MANILA, Philippines — Winless in its first two home games, San Miguel Beer flies to Hong Kong to take on Eastern at the foreign squad's home floor for their East Asia Super League home-and-away Season 2 tournament on Wednesday at the Southon Stadium.
The Beermen dropped their first two games, an 81-87 decision to the visiting Suwon KT Sonicboom on October 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena, followed later, by a 101-85 mauling at the hands of the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on November 13 at the Philsports Arena.
Both losses came when the Beermen were still under coach Jorge Gallent.
A coaching shake up late last week within the SMB camp saw Gallent slide down to the role of team consultant, while bringing back into the head coaching post, nine-time PBA champion Leo Austria.
So far, so good for the Beermen, who, under Austria, have won their last two games in the Commissioner's Cup, routing the Terrafirma Dyip, 106-88, followed by their 115-102 demolition of the Blackwater Bossing.
With the Beermen's confidence back, Austria hopes to bring the same winning formula to his team in the EASL when they clash with Eastern at 8:10 p.m.
"For me, every game, especially with this team, San Miguel, there's a lot of pride. And we should be ready and prepared because our fans are always expecting a lot from us. We cannot rest," said Austria during a recent interview with sportswriters.
Eastern is coming off a morale-boosting win as well in the PBA, courtesy of its 93-90 triumph over Barangay Ginebra last Sunday in Antipolo for its fifth win in six games.
The Hong Kong ballclub's head coach Mensur Bajramovic admitted that the one familiar play the Beermen likes to do is dump the ball inside and let eight-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo dominate.Bajramovic admitted their basic knowledge of SMB is how the team utilizes the strength of eight-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo at the post.
"I know already some basic (plays), always putting the ball inside so you have to trap and rotate, you have to find a way," Bajramovic said, in describing the Beermen's tendency for lean on the 6-foot-10 SMB star big man at the post.
Eastern forward Hayden Blankley remembered as well how difficult it was to defend Fajardo inside the paint when his former team Bay Area played San Miguel in the 2023 PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinal series.
"The last time we played him was semis (in 2023), back and forth, we had a tough time stopping him, even with the size we have with Bay Area," recalled Blankley.
"He's like a legend here, the best all time here but I believe coach will have something planned for us. We have a group that can scheme and maybe make it hard for him."