DIAMOND Stone would be under the microscope Sunday when San Miguel Beer takes on a Bay Area side wanting nothing more than to get back on track in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
According to coach Leo Austria, his Beermen would be relying most on Stone now that prized center June Mar Fajardo is out due to a recent surgery to repair a misaligned cartilage in his larynx caused by an inadvertent elbow by Rain or Shine import Steve Taylor in their match last Sunday.
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"Nakauwi na si June Mar pero he has to sit out several games para magpagaling ng husto," related Austria.
That should come as welcome news for Bay Area, which is aching to rebound from a 93-111 loss to Barangay Ginebra also last Sunday that cut short the Dragons' sizzling 4-0 start to the conference.
With Fajardo out, Austria is hoping the likes of Mo Tautuaa, Vic Manuel and Rodney Brondial would conspire to fill up the void in SMB's frontcourt.
And, of course, Stone.
"Nag-ko-complement sila ni June Mar sa mga high-low plays namin, pero ngayong wala si June Mar we have to come up with new strategies and make him (Stone) play on the inside more," bared Austria.
"Siyempre panibagong adjustment na naman iyon para sa kanya but we're hoping na mag-work out," added Austria. "Maganda naman so far ang ipinapakita sa practice."
Stone, a last-minute replacement when original choice Thomas Robinson got injured, did show marked improvement from his 20-point, six-rebound debut in a 106-109 loss to Blackwater. He tallied 42 and 13 in a 113-105 win over the Elasto Painters.
It is on defense Austria wants Stone to shine, however.
"Malalaki ang Bay Area, lalo na't ang import nila ngayon 'yung (Andrew) Nicholson, kaya kailangan talaga makatulong siya sa loob," stated the four-time Coach of the Year.
Adding to Austria's concern is the fact that unlike in the Ginebra game, which Bay Area played just two days after prevailing over Converge in a hard-fought match, the Dragons have now had ample time to prepare.