Caguioa Returns for Kings

Caguioa Returns for Kings

EXPECT a masked avenger to take the the floor for Barangay Ginebra Wednesday.

Mark Caguioa has been deemed fit enough to play and will be suiting up when the Kings square off with the Air21 Express at the start of their PBA Governors Cup campaign at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

"He's been cleared by the doctors," was Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen's simple reply to a query regarding the prolific guard sorely missed in the perennial crowd favorites' futile Commissioner's Cup semifinals stint.

Caguioa averaged close to 17 points and more than six rebounds per game in the mid-season tourney before being sidelined by an eye injury last March 30. His absence clearly told on Ginebra's bid as it bowed to eventual champion B-Meg in five games.

His figures were good enough for Caguioa to get voted as Best Player of the Conference, but he said in the post-awards interview he would have readily traded the software for a shot at helping Ginebra.

He now has his chance.

Caguioa is going to wear a protective mask and is expected to see limited action, but his presence alone should be a big enough morale- and confidence-booster for the Kings.

Throw in the fact there is import Cedric Bozeman, who management thinks is the right fit for the Kings.

"He is long, agile and has a wide wingspan," related Ginebra's representative to the PBA Board, Robert Non, of the well-traveled Bozeman who has seen action from Europe to the NBA D-League. "He can go strong to the basket but also has a good range."

Also getting to show their wares in a Ginebra uniform are Rico Maierhofer and Allein Maliksi, who were acquired from B-Meg and Barako Bull, respectively, last November despite their injuries. Maliksi was sidelined by a strained lateral cruciate ligament and Maierhofer by a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

For its part, Air21 is parading Zach Graham, Bozeman's most recent teammate in the Reno Bighorns. Also barely making the tourney's 6-foot-5 height limit for imports, He should provide the scoring punch the Express need to offset their relatively low ceiling.

"We are still an undersized team," admitted Air21 coach Franz Pumaren. "Hopefully, our import can compensate for it in terms of scoring."

With a frontline that also boasts of Billy Mamaril, Kerby Raymundo,Rudy Hatfield, Rico Villanueva and Willy Wilson, Ginebra appears to have a decisive advantage. But Tanquingcen does not want any complacency setting in.

"It is crucial to get a good start. so we need to focus and not take anything for granted," said Tanquingcen.