Saturday, September 23, 2006 San Miguel Beer welcomes new coach
The San Miguel Beermen are excited to try their new system of play devised by new mentor Chot Reyes in the coming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) conference, slated to open this Oct.1.
This was revealed by the Beermen’s Cebuano wingman, Dondon Hontiveros, who dropped by at the Sun.Star Cebu office yesterday.
Hontiveros, who has just successfully organized a charity game dubbed “Triple Treat” between San Miguel and the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City Jewelers in a jampacked Cebu Coliseum, said the team has welcomed the multi-titled coach, Reyes, with open arms.
He added that he and the rest of his San Miguel teammates are already excited at the prospect of trying out Reyes’ system of play in the coming conference.
“We are excited with coach Reyes’ system because we have already seen its effectiveness. We also see a lot of room for improvement under coach Reyes’ system,” said Hontiveros.
Superstar
The former CCC Aguilas (now UC Webmasters) superstar, Hontiveros, however, said the system will yet to have its baptism of fire in the real PBA battles.
Hontiveros also said Reyes’ system will also undergo an acid test against the newly developed teams in the PBA especially the Ginebra Kings.
“It was a blessing for Ginebra to have acquired Johnny (Abarrientos) in their line-up,” said Hontiveros, explaining that Abarientos would give leadership to the Kings.
Aside from the Kings, the Beermen are also watching closely three more teams, who have been rebuilding for the coming conference.
Hontiveros said these teams are the Red Bull Barakos, Alaska Aces and the Purefoods Chunkee Giants.
“In fact, ang Alaska nag-mature na sila and I know coach has already found a way to deal with them,” said the 29-year-old Hontiveros.
“Naa siya’y system nga i-work out para sa mga players,” said Hontiveros, who again thanked the crowd who flocked to the Cebu Coliseum to witness the charity game. (JAF)
