SMB resolutes on boosting their vulnerable defense

“They call us the Mighty Beermen, but they are the Kings.”

A statement from San Miguel Beermen assistant coach Peter Martin that resonated truth and lament as Justin Brownlee once again essayed another one for the books with his 5-of-6 four-pointer that propelled Barangay Ginebra to secure an impressive 122-105 victory in the best-of-seven series opener of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Wednesday, October 9.

In a special interview conducted by Scoreline.ph, the Beermen were able to share their sentiments regarding game play assessments and essential adjustments they have to produce in order to deliver a comeback blow against Ginebra’s offensive strategy.

Despite June Mar Fajardo and import EJ Anosike fueling the Beermen’s offensive pace, forward Jeron Teng expressed that Ginebra did a pretty good job at scouting them and learning their strategy.

“They really had a great game plan against us. They were able to contain our big man, June, and our import (EJ),” Teng said. “We missed a lot of three-point shots, so we just have to regroup and make those shots in Game 2.”

Additionally, Teng stated that they need to improve their defense since it is currently lacking, particularly on the perimeter, which is one of Ginebra’s core abilities.

Even guard Jericho Cruz admitted that their pace was one step slower than the fiery Gin Kings. Overwhelmed with how their opponent trampled them in the opening game, he enunciated that they really need to accustom their game plan in order to tighten their defensive tactics.

Rodney Brondial, on the other hand, acknowledged that physical exhaustion also played a role in their defeat which gave Ginebra the time to devise a plan on how they would overwhelm the Beermen. 

According to assistant coach Martin, the weariness they felt due to their grueling quarterfinals decider against Converge and their headline match in the East Asia Super League against Suwon KT Sonicboom should not have been an excuse to deliver a halfhearted performance on the court. 

“We are not going up against a weak team. They are one of the strongest teams. If not the strongest team, it's the strongest team in the PBA right now because of Justin Brownlee. So, he is the focal point and we have to adjust,” said Martin.

Simon Enciso, furthermore, supplied that his squad needed to be locked-in in their defensive principles, including rotations and ball-screens.

“We have to be on the same page about our defense,” stated Enciso. “Offense should be the least of our worries because we are a pretty talented team.”

Overall, the Beermen must not only develop a defensive strategy against Ginebra’s top scorer, but also outperform their adversary in terms of effort. Their renewed playoff tussle against the Gin Kings bring new and additional challenges on the board. 

But it is not a question of how they can tie the score in Game 2, but how they can strengthen their defense in order to counter Ginebra’s solid offensive pace.