Phoenix import Eugene Phelps thinks San Miguel Beer is just a “regular team” minus June Mar Fajardo.
Phelps, who is making a case for Best Import of the Conference, may have a point considering how bad the Beermen have been playing so far in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup.
In fact, if the playoffs started today, San Miguel would be the eighth seed facing two-time defending champion Barangay Ginebra in an early quarterfinals matchup.
Normally, San Miguel and Ginebra cross paths in the semifinals at the earliest but the Beermen’s struggles, due in large part to the absence of Fajardo, have sent them into a free fall.
“They’re a great team but honestly, without June Mar, they’re a regular team so we just gotta play our game and we’ll be fine,” Phelps told reporters when asked about Phoenix’s impending duel against San Miguel on Friday night.
Fajardo has been sidelined since August with a leg injury and San Miguel, despite its star power and depth even without the four-time MVP, has won only two out of its first six games.
And while the Beermen are reeling, the Fuel Masters, on the other hand, are rolling with a 6-2 record.
Phoenix’s latest win came on Wednesday night at the expense of NLEX in a game where the Fuel Masters led by as much as 41 points.
Phelps was at the forefront of the 123-97 demolition as he scored at will to finish with 51 points on 21-of-31 shooting from the field on top of 20 rebounds.
“Like I said, we got the win but I don’t care about the 50-ball cause if I would’ve scored 50 and we lost, it don’t matter so we got the win and that’s all that matters,” said Phelps, who recorded his fourth 50-point game in the PBA.