Import woes bugging Ginebra

Import woes bugging Ginebra


GINEBRA coach Alfrancis Chua can’t help but be thankful for the revised schedule of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which features 14 elimination games for each team, instead of nine.


“May pagkakataon pang makabawi,” said Chua, whose team continues to battle import woes.

Notwithstanding their unrelenting efforts, Chua and Kings management have so far failed to find a replacement for Herbert Hill in time for their game against GlobalPort today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

German national player Tim Ohlbrecht has been taken off the list of prospects, leaving former LA Laker DJ Mbenga, Brian Butch, ex-Detroit Piston Vernon Macklin and Kevin Pinkney foremost among the list of probables.

Chua declined to name who will probably come in until the replacement is on his way in, but a source said Butch seems to be the best prospect. But the 6-foot-11 center for the Bakersfield Jam has reportedly deferred his decision until after his stint in the NBA D-League Showcase, the equivalent of the NBA All-Stars, over the weekendwhere Macklin is also a participant.

“That means the earliest a replacement, if any, could come is Wednesday,” said the insider.

After GlobalPort, Ginebra takes on Petron Blaze on Sunday before battling Alaska in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, next Saturday.

The Boosters are coming off a 98-73 shellacking of defending champion San Mig Coffee last Wednesday that came on the heels of Alaska’s 85-81 triumph over Meralco that gave the Aces a share of the lead with Barako Bull.

“Kailangang makakuha na ng kapalit, kundi malamang na ma-0-3 or worse 0-4,” said Chua.

Hill was anemic in his debut game, missing his first 11 shots but ultimately finishing with 26 on 7-of-24 shooting, on top of 18 rebounds,five blocks and six turnovers. More than the numbers, there was little of the fire and energy the Kings were hoping from him, and the result was a 70-74 defeat to Air21 last Sunday.

GlobalPort coach Junel Baculi, meanwhile, has prepared his team for any eventuality. “Their import might have a breakout game tomorrow so we will be on the look out for that. We have to include that in our defensive game plan,” he said.

The Batang Pier will go into the game still smarting from an 88-98 overtime loss to Barako also last Sunday in a game where they blew a 10-point lead in the last two minutes of regulation and made just two points in the extension.

“Bitter lessons learned from last game. (It’s) never really over until it’s over,” said Baculi, still rankled by the thought he gave his major players extended minutes while utilizing just nine players in all.

“I have to get the bench involved. You can never win with a short rotation,” he pointed out.

Besides, even if Hill reprises his debut game, minus the 0-for-11 start in field shooting, the Kings could still prove to be lethal. For one, there is Mark Caguioa who scored 26 points against the Express.

“Ginebra is still a Caguioa team. We will try to contain him,” Baculi said.

The other game features Air21 trying to grab a share of the early lead against Talk N Text.

The Tropang Texters are coming off a 92-99 loss to Meralco last Saturday and Express coach Franz Pumaren expects last season’s runner-up to show up hungry for a win.

“We have to prepare for TNT’s strong comeback,” said Pumaren. “We know TNT is a better team from what they showed in their last game.”

Source: Malaya.com.ph