash with the Blackwater Bossing at the Filoil EcoOil Center in San Juan City.

“Kaya ‘yung mga practices namin very light na. Puro ano na lang iyun… skills, 5-on-3, kasi wawalo nga lang,” added Gallent, adding he doesn’t really know if he will even have such a light complement against Blackwater.

The Bossing are aiming to follow up their 92-90 win over Phoenix Super LPG last week and in the process improve their record to 5-3.

In contrast, the Beermen have lost four straight and are now at 2-5. But Gallent is unperturbed, maintaining that winning takes a backseat to SMB’s main objectives in the pre-season presented by Arena Plus and sponsored by Bingo Plus.

“We’re giving chances to the 3X3 guys kasi malapit na rin ‘yung start ng tournament nila,” said Gallent, referring to the event’s Season 3 First Conference’s first leg that kicks off on Monday.

“Tinutulungan namin those players, to get them ready for the 3X3 and sa tingin ko nag-i-improve naman sila,” added Gallent.