ARMED with a three-game winning streak and inspired by the return of veteran playmaker LA Tenorio, reigning champion Ginebra should now be poised to mow down its opponents in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Far from it, according to Kings coach Tim Cone.
“We’re still a work in progress. I believe we’re struggling with our executions at times but Mav (Ahanmisi) has been out of this world. For me, personally I felt a little bit naked without Scottie (Thompson) around. It’s the first time I didn’t have Scottie,” Cone said after Ginebra tripped Terrafirma 110-99 last Sunday night that hiked its mark to 4-1 in a tie with Meralco for third.
“I think one time in the bubble he had COVID and we didn’t have him but I don’t think Scottie has missed a game aside from that. Even in Gilas, I always had Scottie there. So, a little bit naked but it was great getting LA back. He’s such a warrior,” he added.
While Cone and his charges are on cloud nine with Tenorio back in harness after winning his battle with stage 3 colon cancer, Thompson has been ruled out for two to three weeks after hurting his left leg when Blackwater big man Bradwyn Guinto landed on it in the Kings’ 90-87 squeaker last Nov. 26.
“Initial diagnosis from Doctor (George) Canlas is two to three weeks minimum,” Cone said of the former MVP’s possible return. “We’ll see. He wants to come back quicker. He said that about his hand when he broke his hand with Gilas. He said I’m definitely going to be back.
“All the doctors and everybody doubted him, and of course, he got back. So, we’re not going to doubt him at this point either.”
Cone is convinced Ahanmisi, who moved to Ginebra from Converge in the off-season, and Tony Bishop, a former Bolts import who took the job while waiting for the fate of resident reinforcement Justin Brownlee after a failed doping test in the Hangzhou Asian Games, can only get better.
“Mav is really playing a big role for us and he’s responding extremely well and we can’t be any more pleased with that. Tony is still trying to figure out things. He feels like he has to dominate but with guys like Christian, Japeth, Jamie, and Mav, and the other guys, he does not have to dominate,” Cone said after Bishop notched a game-high 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. “He feels like he has to play perfect basketball but he does not need to with this team. I think he’s adjusting to that and he’ll get better as he goes along.
“We can never doubt his work ethic and his work ethic is always there in every practice and game. That’s something we don’t have to doubt and again he’s a work in progress. Mav is still a work in progress but they’re both doing very well for us.”
Standhardinger added 24 markers, 10 boards, and four assists, while Aguilar (19), Malonzo (14), and Ahanmisi (10) provided ample help for the Kings.
The Dyip dropped their third straight match, including an 84-103 loss to the Phoenix Fuel Masters Wednesday last week, for a 2-4 slate.
Javi Gomez de Liaño showed the way for Terrafirma with 22 points and four caroms, while import Thomas De Thaey had 18 and 14.
Kemark Cariño, Juami Tiongson, and Isaac Go got 14, 13, and 10 markers, respectively, for the Dyip.
