Jorge Gallent and the San Miguel brain thrust are readying a crucial meeting on Sunday to determine the best move in addressing their import situation.
The Beermen will have to make a big decision on whether or not Jordan Adams stays on as their reinforcement entering the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.
The American winger is currently nursing a strained right hamstring.
“We’re gonna meet at lunch time tomorrow about the situation – what to do, what’s good for the team, and what’s good for our scenario going into the best-of-five,” the champion bench tactician told reporters on Saturday evening.
Gallent made his comments shortly after SMB lost to George King and Blackwater by way of a 111-94 rout at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium – a game where they played with an all-Filipino crew as Adams was reduced to a spectator.
Needless to say, the team badly missed the 30-year-old, since his counterpart definitely had his way and finished with 49 points and 11 rebounds.
It’s surely a scenario that the perennial contenders wouldn’t want to see again, especially in the quarters where they will finish either as the second or third seed in Group B – depending on the remaining games in the group.
“Kasi itong eiliminations, tapos na ‘to eh. It’s either we’re second or third. Secured na yan e,” offered the 56-year-old mentor.
But while they await their final seeding, SMB may not afford to do the same with Adams, since they’re aware of how tricky a hamstring injury can get.
“Kasi ‘yung doctor told him kahapon na if he plays, there’s a possibility of tearing it eh,” said Gallent. “So we cannot afford that. If the games were like after seven days ganyan, pwede ‘yun. Pero ‘yung healing time niyan, matagal yan.”
Plus, the best-of-5 quarterfinals is expected to commence next Wednesday, and will be a stacked one again as teams will play every other day.
“We have to talk about it, kasi ‘yung feeling namin, traydor ‘yun,” Gallent said of the injury. “And, our games are very other day eh, so baka mangyari mag-tight nang mag-tight. We’re gonna put that in consideration [when we talk].”
If ever they do change, Adams will no longer be allowed to be reactivated as PBA rules say that imports are only allowed to be replaced once.
“We found out yan kasi nangyari sa TNT yan e, kay Rondae ‘di ba,” Gallent said, referring to the time last season when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was replaced by his older brother in Rahlir during the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Pero if we’re gonna change, of course, full support na sa’min yun. As in desidido na kami, na hindi pwedeng 80-percent, 90-percent. If we will change, it’s 100-percent na yes,” he added.
“Basta if change, change.”
But then again, nothing is set in stone yet until Sunday afternoon, when Gallent and his deputies put their heads together and decide what’s best.
