Beermen hit by injuries to key men

Coach Leo Austria celebrates San Miguel’s season-ending championship in the PBA. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

There’s still exactly a month to go before the 41st season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) gets off the ground, and for San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria, it is time his team could really use.

“If the league opens tomorrow, there’s no way we can defend the Philippine Cup,” Austria said in Filipino during Wednesday’s PBA Press Corps night at Centuray Park Hotel, where he was honored with the Coach of the Year award.

“The injuries we have on this team will not enable us to defend the title.”

Reigning two-time MVP June Mar Fajardo is the hardest hit with plantar fasciitis, the heel injury that kept him out of Gilas Pilipinas acted up again and would require more time to heal.

Alex Cabagnot, who received the Comeback Player of the Year award during the gala night, has a swollen throat while fellow point guard Chris Ross is down with a meniscus tear.

Peppery gunner Marcio Lassiter has a hamstring tear while frontliners Gabby Espinas and Yancy de Ocampo are also nursing different injuries.

The new season opens on Oct. 18 with the Beermen—with a healthy lineup—installed as one of the teams to beat together with Talk ‘N Text, Barangay Ginebra, Rain or Shine and Alaska.