Gin Kings cast bid with intact line-up

By WAYLON GALVEZ
Manila Bulletin
September 9, 2007

While other teams have made several changes in their respective line-ups, Barangay Ginebra is not inclined to alter its team composition – at least for the moment.

"We have the same players that’s why we’re still trying to improve on our game because we’re not able to improve the line-up, compared to other teams," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, who steered the team to the Philippine Cup title last season.

For Uichico, keeping the entire team is an advantage because they’re already familiar with each other.

Returning to action for Ginebra is the deadly backcourt duo of Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand, who both missed the entire Fiesta Cup after being loaned to the RP men’s basketball squad.

They will be reunited with old reliables Eric Menk, Johnny Abarrientos, Sunday Salvacion, Ronald Tubid, Mark Macapagal and Mike Holper, as well as Rafi Reavis, who is coming off a successful shoulder injury in the US.

The team, however, is uncertain whether Rudy Hatfield is coming back to play or not. The hard-working forward is till in the US and Uichico said they decided to drop him from the line-up to open up a spot for reserved players like forward like JR Aquino.

"We’ll see if he can help the team. If he (Hatfield) returns, we’ll still have the same unit, wala ring nadagdag," said Uichico.

Uichico is confident that the Gin Kings will contend for the title when league’s 2007-08 season starts on Oct. 14.

"We have to improve both individually and as a team to off-set ‘yung kulang namin sa tao, not being able to strengthen the team. We also have to keep our confidence high, we might not have improved the line-up, but we can improve as a team," he said.