Hatfield, Helterbrand take the blame too, for Ginebra's woeful start

FOR both JayJay Helterbrand and Rudy Hatfield, the poor 0-2 start of Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup doesn’t just boils down on the import factor.

The locals also need to step up, according to them.

Both veterans agree the rest of the Kings are not doing their part and that their 89-80 loss to Globalport Batang Pier on Friday night should not be solely blamed on import Herbert Hill.

Hatfield for one acknowledged Hill’s improved game against the Batang Pier which saw the 28-year-old import finished with 22 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and two block shots in just 22 minutes of play.

“He’s a great player,” said the energetic power forward of Hill. “But the rest of the team has to improve not only the import.”

Helterbrand concurs with Hatfield.

“He played good tonight,” said the former league MVP about Ginebra’s import, whom he admitted has become very close to him in the short span that they’ve been together.

“I think it’s unfair because some of us, including myself, did not play well tonight.”

Besides the team’s slow start in the mid-season conference, it also saddens Helterbrand to see Hill go just like that especially with his replacement – former Detroit Piston Vernon Macklin - set to plane in by Monday.

“Personally, he has become a good friend of mine,” said Helterbrand. “He’s a nice guy, and it’s hard for me to see him go.

But for someone who’s been in the PBA for a long time now, he’s aware that’s just things are in Asia’s pioneering play-for-pay league.

“But it’s how the PBA goes,” he stressed. “We have no choice but to accept it. Herbert is the energy type of player, he’s the guy who crashes the board, goes for the rebound, and runs on the court. He makes his presence felt defensively and he’s a go-to-guy offensively.”

Helterbrand hopes Macklin would be the perfect fit for the league’s most popular team.

“We’ll just have to find a better one to fit for the team. I just pray that the next import is the one we’re looking for.”

Then again, Hatfield reiterated it’s not all about the import.

“We have to improve, no matter who the import is, and with that we will win,” he said.



Follow the writer on Twitter: @meilinlozada

source: spin.ph

“We have no choice but to accept it. Herbert is the energy type of player, he’s the guy who crashes the board, goes for the rebound, and runs on the court. He makes his presence felt defensively and he’s a go-to-guy offensively.”

cenxia na ............... di ko toh napanood sa kanya ..................

“We have to improve, no matter who the import is, and with that we will win,” he said.

no problem ............ two games lang yan, may 12 games pa kayo .............. NSD!!!

i respect JJ but i just have to disagree with him on this:

"he’s the guy who crashes the board, goes for the rebound, and runs on the court. He makes his presence felt defensively and he’s a go-to-guy offensively"

hill was out rebounded several times...

"crashes the board", maybe when playing alone, but with opponents all around him, he is the one who gets crashed....sorry po, but I did not see that character in Hill for his first two games...is he shy? come on, Hill, show us your best shot on Sunday against Petron...make 30 points and 20 rebounds, even we lose that one, you will have to prove something...

ok lang kahit di umiskor ng malaki si hill, basta maasahan xia sa depensa at rebounding ...................

Di ko napanood yung game.. bounce back nalang sa game bukas at sana manalo at maka isa

Sayang si idol yung daming tres na naishoot nya first game ganun yung minintis nya kagabi,, bawi tayo