GINEBRA gave stand-in coach Richard Del Rosario a rousing victory five days ago as Tim Cone embarked on a short stint as a member of the Miami Heat’s NBA Summer League coaching staff.
“I can’t pretend or try to be like him because I would just be a poor copy. The best way is to be myself dahil matagal ko na rin kasama iyong mga players, maganda iyong mga relationships namin kaya hindi ko na kailangang magpanggap sa kanila,” Del Rosario said after the Kings made short work of Converge 105-89 in his first test as a replacement coach.
“It was really more of preparing the players mentally than physically. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ako naging player din ako dati, kapag wala iyong head coach, feeling mo, ‘Assistant coach lang iyan, puwede ko gawin iyong gusto ko.’ Iyong preparation ko is more on mental adjustment na wala kaming letdown,” he added.
Whether Ginebra can hack it anew will be known when it battles winless Terrafirma for a share of the lead today as the PBA Philippine Cup resumes at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The game is set at 6 p.m. after Meralco, which will also be without chief tactician Norman Black who also went to the US to be with his ailing mother, squares off with skidding Rain or Shine in the curtain-raiser at 3 o’clock.
Assistant coach Ronnie Magsanoc has been tasked to take over at the helm of the Bolts, for now.
The Kings are expected to bank on reigning MVP Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar, Arvin Tolentino, and LA Tenorio in their bid to stretch their three-game winning streak and hike their 6-1 card that will boost their drive for a quarterfinals slot.
The Dyip, coming off an 86-114 thumping at the hands of defending champion TNT last Friday that dropped them to 0-6, will pin their hopes on Joshua Munzon, Juami Tiongson, Aldrech Ramos, Joseph Gabayni, and Eric Camson.
“We really have to pick things up moving forward,” Black said after Meralco absorbed a heartrending 89-90 loss to Blackwater six days ago. “Whenever you lose, it’s a big concern because you’re going down within the standings. Now we’re 3-3.”
Chris Newsome, Aaron Black, Allein Maliksi, Cliff Hodge, Bong Quinto, Chris Banchero, and Raymond Almazan will be counted upon by the Bolts in their attempt to climb to 4-3 and join Magnolia and NLEX at fifth.
The Elasto Painters have lost five straight, counting a 93-99 defeat to San Miguel Beer last Wednesday.
Rain or Shine will rely on Rey Nambatac, Beau Belga, Leonard Santillan, Gian Mamuyac, Mike Nieto, and Gabe Norwood.
