Brian Heruela to play a different role with Beermen, says Austria
Brian Heruela is a welcome addition to San Miguel Beer. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Heavily relied on during his stint with expansion team Blackwater, Brian Heruela doesn’t need to do as much as a member of powerhouse San Miguel Beer.
Beermen head coach Leo Austria, though, hopes Heruela will be the same player despite the change of role.
“We have to remember last season, he was the number one assist man in the league and I hope he can bring that to this team,” he said.
Probably the third man at the point behind Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross, Heruela gives San Miguel Beer’s guard rotation a different dimension with his size and playmaking abilities.
“The good thing with him is di ako kakabahan sa guards kung ma-foul trouble man o may ma-injure. Kung kumpleto yung mga point guard namin, may mga adjustment kaming pwedeng gawin, like si Alex pwedeng mag-two-guard o magkasabay yung dalawang point guard sa loob,” he said
Austria knows what the stocky Cebuano guard, who reunited with his former college teammate June Mar Fajardo, is capable of. Heruela was one of the leaders for the Elite but with the Beermen loaded with talent from top to bottom, Austria said, the important thing for the 26-year-old is to fit in.
“He’ll have a different role here compared dun sa laro nya sa Blackwater, where he averaged 40 minutes. We’re happy to have Heruela, who’s deserving to be a starter on any other team, pero dito, hindi nya kailangan maging all-around at gawin lang yung role na ibibigay namin sa kanya.”
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