ABL: Eric Menk goes from Gin King to Beerman

On Friday, Eric Menk and the rest of the San Miguel Beermen played their first home game of the season. It was also Menk's first home game with his new team, and the Ynares Sports Center crowd was left in awe with the veteran's physique. Like fellow veteran Asi Taulava, Menk was his fittest in years. Gone were the extra pounds he carried while riding the bench with Ginebra. [Related: San Miguel Beermen slaughter Saigon Heat for sweet revenge] "I made a few lifestyle changes. I'm around some very good people," said Menk. "But also it's a conscious thing. I'm getting older and I wanna be in the best shape that I can. I wanna continue my career as long as I can and I can't do that if I'm out of shape." Menk is making a play to extend his career indeed. After three games, the big man is averaging 64 percent shooting from the field. In the Beermen's first Manila game, Menk pitched in nine points, on a 4-of-5 shooting clip. He also had three rebounds and one assist in only 14 minutes of play. "Those guys look for me a lot so it's easy. I've been shooting a very good percentage in my first three games because they look for me," Menk pointed out. "At my age, I have to keep it very simple. I'm not looking to make fancy moves or do anything special, but I can make my shots if my teammates hit me in the right position." His big move from the first professional league in Asia to a league that is just three years old is refreshing to Menk. "I feel rejuvenated. Having new teammates for the first time in a while, new coaching staff, just the whole new home and away format, everything's going well. It's something new and exciting," the former 2004-05 PBA MVP said. "It's new; it's refreshing. My first two games were on the road," Menk added. "I haven't really traveled. Playing for Ginebra for 11 years, I have never been the away team ever. We're always the home team. "It's fun and it's new and it's refreshing. It's a change that I'm enjoying." - AMD, GMA News