“NEW” GINEBRA SQUAD BATTLES AIR21
Except for Mark Caguioa still being the team’s main man, Barangay Ginebra is practically a new team with a new core group and a new man at the helm.
Ginebra is in transition period as it plunges into action in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, taking on Air21 in Day Three of the mid-season tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
During the brief break after the Philippine Cup, the team continued to rebuild, acquiring former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Mac Baracael for Allen Maliksi.
A bigger change was the shuffle on the coaching lineup, relegating the Ron Jacobs disciples to the background to pave the way for Alfrancis Chua’s assumption of the reins.
Taking over from Siot Tanquingcen, Chua said the Kings would be back as more of a freewheeling team.
The question is whether all these changes will do wonders for the Ginebra team that’s been without a title for six years now.
Hoping to improve on their sixth-place finish in the Philippine Cup, the Kings bring in Herbert Hill as reinforcement.
“Mahina pero mahirap naman maghanap ng kapalit,” said Chua. “Meron na sana kaming prospect, kaso napapirma sa NBA.”
In a recent four-team invitationals in Cebu, the Kings narrowly avoided a last-placers finish, overcoming host team M. Lhuillier for their lone win. Ginebra was beaten by eventual champion Petron Blaze and runner-up Alaska Milk.
Chua and his charges, no question, are a work in progress. But so do Franz Pumaren and his Air21 team.
The Express, eighth placer in the Philippine Cup, unveil Michael Dunigan as import in the mid-season tourney.
A product of Oregon U, Dunigan suited up for the Memphis Grizzlies in the recent NBA preseason tourney and is fresh from his stint in the Australian league.
Both Hill and Dunigan were measured a little over 6-foot-8. (SB)
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