Solid pick? Nope, says Siot

Solid pick? Nope, says Siot

Whether coach Siot Tanquingcen likes it or not, Barangay Ginebra’s acquisition of spitfire point-guard L.A. Tenorio makes the Kings solid favorite in the PBA Philippine Cup which opens September 30 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

“Not necessarily,” was how Tanquingcen replied when asked to comment on his team being installed as favorite.

“Lumalakas lang ng konti, pero para sabihing top seed, baka naman nagkakamali sila ng projection,” Tanquincen told People’s Journal. “Truth is, we are quicker now than last season because of L.A.’s arrival.”

Tanquingcen said it’s the Kings’ new-found quickness that will fuel the team’s running game which the league’s most popular club will exploit to the hilt in their bid to win their first crown since winning the Commissioner’s Cup in 2009.

“We lack in height kasi. While we have Kirby (Raymundo), Eric (Menk) and Rico (Mierhofer), they are not that tall and hefty compared to the other team’s tall men,” he remarked.

“Kaya to make up for that disadvantage, yung bilis at running game ang gagamitin namin pang-offset,” the soft-spoken Ginebra coach noted. “All the boys naman, from Mike (Cortez) to Eric, tumatakbo, kaya yun na ang magiging strong point namin.”

“It’s been a long time na nga since we won our last championship, so, it’s time na nga para ma-quench ang pagkauhaw namin sa titulo,” he said.

The Kings will actually gun for their first appearance in finals since that 2009 title conquest and Tanquingcen and his coaching staff, assistants Allan Caidic, Art dela Cruz and Freddie Abuda, along with team manager Samboy Lim and coaching consultant Alfrancis Chua, believe Ginebra has got what it takes to salvage a seat in the title playoff.

“Pag nakapasok na sa finals, ibig sabihin puede nang manalo ng kampeonato, di ba? Lim said drawing concurrence from fellow PBA great Caidic.

Marqueestar Mark Caguioa on whose shoulders the Kings offensive will again rest, also announced he is ready for the task, adding that other players in the rotation who were not too active last season are prepared to do their roles to teaming up with other veterans Rudy Hatfield, Billy Mamaril, William Wilson and Rob Labagla.

Source: Journal.com.ph