Main weapon

Main weapon
By Dennis Principe | Posted on October 05, 2012 | 12:01am

he way they won on opening day, Ginebra San Miguel was instantly installed as one of the teams to beat in the current Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup by those who witnessed their game.

But the way they played, it seems Philippine basketball’s crowd darling may find it hard to win against top teams unless they utilize their team’s true strength.

Ginebra, getting surprise performances from Billy Mamaril and Rico Maierhofer, who scored 14 points apiece, manhandled newcomer Global PortBatang Pier, 110-90, last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Before the start of the season, Ginebra flaunted their newfound weaponry as sophomores Dylan Ababou and Allein Maliksi consistently complemented veterans Mark Caguioa, Mike Cortez and Jayjay Helterbrand in winning a good number of tune-up games.

Coach Siot Tanquingcen himself admits that the chink in their armor remains the center position.

With all due respect to Mamaril and Maierhofer, who are touted as two of the most hardworking players in the league, the two are not really expected to dish out that kind of performance day in and day out.

Unless of course they take this remark as their ultimate motivation.

TRUE STRENGTH. While Ginebra dominated the boards against Global Port, 55-28, it does not serve as an indication that they have found an answer to their weakness.

Apparently, it’s a simple case of Global Port failing to employ boxing out tactics to prevent Ginebra from dominating the boards.

Proof of this is Ginebra’s new recruit and one of their littlest guys LA Tenorio grabbing nine rebounds in that game.

In the offensive boards, Ginebra had a huge upper-hand, 21-8.

For their coming game, Ginebra must get its real game going and that is by connecting from the outside consistently as they meet newly crowned Governors’ Cup kingpins Rain or Shine Elasto Painters this Sunday at the Big Dome.


Source: Manilastandardtoday.com