ABL: San Miguel Beer worthy challenger in the 2012 season

ACQUIRING the services of two promising players, including a towering 6-foot-10 center, makes the San Miguel Beermen confident about their initial campaign in the coming third season of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).
With highly-touted Fil-Am guard Chris Banchero and intimidating big man Junmar Fajardo making up the core of the franchise known for its rich, winning tradition, Noli Eala believes the Beermen are a competitive lot capable of challenging for the championship of the fastest growing regional cage league in this side of the world.
Eala, San Miguel Corp. Director of Sports and Special Assistant to the Office of the President, accompanied team coach Bobby Parks, Banchero, and Fajardo in the final session of the PSA Forum for 2011 last December 12 at Shakey’s U.N. Ave.
“He’s (Banchero) been the guy we’ve been looking at since we first formed the Smart Gilas team, so we’re definitely happy that he joined us,” said Eala, a former commissioner of the PBA and one-time Executive Director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
The San Miguel executive described Fajardo, star center of the University of Cebu, as the `future of Philippine basketball’.
“I’ve won three state championships (with Seattle Pacific University) so I know what it takes to win. “I’m excited to be here and we’ll be a fun team to watch,” said the 6-foot-1 point guard Banchero.
But other than individual talent, Parks said he’s trying to develop the cohesion within the team, which he describes as a mixture of rookies and veterans.
The Beermen will have Dalron Johnson and Richard Jeter for imports in season three of the league that kicks off on January 14. Johnson once played for Red Bull, while Jeter suited up for the defunct Sta. Lucia team.
Comprising the rest of the San Miguel squad are Froilan Baguion, Allan Mangahas, KC Dela Pena, Benedict Fernandez, Davao’s RJ Rizada, Junjun Cabatu, Hafer Mondragon, Norman Gonzales, John Colina, Chris Luanzon, Neil Raneses, and Marlon Basco.
The Beermen are in Bangkok, Thailand seeing action in the ABL pre-season tournament featuring inaugural champion AirAsia Philippine Patriots, defending titlist Chang Thai Slammers, and expansion team Bangkok Cobras.  [PNA]