SOURCE: PBA.PH
Thu, 01/28/2010 - 19:54
BARANGAY Ginebra coach Jong Uichico will not be lulled by what his rival says. Not when he has enough reason to keep his team on its toes.
So expect the Kings to display the same fire and energy they have splendidly displayed in the windup of the eliminations when they tackle the Talk N Text Tropang Texters Friday at the start of the 2009-10 KFC PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the Araneta Coliseum.
Rain or Shine tries to carry over its surprising wildcard momentum when it tangles with well-rested Purefoods in the curtain raiser, but it will be on the nightcap – also a best-of-five affair – that much of the focus is heaped.
“Overall, Ginebra is playing the best of all the teams and presents us with a lot of problems,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes of the team that finished the elims with a four-game streak, including a 105-82 manhandling of the Texters the last time they met.
“Game 1 will be critical to let us know if we can compete with them or not following the blowout we suffered in our last game,” added Reyes.
Uichico is quick to shrug off those statements. For good reason.
Contary to expectations, Ginebra's dreaded backcourt duo of Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa have not fully recovered from their respective knee injuries.
“Jayjay hindi pa makakalaro, Mark’s situational,” Uichico bared Thursday in a text message.
That should leave the likes of JC Intal, Cyrus Baguio, Ronald Tubid and Willy Wilson continuing to lead in holding the fort for the Kings.
All of the TNT players are fit and ready and this gnaws at Uichico the most. “We are playing the defending champions with an intact lineup,” he pointed out.
It's not manpower Reyes is most concerned about. “Really our biggest problem is our inconsistency,” he said. “If we hurdle this then we will have a chance.”
After easily making it to the quarters outright, Purefoods is also well-rested. But it is up against a Rain or Shine crew that has proven most people wrong by getting this far and now eager to go at least one more step higher.
“I always felt that their 4-14 (win-loss) mark at the end of the elims is not an indicator of their real roster power,” noted Giants coach Ryan Gregorio of the Elasto Painters, who started the tournament with six straight losses and after landing ninth barely squeaked through to the wildcard round.
Then came the RoS turnaround as it notched back-to-back knockout wins over higher seeds Sta. Lucia Realty and Coca-Cola, the last via a 99-84 count only last Wednesday.
Coach Caloy Garcia admitted those must-win games may take their toll on his team's energy level, but not on their intensity and enthusiasm.
“In Game One, for sure, medyo pagod ang mga players,” Garcia admitted after the Coke game. “But tomorrow kasal ni Jeff Chan so I'll give the players time to rest tomorrow, enjoy the moment first and then back to work.”
After what they had to go through, being in the quarterfinals is enough prod in itself for his team, Garcia added.
“At the start of the season hindi masyadong maganda ang laro, pero I told the players we have to have confidence,” Garcia related of his team that started the tournament with six straight losses and wound up the 18-game eliminations at ninth.
Sol Mercado most typified the Painters' drastic change.
After averaging just 14.1 points in the elims, the well-built guard caught fire in the wildcard, scoring 18 points and seven rebounds against the Realtors and torching Coke for 28 points to go with eight assists.
“I think they (Giants) are playing the best basketball in the PBA right now, but we're playing with a lot of heart so we'll be alright,” said Mercado. “I think we’re peaking at the right time. If we hit a good rhythm, we would be all right.”
Gabe Norwood, Mike Hrabak, Eddie Laure and Chan have also provided solid numbers of late, helping meld the Painters.
The fact was also not lost on Gregorio.
“Defense will be given emphasis in our game,” Gregorio added. “We've choked our opponents and limited them to less than 84 points in 18 games. I hope our fresh legs would be an advantage against a tired Rain or Shine team.” (NC)
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