Siot downplays Magnolia strength

by Noli Cortez
Malaya
October 13, 2007

Don’t be easily impressed. No matter how strong Magnolia (formerly San Miguel Beer) looks on paper, it should not be considered as the team to beat in the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup starting tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

That was the view expressed yesterday by Beverage Masters coach Siot Tanquingcen, who stressed his talent-laden roster is still far from being the champion team many are insisting it should be.

"We’re still struggling, trying to figure out how we could mix all the talents we have and make it go into one direction," Tanquingcen said two days before his team opens the season against Air21 in the lone opening day game.

"Admittedly, a lot of our players have been go-to guys, pero hindi puwedeng lahat sila go-to guys dito," he added. "Everybody is willing to sacrifice, but gan’un lang talaga ang nakagisnan nila."

The former Beermen roster includes star players like Danny Ildefonso, Enrico Villanueva, Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle, Lordy Tugade, Willy Wilson, Gabby Espinas, LA Tenorio, Wesley Gonzales, Olsen Racela, Chris Calaguio and Dorian Pena. Throw in new acquisitions Larry Fonacier, along with rookies Samigue Eman and Jonas Villanueva. Pena is not expected back from injury in by late December, however.

Each team is allowed to carry a 14-man lineup but only 12 could be used in a game.

The rest of the coaches, including Air21’s Bo Perasol, insisted the two players who will not be tapped to play by Tanquingcen will still be good enough to start for other teams.

"Isa pang kalamangan iyon ng Magnolia. Manghuhula pa kami kung sino ang ilalaro nila for each game," Perasol said in a separate phone interview yesterday.

"But we’re still looking forward to our game. The boys know malakas ang kalaban, pero positive pa rin ang attitude that everything will work out fine for us against Magnolia."

That kind of sentiment gnaws at Tanquingcen.

"That game will be hard because we’ve always had a hard time matching up against Air21," said Tanquingcen. "Also, they have a very good, solid lineup. Meron silang mga high-fliers, stars at mga role players. They are very capable of being contenders and I wouldn’t be surprised (if they go far)."

The same cannot be said of his team, Tanquingcen averred.

"Iyun nga lang pag-decide sa lineup for each game, big issue na kaagad kung paano pasasayahin ang lahat. Siguradong me aangal because that’s human nature," he pointed out.

"Admittedly, lahat ng players namin magagaling. Pero iisa ang bola. Kung one-on-one siguro ang laro, no question na mananalo kami. Pero hindi nga," he added.

"The potential is there in this team. Pero until we have found the right mix we will remain na potential na lang."

The two-time champion coach while with Gineb-ra, however, believes his players will ultimately be in the same page after nine games or by the middle of the eliminations.

"By that time, medyo naiintin-dihan na namin ang mga roles ng isa’t-isa…. Sana."

Meanwhile, to give overseas-based Filipinos a taste of home, the PBA opening will be telecast live on The Filipino Channel that services the Gulf States, the US West Coast, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Europe.

A hilarious opening ceremony has been cooked up by the league, with comedians Jose Manalo and Wally Bayona of the hit noontime show anchoring the star-studded show.