#FearTheBeer

The Architect
(Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net)

It took a lot of downsizing, some roster and coaching changes to get to where the San Miguel Beermen are now today; with last season's two-titled campaign proves that it is all worth it. And to be very honest with you, we do not see them stopping at any point in this season barring any serious injuries.

Currently sitting atop the standings with only a single defeat to their name, alongside Alaska and Rain or Shine, the Beermen are dominating the league yet again behind the fearsome foursome of 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo (37mpg 20ppg 15rpg 2apg), 1x PBA MVP Arwind Santos (33mpg 15ppg 7rpg 2apg), Alex Cabagnot (32mpg 15ppg 4rpg 6apg) and Marcio Lassiter (27mpg 13ppg 5rpg 2apg) while getting ample support from the bench led by *surprise, surprise* Ronald Tubid (26mpg 9ppg 5rpg), Chris Ross, Gabby Espinas and Ryan Arana to name a few.

This team has been so good as of late that no one is really missing Chris Lutz or has bothered to go look for the Monstar responsible for taking the former SMART Gilas I standout's talent on the hardcourt.

Much of the credit should go to head coach Leo Austria, who has found a nice balance among his superstars while also shedding off the Beermen's previous "larong mayaman" tag. Just a few years ago, Santos and Cabagnot were constantly being hounded as stat-padding "stars" who could not carry the team back to the title. Now, Austria has both guys still putting up the same numbers, while allowing the growing 6"10 giant Junemar Fajardo to shine in the paint.

If you really cared to take a look at it, the Beermen did not really feature a "pogi" bench back then. Not when they had solid guys like Denok Miranda at one point, then Sol Mercado, Joseph Yeo, a couple of bigs who went here and there. Doug Kramer is pogi, but he sure as hell does not play like one. No, it was more like the starting unit had to carry too heavy a load on offense that they could not sustain it, plus play defense, throughout a whole ball game.

Now?

Cabagnot has the pesky Ross who has transformed himself from ace defender (which he still is, mind you) to consistent set-shot maker. There is also new recruit Brian Heruela, another pesky point guard who is built like a 90s power forward, who is just itching to get his turn. Santos has Espinas. Another grit and grinder. Fajardo has the veteran Yancy de Ocampo who is still quite serviceable. Lassiter has Tubid. Followed by Arana. It does not get any better or deeper than that.

So if last year's team, minus Arana, Espinas, Heruela, Tubid's resurgence and Ross' jumpshot could win two titles, what more now?

P.S.

On a side note, our only concern here (Gilas-wise) is Fajardo's 37 minutes per game.