GINEBRA reached the finals of the first conference and the semifinals of the last tourney last season.
Kings coach Tim Cone, assistant strategist Richard Del Rosario, and some stars in former MVP Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar—along with reserves Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos—also rendered national team duties for Gilas Pilipinas.
That explains why Ginebra is treating the extended off-season as a much-needed break, according to big man Isaac Go, who is recuperating from an ACL injury.
“We will be back on Sept. 8, first day of practice. After the draft. Kalahati naman sa team namin, nasa Gilas team. Not only players, but coaches and staff also,” Go said. “Coach Tim has really emphasized the importance of having a long break, since ito iyong first time na extended ang break for most of the guys,” he added.
Before the Kings buckle down to work, they will have their hands on the 11th pick overall in Sunday’s annual rookie Draft at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay.
They also own the first selection (13th overall) in the second round.
Ginebra’s roster badly needs an upgrade at the frontline to help out Aguilar while Go is still sidelined with 6-foot-10 former Ateneo cager and Japan B.League campaigner Geo Chiu looming as the top choice among the bigs in the initial 128 hopefuls.
But unless a trade happens, the Kings getting Chiu deep at their turn is seemingly a long shot.
The 6-foot-7 Go also said the departure of high-flying forward Jamie Malonzo to the Japan pro league will also change rotation patterns for Ginebra’s bid in the milestone 50th season set to kick off on Oct. 5.
“Hindi naman kami magka-posisyon, so depende. But again, it all depends on, I think, on what the idea of coach Tim is and what eventually iyong game plan because iyon nga, Jamie plays a big part in our team,” he said. “Jamie plays a lot of the three and the four. So, I think it’ll depend on if he decides to slide Troy to the three or are we gonna see Stephen (Holt) to the three more?
“Or maybe more Ralph (Cu), more Miah (Grey)? I think that’s gonna be the main decision factor.”
