Caguioa back after long lay off

source: Waylon Galvez | mb.com.ph

Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer, two of the busiest teams in the off-season, clash this Wednesday with the Kings going to welcome prolific scorer Mark Caguioa back to their fold in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings and the Beermen collide in the 7:30 p.m. after the 5 p.m. encounter between the Alaska Aces and the Barako Bull Energy Boosters.

Fresh from its Fiesta Cup title campaign where it downed Ginebra in a thrilling seven-game showdown, San Miguel further upgraded its already formidable roster with the acquisition of versatile forward Arwind Santos from Burger King and playmaker Dennis Miranda from Sta. Lucia Realty.

Santos and Miranda were acquired from Burger King and Sta. Lucia, respectively, in exchange for future rookie picks.

The ability of Santos to play the 2-3 positions has solidified SMB’s guard-forward rotation that include Dondon Hontiveros, Lordy Tugade, and Danny Seigle. Both Tugade and Seigle did not see action in the last conference due to various injuries.

But the comeback of Caguioa, considered one of the PBA’s top guards, is the most awaited. He missed almost the entire season last year due to tendonitis.

“We are a ‘wait and see’ team. How we will be able to adjust to each other, to the system and team chemistry remains to be seen,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, adding that keeping the players healthy is also a key factor.

A healthy Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand, who was also bothered by hamstring injury in the Fiesta Cup finals, should make Ginebra one of the teams to beat this conference.

Aside from Caguioa, the Kings will also unravel their new recruits in big men Enrico Villanueva and Rich Alvarez, as well as guard Celino Cruz.

Villanueva, Alvarez, and Cruz all came from a trade with Purefoods, in exchange for Rafi Reavis and Paul Artadi with Burger King acting as conduit.

Uichico hopes that aside from Caguioa and Helterbrand, the three will be comfortable with other teammates including Cyrus Baguio, Ronald Tubid, Billy Mamaril, JC Intal, Eric Menk and Sunday Salvacion, Willy Wilson, and Doug Kramer.

Games on Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
5:00 p.m. — Alaska vs Barako Bull
7:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs San Miguel