Beermen to stay intact — Uichico

Fresh from its title conquest of the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference, San Miguel Beer may not be making any major change as far as its roster is concerned.

The Beermen dismantled the Talk ‘N Text Phonepals, 4-1, to gain its 17th PBA crown, while handing head coach Jong Uichico his sixth league title.

With a veteran lineup led by two-time PBA Most Valuable Player Danny Ildefonso, also the Finals MVP at the recent championships series, along with Olsen Racela, Fil-Ams Dorian Peña and Nic Belasco and Dondon Hontiveros, Uichico felt there may be no major player movements.

"ECJ (initials of SMB big boss Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. said intact daw muna kami," said Uichico during yesterday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan forum, sponsored by ACCEL.

"Wala naman talaga kaming masasabing weak spot sa ngayon,"

For now, Uichico said they are still savoring the title they won, especially since they missed winning the "big one" — the All-Filipino Cup of the 2001 PBA season.

"Matagal-tagal din kasi yung huling naging championship namin, gutom din talaga ang lahat," added Uichico, who started coaching the Beermen in the 1999 season.

Going into the PBA Rookie draft, Uichico said he isn’t expecting to get a "blue-chip" rookie since the Beermen will be picking ninth in the first round.

"You don’t know talaga kung sino pa ang makukuha mong malaki. I haven’t seen the complete list yet, but of course, nandiyan si (Anthony) Washington and (Mark) Cardona," he said.

Going into the 2005-2006 PBA season, which opens shop this October, Uichico still picks Talk N Text and Alaska as the title contenders because of their intact and young lineup.