San Miguel Beer didn’t need June Mar Fajardo to look like champions.

Missing their franchise centerpiece and head coach Leo Austria, the Beermen leaned on a new face and a familiar supporting cast to blow past Macau, 123-109, for a winning start to the PBA Governors’ Cup on Tuesday night, July 14, at Ynares Center-Antipolo. Import George King delivered a spectacular debut, Rodney Brondial turned in a monster rebounding performance, and San Miguel’s depth carried the day.

King’s Electric Debut Fills the Fajardo-Sized Void

San Miguel entered the game shorthanded, with Fajardo sidelined by a hyperextended right elbow and Austria attending to personal matters. It didn’t matter.

George King, making his SMB debut after a previous stint with Blackwater, exploded for 30 points, five rebounds and seven assists to spearhead the offense in Fajardo’s absence.

He didn’t do it alone. CJ Perez added 21 points, Jericho Cruz poured in 20 points on four triples, and fellow debutant Jerrick Ahanmisi chipped in 16 as San Miguel’s attack hummed all night.

Then there was Brondial, who turned the paint into his personal domain, hauling down 25 total rebounds — 16 defensive, nine offensive — to go with 10 points, essentially replicating Fajardo’s usual production on the glass.

“Kailangan kong lumabas sa mundo ng halimaw kasi wala si June Mar. Kailangan mag-effort tayo,” Brondial said. (“I needed to step up into beast mode since June Mar wasn’t around. We needed to put in the effort.”)

Martin’s Ball-Movement Culture Shines Without Austria

With Austria out, assistant coach Peter Martin stepped in and saw exactly what he wanted from his group: sharp ball movement and complete control of the boards, where San Miguel dominated Macau, 53-40.

“We wanted to move the ball and the easiest way to move the ball is kapag nag fastbreak kami,” Martin said. (“…when we run in transition.”)

Martin acknowledged Fajardo’s absence created an opportunity for the Beermen to play faster, even as they look forward to his return.

“Sinasamantala namin na wala pa si June Mar kasi pagbalik ni June Mar, babagal kami nang konti. Pero gusto namin andito siya. Pero mukhang okay naman ginawa ni Rodney, 25 rebounds, it’s parang regular average day of June Mar so we’ll take that,” he said. (“We’re taking advantage of June Mar’s absence because once he’s back, we’ll slow down a bit. But we want him here. Still, what Rodney did looks solid — 25 rebounds is basically a regular day’s work for June Mar, so we’ll take that.”)

He also credited the team’s 29 assists as proof of a broader philosophy shift.

“We’re trying to change the culture, preach sharing the ball,” Martin said.

The turning point came in the fourth quarter, when San Miguel unleashed a 17-3 run fueled by four three-pointers to pull away for good, 114-96.

Macau, meanwhile, dropped to back-to-back losses in Group A, unable to keep pace with San Miguel’s balanced attack and suffocating rebounding down the stretch.