PBA: SMB threatens to trade players after opening loss to lowly Kia

As San Miguel Beer opened their Governors' Cup campaign against Kia, the last thing they wanted was to suffer yet another loss to the expansion team that dealt them a humiliating defeat last conference.

 

But when the scoreboard showed 83-78 in favor of the Carnival after the buzzer sounded, the SMB management had enough of the team's woes and decided to play the trade card.

 

"Boss Robert (Non) told them na, 'I don't care kung sino ang puwedeng i-trade sa inyo if you continue playing that way,'" head coach Leo Austria told reporters after emerging from the locker room on Wednesday night.

 

The Beermen opened their season with a dominant 9-2 record in the elimination round of the Philippine Cup and capped the All-Filipino conference with a championship title.

 

But the talented team, boasting of two Most Valuable Players June Mar Fajardo and Arwind Santos in its lineup, could not replicate the feat and failed to reach the playoffs in the Commissioner's Cup after a string of embarrassing losses.

 

"For me, it's not only talent eh, it's the attitude eh," Austria said about his team's struggles. "Talent is nothing if you cannot work hard. But if you work hard, then talent will prevail."

 

With the current state of the team, the coach said that he will not object if the management decides to trade away players who are underperforming despite their talent.

 

"I think that's the right thing to do," he said. "If you cannot change the attitude of the player, change the player."

 

Asian import 

 

Austria also said that tapping an Asian import is also an option for San Miguel in order to prevent another 0-4 start that haunted them last conference.

 

The team initially decided to play things by ear when it comes to signing an Asian reinforcement, as his players told him it may not be necessary when he consulted them prior to the Governors' Cup.

 

The coach said he also passed on the opportunity to get another import because he believes that locals can play on the same level and he did not want to take away their playing time in lieu of a foreigner.

 

But with the way his players are performing - a 25-of-76 team clip for a 33 percent shooting percentage and 24 turnovers against Kia - Austria said they may have no choice but to get an extra pair of hands.

 

"It's up to the management. I might request," he said. "If they will not wake up, we will forced to get a player. This is a competition and we have to win."

 

Laughing stock

 

The coach said SMB was in good shape a week before the conference tipped off, even beating Purefoods by blowout in a tuneup game. The team, however, became complacent as a result.

 

"Nag-relax sila because the're thinking Kia ang first game namin. But I keep on telling them that this is the most crucial game for me," he said.

 

Austria did not want to lose to the Carnival for a second time, as the franchise has only just begun competing in the PBA this season. But San Miguel started on the wrong foot again this conference, bowing to the newbie team on their very first game.

 

"We lost to a team na pinagtatawanan before the season, ngayon baka kami na ang laughing stock," the coach said. "'Yun ang mahirap sa aking tanggapin dahil I'm the coach of the team."  — ELR/JST, GMA News