Ginebra 'team to beat' in Philippine Cup

by Rolando Fuertes
Gulf Daily News
October 4, 2007

Only a pessimist wouldn't have Barangay Ginebra on top of his list as the team to beat in the coming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup which is set to unfold on October 14.

With a powerhouse cast, it is no surprise that just about everybody in the basketball-crazy republic is proclaiming the Gin Kings to be the title favourites in this All-Filipino event.

The Gin Kings, after all, are the defending champions in the Philippine Cup. For the record, no team since Great Taste in 1985 has been able to defend the All-Filipino crown.

Obviously, the Kings are big, athletic and they can run. Then there's still the respect factor, owing to their solid reputation as the most popular team in the basketball-landia. That goes to show the kind of Ginebra team the rest of the field will have to contend with this season. Already a caliber unit before, the Gin Kings have got even more formidable after the massive acquisition of a marquee player in the off-season.

Last month, the run-and-gun Gin Kings acquired point-guard Paul Artadi from Purefoods Tender Juicy and dropped injury-prone six-foot-nine centre Andy Seigle.

The Gin Kings will welcome back to their fold the deadly duo of Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand, who missed the entire Fiesta Cup after being loaned to the Philippine team, as well as versatile big man Rafi Reavis, who is coming off a successful shoulder injury in the US.

They will be backed up by hardworking slotman Eric Menk, take-charge guy Rudy Hatfield and veteran Johnny Abarrientos, one of the best point-guards in the history of the league.

Also playing key roles for the Gin Kings are Rodney Santos, Sunday Salvacion, Ronald Tubid, Mark Macapagal, Billy Mamaril, Mike Holper and rookie Macky Escalona.

Ginebra tried to trade Holper and Escalona for ace forward Nic Belasco who instead came to terms with Welcoat.

Before that, the Gin Kings also tried to pry slotman Don Allado away from Talk 'N Text but the Phone Pals reportedly wanted Reavis in return, leaving the deal dead in the water.

Despite those trade blows, the league's biggest crowd drawer that is the Ginebra side remain the strongest team on paper this year.

Besides being blessed with blue-chip players, the team is also armed with a brilliant bench taskmaster in coach Jong Uichico whom they acquired in a shuffle of coaches among three of the four owned by San Miguel Corp last year.

Uichico moved to Ginebra from San Miguel, who was taken over by another multi-titled mentor, Chot Reyes. To give way to Uichico, former Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen - who steered the Gin Kings to two titles - slid down as an assistant.

Uichico and Tanquingcen, who spent fruitful years together with the Beermen, have been reunited with the Gin Kings. Assistants Art de la Cruz and Juno Sauler join them on the staff.

As for Uichico, he has already warmed up to his coaching job, the changed environment, and the latest challenge in his checkered career. He has been a Beerman all his life and he's responsible for San Miguel Beer's last six championships.

Now, the soft-spoken Uichico is taking on the challenge of guiding a rejuvenated Ginebra side whom he steered to the title in this conference last year.

Surely, Uichico won't argue with experts who say that the Gin Kings are the team to beat this season although he knows pretty well that a team strong on paper is no cinch to win a championship.

He can only say he's keeping his fingers crossed, and wishing his team will be able to justify their lofty billing.