Caguioa lives up to Cone’s challenge to play defense: ‘There’s no off-night on defense, I’m trying to do that’
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For someone more known for his offensive prowess, Mark Caguioa caught coach Tim Cone by surprise with a commendable defensive effort down in Ginebra’s 85-70 win over GlobalPort on Wednesday.
Cone admitted that he sat the veteran guard during a crucial stretch in one of the Kings’ games because he didn’t full trust Caguioa on the defensive end.
“I think he surprised all of us,” Cone said. “He and I have been talking about defense and I was telling him last game that I didn’t play him down the stretch because I didn’t have the trust in him defensively to play down the stretch. He’s got to focus first on his possessions. He said, ‘I promise to get better and I’ll do it next game,’ and he did live up to his words. He deserve to play down the stretch for his great defensive job.”
More than his points, Caguioa made his presence felt in the defensive end for the Kings, constantly intercepting passing lanes en route to five steals.
“He was at the right place at the right time all the time. He battled for looseballs and battled for rebounds. That’s the Mark we come to expect all of his career. I’m very pleased that he’s stepping up for us now,” Cone said.
For his part, the 2012 PBA Most Valuable Player admits that though he’s still not used to this kind of defensive grind, he has been rejuvenated with the way Ginebra has been rolling so far in the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup.
“To tell you the truth, I’m not that comfortable yet. I know (coach is) gonna push me and I need that,” Caguioa, 36, said. “I’m feeling young. As for me, I need this kind of game. Not just on offense, but on defense. I’m glad that I was able to contribute on defense more than offense. Like coach says, there’s no off-nights on defense and I’m trying to do that.”
Caguioa also admitted that he’s slowly getting the grasp of Cone’s system, which has gotten the American tactician 18 titles. Other than the famed triangle offense, it’s the defense which has been the fuel in Cone’s past championship runs.
“Coach Tim really is more of a defensive coach. Yun nga ang sabi nya sa akin, my offense will be there,” he said.
And if tweaking his game is what it needs to finally end that eight year title drought, Caguioa said that he is more than willing to follow Cone’s system.
“Mas gusto nya sa akin is for me to play more defense and I’m trying to best to do that. Beside the triangle, ang gusto nya is more defense. It’s just more effort on playing defense,” he said. “I’m trying my best to do whatever is needed defensively. Kung ma-shootan man ako, at least I’m doing my best on defense.”
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