BUYING INTO THE SYSTEM
New conference, new coach, new system, new chapter for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel basketball.
Jeffrey Cariaso, elevated as chief tactician of the league’s most popular ballclub, is bringing valuable lessons he learned from his mentor coach Tim Cone to the Kings. And as expected, Cariaso is bringing the triangle offense with him.
For the team’s vocal leader Mark Caguioa, the system which necessitates discipline and communication, is just what the doctor ordered for Ginebra.
“Mas naging patient kami sa offense,” he said. “Magugulat ka nga kasi the past conferences, iba-iba yung system namin. I think this time, fit kami kasi on every spot, sa malalaki, sa guards, they’re getting easy shots. With this kind of offense, you just got to be more fluid and you’ll get your shots.”
The Kings have run it once on thw PBA floor and the result was a promising 89-71 win over GlobalPort last Tuesday, with import Zaccheus Mason and Greg Slaughter submitting double-doubles, and Caguioa adding 15 markers.
“I think we’ve only run the triangle for three weeks pa lang. Every one wants to buy in and every one needs to buy in to this system because di ka pwedeng wala eh,” the 2012 MVP said. “You have to be in there. It’s a triangle, it’s a team offense. Hindi yung katulad dati na minsan, may tendencies kaming mag-kanya-kanya. This time, as you can see, it’s a lot easier getting their shots.”
“In the past kasi, parang naghahanap pa kami eh. Ano ba yung Ginebra ngayon? Tsaka meron kaming mga bagong players tulad nila Greg (Slaughter) at Japeth (Aguilar), medyo baguhan pa sila dito. So para sa kanila, medyo mahirap din eh. Ako beterano na ako, nakaka-adjust ako agad. Pero sila, nahihirapan sila dahil baguhan pa sila sa team na ‘to kaya di pa nila ganung kaalam yung gagawin nila para sa team na ‘to.”
He adds, “Itong system na ‘to, the ball will find you instead of you looking for the ball. This game right here, ang nangyari, you just run the offense and ang bola ang makakahanap sa ‘yo.”
It also helps that Caguioa knows his new coach from years of being fierce competitors, and he believes that Cariaso’s no-nonsense attitude can be pivotal in taking Ginebra over the hump in the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
“Knowing Jeff, I played against him. I know his attitude,” Caguioa said. “He wants us to play together and like what he said, just always be together and support your teammates and keep pushing them kasi you’re not gonna be perfect when you run the triangle. You need all the support from your teammates and the coaching staff.”
“Every one listens to what the coach is saying. Everyone’s focused and no one’s messing around. Every one’s in there and looking at the coach, listening what he has to say. You can tell it sa practice, every one listens and that’s what we need.” (RL)
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