Mark Caguioa says Ginebra players all ears as Cariaso leads transition to triangle offense

Ginebra star Mark Caguioa has noticed a change in the team's approach to practice. Jerome Ascano

MARK Caguioa believes there are two things that Barangay Ginebra needs to keep doing as the team progresses under new coach Jeffrey Cariaso’s triangle offense - focus and constant encouragement.

Caguioa said he has witnessed a change in Ginebra players' approach to practice since Cariaso assumed the head-coaching post three weeks ago, with the players totally focused on their bid to redeem themselves from a woeful stint in the recent Commissioner’s Cup.

“Everyone listens to what the coaching staff is saying. Iyun ang pinaka-importante, that no one’s messing around on the side, but everyone’s looking at the coach and listening to what he has to say,” Caguioa said after an 89-71 victory over GlobalPort in Ginebra's debut game in the PBA Governors Cup on Tuesday.

Caguioa played against Cariaso for several years before the latter retired in 2010. And in all those years, Caguioa said he has always admired Cariaso's approach to the game.

“Knowing Jeff, I played against him. I know his attitude. Like what he said, 'Always be together, always support your teammate, keep pushing him, because you can’t be perfect running the triangle,'” said the 34-year-old Ginebra star.

“You need the support of your teammates and coaching staff.”

Cariaso is Ginebra's fifth coach in a span of two years as the team transitioned from Siot Tanquingcen to Alfrancis Chua to Ato Agustin and finally to “active assistant coach” Juno Sauler during the Commissioner's Cup.

Caguioa said he sees no problems making the transition to the triangle offense.

“The past conferences, siyempre, iba-iba yung sistema namin. So I think with this one (triangle offense), fit kami dahil on every spot, nakikita mo na from sa malalaki, they are getting easy shots,” shared the Ginebra guard.

“Even the guards are getting easy shots. So with this kind of offense, you just got to be more fluid, ganun ang sistema niya.”

Ginebra returns to action on Saturday when it faces the Meralco Bolts at the Mall of Asia Arena.