Caguioa back in top form – Uichico

source: Waylon Galvez | mb.com.ph

Mark Caguioa will make his return in the coming PBA season after missing the entire season due to tendonitis.

The five-foot-11 Barangay Ginebra guard reported for practice two weeks ago and appeared in top form, retaining the quickness and shooting touch that made him one of the league’s premier players.

“So far so good,” Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said of Caguioa. “He is ready to go, unless his knee acts up.”

Caguioa, 29, sat out last season and spent six months in the United States to rehabilitate his knee.

He was supposed to rejoin the team during the late stage of the Fiesta Cup, but team management decided against fielding him back into action.

With Caguioa’s return, Ginebra is now loaded at the two-guard spot as he will share playing minutes with 2009 Most Valuable Player (MVP) and buddy Jayjay Helterbrand, Cyrus Baguio, and Ronald Tubid. Uichico doesn’t see it as a problem.

The Kings also upgraded their frontline with the recent additions of 6-foot-6 Enrico Villanueva, 6-foot-5 Rich Alvarez and 6-foot-6 Paulo Bugia, joining mainstays Willie Wilson, Billy Mamaril, and former MVP Eric Menk.

“Last season, we really lacked the size. We actually have the size but not quick players compared to the other teams. That’s one of our weak spots,” Uichico said.

The multi-titled mentor said that their new recruits are doing well in practice, trying to fit into the system and finding their right roles to be effective in their campaign to regain the all-Filipino crown they last won in 2006-07 Season.

Despite the addition of new players, Uichico still feels they are not in the same calibre as powerhouse teams like reigning Fiesta Cup champion San Miguel Beer and defending Philippine Cup champion Talk ’N Text.

“We’re just one of the regulars,” Uichico said. “We may have improved particularly on our frontline rotation, malayo kami sa teams like San Miguel Beer and Talk ’N Text. Kumbaga humahabol lang kami sa kanila,” he added.