Team profile
It’s hard to overlook Rain or Shine with its two finals appearances and a semis finish last season.
And it’s not surprising that just everyone considers the Asian Coating Inc. ball club as among those to watch in the 2014-15 wars.
For Rain or Shine, the most important development in the season break was resolving the “Paul Lee controversy.”
Lee, one of Rain or Shine’s contributions to the national team, asked to be traded but reconsidered his plan and stayed on as an Elasto Painter.
With that, Rain or Shine gave away No. 2 draft pick Kevin Alas in exchange for something to build on in the future.
And except for Larry Rodriguez, all others also stayed on as Elasto Painters, keeping the team that fought San Mig Coffee in the Philippine Cup and the Governors Cup finales last season.
“We’re looking forward to a very competitive season,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
Rain or Shine is back with a complete lineup with the return of burly Cebuano player JR Quinahan.
The only new face in the RoS team is guard Jericho Cruz.
Since ruling the 2011-12 Governors Cup, the Elasto Painters have never finished lower than fifth place in a testament to their competitiveness and consistency.
Junmar Fajardo will surely be a better player in his return from the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games, and that’s one big factor that could help give San Miguel Beer a ride back to the top.
Unable to live up to their potential for a long while now, the Beermen try to fix things up-under new coach Leo Austria.
It can’t be denied that something’s wrong with this team as it can’t produce a championship with all the talents that they’ve got.
Imagine a rotation made of Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Sol Mercado, Rico Maierhofer, Chris Ross, Doug Kramer and Ronald Tubid.
Recent additions are rookie Ronald Pascual and free agent Bitoy Omolon.
Despite its highly formidable lineup, San Miguel has gone without a title in the last three years under coaches Olsen Racela, Rajko Toroman, Gie Abanilla and the pair of Biboy Ravanes and Todd Purves.
“We’re starting out playing a different system and we’re working on the chemistry not only of the players but the whole team from the coaching staff, to the players all the way down to the ball boys,” said Austria.
“Malakas nga ang team mo, nagkakapaan
naman. I want our team on the same page together,” Austria pointed out. “The good thing is that the players have accepted and believe what I’m trying to instill on the team.”
Under Austria, a champion coach in the Asean Basketball League, the plan is to play a methodical, half-court set to maximize the strength and match-up advantage of players like Fajardo, Santos, Lassiter, Lutz and Tubid.
“We’ll really exploit the advantage of Junmar at the post and use the shooting skills of Marcio, Lutz and Tubid,” said Austria. “It’s not easy but we’re determined to work on that.”