MANILA – Already the best All-Filipino team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the San Miguel Beermen figure to get even better in the upcoming conference upon the arrival of Christian Standhardinger.

San Miguel cemented its status as the top squad in the league last Friday after defeating Magnolia in five games in the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, making it four conferences in a row that they had ruled the most prestigious conference in the league.

Almost immediately after winning the All-Filipino crown, attention shifted to San Miguel's campaign in the upcoming PBA Commissioner's Cup.

"If they will work hard and have a good camarederie and good preparation, I think there's a great possibility that we can win another championship," said San Miguel coach Leo Austria, who is now a perfect six-of-six in PBA Finals series.

However, the veteran mentor was quick to add that a championship in the conference is "a long shot."

"Every team in the PBA right now is trying to build up their team," he said. "And I think makikita niyo naman, this coming conference, magagaling 'yung mga import eh."

These imports, says Austria, may just be able to limit the production of June Mar Fajardo – who is the single most dominant player in the PBA right now. The gentle giant underscored his status as the best player in the league in their title-clinching Game 5 win, when he fired 42 points and grabbed 20 rebounds en route to winning Finals MVP honors.

"They (other PBA teams) have imports who can match up on the strength of June Mar," said Austria.

Yet even as he downplayed his team's chances, Austria also acknowledged that they are also going to get stronger in the upcoming conference.

"Dalawa daw 'yung import na darating sa amin," he quipped. "Isa from Hong Kong, isa from US."

The import from the United States is Troy Gillenwater, who is already in town and has been avidly observing San Miguel's campaign in the All-Filipino Cup.

The import from Hong Kong is, of course, Filipino-German standout Standhardinger, whom the Beermen selected with the first pick of the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft. Standhardinger has been busy with the Hong Kong Eastern in the ASEAN Basketball League, but figures to join the Beermen midway through the conference.

"The team is really excited sa pagdating ni Christian Standhardinger," said Austria. "I think, iwe-welcome nila ng buong-buo ito dahil alam nila na malaki ang matutulong niya sa team."

According to Austria, Standhardinger remains in touch with some of the players and SMB management, and the Fil-German is "excited" to join the team.

The coach did note that there are those who anticipate some problems when Standhardinger returns, and Austria did not deny that this is a possibility.

"I think sabi noong iba, it will become a problem in our team. Sabi ko, probably, but it is a good problem for us," said Austria.

"Sabi nga ninyo, there's a lot of criticism before na I'm only using seven or eight players, especially in a very important game. Now we have two imports, from Hong Kong and US, 'yung rotation namin, biglang hahaba," he added.

"Kung gumagamit ako ng walo, pwedeng maging sampu. And these two additional players will be a good help in our team."

The San Miguel players are also looking forward to Standhardinger's arrival.

"I've heard he's a great guy," said Marcio Lassiter. "I've seen his body of work in the ABL, and I'm sure he can help us."

"Naniniwala kami na si Christian, maa-adopt niya 'yung samahan dito," said Arwind Santos. "Kami naman, 'di kami mahirap pakisamahan, at susuportahan din namin si Christian."