New coach Chua longs to see Ginebra play like Jaworski's fabled teams

New coach Chua longs to see Ginebra play like Jaworski's fabled teams




NEWLY installed Barangay Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua has no plan to implement major changes in the team's system when he presides over his first practice on Monday.

In fact, he wants to see this team play like the Ginebra of old.

Two days after inheriting the head-coaching position from Siot Tanquingcen, Chua bared his desire to see this batch of Gin Kings play a run-and-gun style and exemplify the never-say-die spirit that Robert Jaworski’s fabled teams became famous for.

"I think andun ang strength ng team eh," said Chua of the run-and-gun offense which he feels can bring the best out of his players.

“I want the players to be free, to play their game, to come out of their shell. Yun ang gusto ko eh, to maximize their talent. Of course, I know it’s not gonna be easy,” he added.

More than instilling a new system, the ponytailed coach said his immediate goal is to strengthen the bond among the players of a team that has gone through two major reshuffles over the last few seasons under Tanquingcen.

“Di ko concern yung magbabago-bago ng sistema. But I want to see a group that’s willing to sacrifice and love each other. We need to bond and come to accept our roles,” he said.

By declaring that no major changes in the team are afoot, Chua said it also means that reigning league MVP Mark Caguioa – for so long the heart and soul of this generation of Ginebra players – will remain the focal point of the offense.

"Mark Caguioa is Mark Caguioa. He is the heart of the team," he said.

Chua, whose first foray into coaching was with Tanduay in 1999, said coaching Ginebra and coaching against the crowd darling will be totally different experiences.

“Dati, tuwing kalaban namin ang Ginebra, talagang sinasabi ko sa mga players ko to motivate them, ‘Let’s shut them off, all the fans, let’s shut them of,” he said.

“Pero iba pala talaga ang pakiramdam na suportahan ka ng mga fans ng Ginebra. Malaking pasasalamat ko sa kanila.

“Wala namang coaches o players na hindi gustong pumunta sa Ginebra. Siyempre, malaki rin ang pasasalamat ko sa management sa suporta at tiwalang binigay nila sa akin.”

Source: Spin.ph