Multi-titled coach Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine is convinced that there’s no one in the PBA who can stop seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, the league’s most dominant force, who once again has led his team, San Miguel Beer, to yet another finals run in the Philippine Cup.
Except a big, versatile import, who can only play in reinforced-laden tournaments.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who can stop June Mar at this time. He’ll be unstoppable until two, three years time,” Guiao told Pinoystep.com in a telephone interview.
“The only way who can stop June Mar is a good import, who is as big or as physical as him. Even our import before, Tree Treadwell, who is well-built, but smaller than June Mar, had difficulty stopping him.”
Guiao’s observation came on the heels of the Beermen’s four-game sweep of the Elasto Painters in their recent best-of-seven semifinals series.
A seven-time champion coach, who is still in search of the elusive all-Filipino crown, Guiao believes that the biggest reason for Rain or Shine’s semifinals loss against San Miguel was the Elasto Painters’ inability to match up against Fajardo.
“We know that San Miguel has a superior line up and not just relied on June Mar, but because of the things he can do inside, mas dumadali yung trabaho nung mga kakampi niya,” said Guiao. “Once you send the ball inside to June Mar, a lot of things can happen as San Miguel can simply spread the floor and it has a lot of players who can shoot or can penetrate.”
In the four games the Beermen won, Fajardo averaged 18.25 points, 13.75 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
According to Guiao, a year’s span won’t be enough for their big players to bulk up and match up with Fajardo.
The Elasto Painters have 6-foot-8 incoming sophomore center Keith Datu as their tallest player and is the best probable match up for Fajardo.
Beau Belga, a 6-foot-5 center, has the basketball IQ to match up with Fajardo, but lacks the height to compete against the Cebuano center.
“I don’t think one year will be enough for Keith to bulk up in a bid to match up with June Mar. It’s going to take some time. The only way for us to find someone who can match up with June Mar is during the import-laden conferences, hoping we can find someone who can stop June Mar on a single coverage,” added Guiao.
Even in the coming PBA Rookie Draft, Guiao doesn’t see a big player who can make an impact and fall into their laps, knowing the situation they are facing ahead.
“We expect to fall at No.7 or No.8. We have two first-round draft picks, but I believe those picks will fall at the mid or latter stage of the first round and kapag doon ka napunta, I don’t think may aabutan kang malalaking players who can make a huge impact right away, so chances are, you’ll be getting the best talent available,” he added.
Despite losing to the Beermen, Guiao is pleased with the results they had this conference. It’s the first time Rain or Shine cracked the semifinal round since the veteran mentor returned to the Elasto Painters’ camp midway last season.
“It’s our first semifinals stint together as a group, so we thought this is already an achievement, but of course, we can only get better and we can think of only getting beyond semis starting from now,” said Guiao.
“But the only way you can surpass beyond semifinals is to get by June Mar and San Miguel. We lost because we still don’t have the experience yet, especially our young players, and experience is one thing I cannot teach. It’s something they need to endure and that is playing against June Mar and San Miguel. Hindi mo naman sila maiiwasan o kung maiwasan mo man, sa bandang dulo makakaharap mo pa rin sila. To get past the semiinals, you need to get past June Mar and San Miguel.”
