‘D’ TO SPELL DIFFERENCE – CHUA

by **Ginebra Tambayan** Tue Apr 02, 2013 9:34 pm

ALL-around efforts on both ends propped Barangay Ginebra and enabled it to win without Mark Caguioa its last time out.

With the reigning MVP still a doubtful starter, coach Alfrancis Chua wants at least the same kind of performance from his remaining Kings in their rematch with the Air21 Express Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“It’s time to work even harder,” said Chua. “As I’ve said before, kailangan lahat tulong-tulong para ma-fill up iyung kawalan ni Mark.”

Chua’s words take an additional meaning when one considers what’s at stake.

A win by Ginebra not only avenges its 70-74 loss to Air21 the first time they met but would also run up its streak to five straight that should give it at least a continued share of fourth-running spot.

For Air21, the game is the second in a veritable “killer” windup to its eliminations assignments. Petron Blaze and San Mig Coffee are lined up next for the Bert Lina-owned franchise, currently in a tie for seventh.

Should the Express repeat over the Kings, then they keep alive their chances of making it among the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals and coach Franz Pumaren knows exactly what his charges must do to fan their hopes.

“We must do a better job with our execution, offensively and defensively,” said Pumaren, whose team is coming off an 83-94 loss to Rain or Shine last Easter Sunday.

Caguioa, who suffered a left knee injury against Meralco March 22 and sat out a 96-89 victory over Barako Bull two days later, has not yet been given the go-signal to play by renowned orthopedic Dr. Raul Canlas. But Chua is more concerned with his team making the stops.

“Defense is still the key. That’s the main reason why we have won four straight and the entire team agrees with me,” said Chua.

“If we can keep up yung aggressiveness namin sa defense, yung offense namin darating at darating.” (NC)

More so against an Air21 team powered by Michael Dunigan, an import very capable of dishing out a 20-point, 20-rebound game each night and supported by a local cast led by Mike Cortez, KG Canaleta, Wynne Arboleda and Nelbert Omolon.

“Air21 has one of the strongest imports at mula 1 hanggang 3 nila are all playing very well,” noted Chua.

In Air21′s initial win over Ginebra, the Kings were still parading Helbert Hill. Two more games after Hill is gone and in came Vernon Macklin, who has since boosted the perennial crowd favorites to a 5-2 record.

In that stretch, Macklin has averaged 23.4 points, 17.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 shotblocks per game, capped by a 33-point, 22-rebound game, notwithstanding a 9-for-23 clip from the stripes, against the Energy Cola.

LA Tenorio, Kerby Raymundo, Mark Baracael, Chris Ellis and Rudy Hatfield are again projected to lead the local supporting cast for Macklin, but Chua can’t stress the importance of defense enough.

“It will be a matter of sino ang mas gustong makagawa ng stops,” he sated. (NC)

SOURCE: PBAinquirer