They already have a few candidates.
In a few weeks, San Miguel Beermen coach Jorge Gallent is expecting to welcome the team’s import for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which is set to start on October 15.
With a dismal PBA On Tour stint that saw them finish with a 3-8 win-loss card, Gallent and his crew look to move on immediately and focus on the upcoming regular season—and it starts with getting more reps with their reinforcement.
"August 21 ang start ng practice pero hindi full. Every other day hanggang September 4. 'Yun ang plano as of now," Gallent said in an article on the PBA website. “Iyong import namin August 1 or the last week of August nandito na."
While the timeline is starting to take shape, San Miguel has yet to make a final decision on who the import will be. They have trimmed their options, nonetheless.
"Meron nang mga candidates, tatlo, pero not in order yet," said Coach Jorge.
The veteran tactician did not drop names, especially since it’s the SMB front office members who are busy doing the legwork, such as talking with players' agents.
What the former PBL champion head coach does know is the player mold he seeks: A forward who can play alongside big man and six-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo.
"We're trying to get a legit 6-foot-7 or 6-foot-8 na 3 or 4 para makalaro with June Mar. Kasi kapag kumuha kami ng 5, mahihirapan na naman," Gallent explained. "Kapag kukuha kami ng 5, wala na naman kaming shooter sa labas. Alam naman natin na si Marcio [Lassiter] lang talaga reliable shooter dito," Gallent added.
There's one former San Miguel import, Chris McCullough, who has long expressed his desire to return to the PBA, but it's unclear if he is even one of SMB's candidates.
The franchise is expected to speed up this import selection process by next week to meet Gallent’s preferred timeline.
"We're gonna do it Monday then we're gonna watch films. Hindi highlights kundi full games. Siguro mga tatlong games each [prospect].”