BAGUIO NOW AT HOME WITH GINEBRA’S SYSTEM

Source: PBA.PH


Player of the Week Nov. 2 to 8

WHEN a player is in sync with his team, there's no telling what the limits are.

Cyrus Baguio displayed this the most now that he has fully absorbed coach Jong Uichico's system with Barangay Ginebra, shining in the Kings' two wins to take over second place and earn for himself the KFC/Accel-PBA Press Corps' Player of the Week for the period Nov. 2 to 8.

Ginebra was sorely missing the services of injured aces Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa while Eric Menk is still trying to fully ease his way back after being sidelined by a fractured toe.

No problem as Baguio led the gritty bunch of remaining Kings in posting back-to-back wins over Barako Bull and Rain or Shine that gave them a 4-1 win-loss slate, just behind unbeaten leader Alaska.

In those victories, the 6-foot-2 Iligan City native came off the bench to average 19.5 points, 3.0 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in an impressive show of all-around talent that made him edge out the likes of two-time MVP Willie Miller of Alaska and national teammate Arwind Santos of San Miguel Beer for the honor.

More important for Uichico is the fact that Baguio has now totally embraced his system.

“It took some time, pero now nakapag-adjust na siya,” noted Uichico. “It's a very good sign dahil naka-regain na siya ng confidence and I hope nakahanap na siya ng niche sa team.”

For the 29-year-old player acquired from Burger King only in the last Fiesta Conference, he was merely trying to repay his coach's and teammates' trust in him.

“Tina-try ko lang talaga 'yung best ko para makuha ko sistema ni coach. At least nakakapag-adjust na ako kahit papano kasi nahirapan din talaga ako nu'ng una,” he stated.

“At the same time, gusto ko ring ipakita na team player ako,” he added.

The former Slam Dunk King indeed struggled in Ginebra's first three games but rose to the occasion when Helterbrand sat out their game last Friday against Barako Bull due to a hurting knee, scattering a game-high 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field in a cruising 94-86 win.

He had a more modest 17 points but still led all scorers and also dished off a game-high six assists as the Kings stamped their class over Rain or Shine 86-77 last Sunday.

Uichico and Baguio are thinking of the same thing when the latter said, “Sana tuloy-tuloy na ito.” (NC)