source: Waylon Galvez | mb.com.ph
After falling short of winning the championship in the last conference, Ginebra mentor Jong Uichico believes he has the right materials to contend anew for a PBA title in the Governor’s Cup.
Uichico made special mention of versatile import Curtis Stinson.
After falling short of winning the championship in the last conference, Ginebra mentor Jong Uichico believes he has the right materials to contend anew for a PBA title in the Governor’s Cup.
Uichico made special mention of versatile import Curtis Stinson.
“He’s a very intelligent player. He is the type of player who makes the players around him look good,” Uichico said of Stinson, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the last NBA Developmental League.
The 6-foot-2 Stinson and the Kings start their campaign in the seasonending conference when they face the Powerade Tigers at 7:45 p.m. at the Astrodome in Pasay City.
In the curtain-raiser at 5:30 p.m., the Petron Blaze Boosters and the Meralco Bolts collide.
Aside from winning the MVP, Stinson is coming off a title run with the Iowa Energy in the D-League.
Stinson, 28, who increased his point production to 19.3 points in the regular season of the D-League to 24.4 points with 10 assists in the playoffs, is a good fit for the Kings, according to Uichico.
“He gets the other players involved, but he knows when to take over, when to score. We also like his attitude,” Uichico said.
Except for Rudy Hatfield, who left for the United States after Ginebra lost to Talk ’N Text in Finals of the Commissioner’s Cup, the roster remains intact led by former two-time MVP Willie Miller, Mark Caguioa, Ronald Tubid, JC Intal and Eric Menk.
Two Ginebra standouts – former MVP Jayjay Helterbrand and Rico Villanueva – are also returning from injuries.
Ginebra will face a team that will miss the services of import Jason Williamson (dislocated right shoulder) and top scorer Gary David (fractured right middle finger).
The Tigers decided to keep Williamson, but he will be replaced temporarily by Chris Porter, who played for Ginebra in 2006 Fiesta Cup.
Two teams clashing in the first game will also have to deal with injuries.
Petron will miss its original import Mike Taylor, while Meralco will play without guards Mark Cardona and Chris Timberlake.
Taylor sustained a strained muscle in practice and will be temporarily replaced by Ricky Harris. Petron coach Ato Agustin is hoping that Taylor will be ready to return in two weeks.
Cardona, on the other hand, will be out for 6-8 weeks with an injured calf, the same injury of Timberlake.
Veteran center Marlou Aquino is also a doubtful starter with a hamstring injury.
Because of these injuries, Meralco coach asked the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas to allow center Asi Taulava to play for the Bolts this conference.
