Labagala headed to San Mig five

Labagala headed to San Mig five

GINEBRA’S point guard rotation may seem crowded as of now, but it won’t be like that for long.

No less than San Miguel Corp. basketball operations chief and Ginebra representative to the PBA Board Robert Non told Malaya-Business Insight that as things stand now Rob Labagala seems headed to the company’s San Miguel Beer team in the ABL.

“Hindi pa naman sigurado and anything can still happen, like injuries and such,” said Non, who is also the PBA 38th season chairman. “Pero mukhang sa San Miguel mapupunta si Rob.”

Labagala is the fourth-string point guard in a Kings squad that also boasts Mike Cortez, Jayjay Helterbrand and new acquisition LA Tenorio. Even Mark Caguioa sometimes takes over the playmaking chores.

Either way, according to Non, Labagala’s immediate future is secure. He recently inked a fresh two-year pact with Ginebra that tabbed him 12th overall in the 2010 draft.

Juggling the egos through playing times of his three main playmakers is already enough of a chore for Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen, but he does not see that as much of a problem.

“Madali namang makita agad who is on or off and besides each of those players can switch over the 2-spot (off-guard) and be as effective there,” said Tanquingcen.

Tenorio started all 35 games he played with Alaska last season with Cortez opening up 30 of the 45 games he played. Helterbrand started in half of 34 matches.

A glimpse of how Tanquingcen and the rest of the Kings will fare could be had when they take on new member GlobalPort in the lone game ushering in the season-opening Philippine Cup on Sept. 30.

Tanquingcen refused to bare who will start against the Batang Pier, maintaining “everything is still under evaluation.”

“Definitely as the season progresses magkakaroon na kami ng clearer idea,” he stated.

The 10 teams have been divided into two groups with San Mig Coffee (formerly B-Meg) in Group A along with Ginebra, Petron Blaze, Meralco and Air21 and Group B composed of defending champion Talk N Text, Rain or Shine, GlobalPort, Barako Bull and Alaska.

Teams from the same group meet each other once and those from the other bracket twice. The top two earn twice-to-beat advantages and lead six others into the best-of-three quarterfinals.

Source: Malaya