San Miguel Beer, the most dominant team over the last six years, was nowhere near the powerhouse squad is it known for in last year's bubble tournament.
Without June Mar Fajardo, a six-time Most Valuable Player winner, who was down with a fractured tibia, the Beermen struggled and could only go as far as the quarterfinal round of the PBA bubble tournament.
Despite carrying a twice-to-beat advantage over the Meralco Bolts, the Beermen were beaten two in a row and were ushered to the exit door in a tournament they dominated over the past five years.
Fajardo is still on a recovery stage, but the Beermen made a bold mold in the off season by acquiring CJ Perez, the reigning scoring champion over the past two seasons. The 6-foot-2, former Rookie of the Year instantly provides the firepower needed by an aging and banged up San Miguel squad that is out to return to glory.
To get Perez, who averaged 24.36 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while playing for Terrafirma Dyip last season, the Beermen had to unload three players -- Russel Escoto, guard Gelo Alolino and journeyman swing man Matt Ganuelas-Rosser plus the rights on the 2020 and 2022 first round picks.
Terrafirma, which gained an extra first round pick in the Rookie Draft this year, exercised its rights by getting big man James Laput, a 6-foot-10 center from La Salle.
The Beermen emerged as one of the biggest winners in the off season even in the absence of draft picks in the first two rounds. Taking in Perez, a game-changer, gives them instant firepower even when Fajardo is still recuperating from injury.
With Perez coming in, he'll join mainstays led by former MVP Arwind Santos, two-time PBA Finals MVP Chris Ross, veteran guard Alex Cabagnot, comebacking spitfire guard Terrence Romeo, dead shot wing man Marcio Lassiter, reliable reserve Von Pessumal and big man Mo Tautuaa among others.
The inclusion of Perez will certainly fast track the Beermen's road to reclaim greatness, but for the newly-acquired player, the team will carry a target on its back as each time is trying to make an aim of hitting the powerhouse.
"It's not gonna be easy for us," Perez told the Manila Times speaking in Filipino. "People thought that we're a strong team, but we're still learning to play each other. We're aware that every team is trying to get us, so that makes things difficult for us."
San Miguel Beer team manager Gee Abanilla said the team is taking its time on Fajardo's recovery.
"We want to maximize the time of his recovery and we don't want to rush it. His health is more important to us as we wanted to prolong his career," added Abanilla.
"We'll try to put up a decent and competitive team out there and that's why we're preparing hard for the coming season."
The Beermen are the winningest team in PBA history with 27 championships and they last won the title in the 2019 Commissioner's Cup.