ABL: San Miguel taps Jarrid Famous to replace injured import

INQUIRER PHOTO/ August dela Cruz

MANILA, Philippines—A new American import will try to get San Miguel Beer back on the winning track at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Asean Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Former PBA import Jarrid Famous suits up for San Miguel as the Beermen vie to rebound from their first home-game loss against the Indonesia Warriors recently.

Famous replaces the injured Doug Thomas, who was sidelined by a knee injury.

But more than just adjusting to their new import, San Miguel coach Bobby Parks thinks his Beermen need to work on their on-court attitude.

Just four days ago, the Beermen dropped a 70-73 decision versus the Westports Malaysia Dragons to slip to third place at 5-3.

The AirAsia Philippine Patriots still hold the solo lead with a 7-1 card, while the Dragons claimed the second spot at 6-2.

“The players have a tendency to be complacent,” said Parks. “After so many games on the road, they think that they can just show up and win.”

Famous, a 6-foot-11 former NBA D-League cager, delivered big numbers for the Meralco Bolts but got dropped after leading the squad to just one win in three games in the PBA.

Parks also hope to see improvement from his local crew with highly touted guard Chris Banchero tipped to suit up soon and new recruits Aris Dimaunahan and John Ferriols expected to quickly adapt to the system.

“We’re waiting on him,” Parks said of Banchero, the Fil-Italian ace who sustained a hamstring injury before the season started.

The Warriors, just a game behind the Beermen with a 4-4 card, boast of volume scorers led by last season’s MVP Mario Wuysang and imports Steve Thomas and Larry Smith.