PBA: Cone taps Jeffers to add versatility to Ginebra

Othyus Jeffers during his lone game for TNT.

Tim Cone admits Ginebra is still in the middle of the process.

But with the first conference of the 2016 PBA season out of the way, the two-time Grand Slam-winning coach can say that the Gins Kings have shown significant improvements.

“We’re trying to grow from where we ended, not from the start again,” said Cone. “Guys are in shape, and they look like a much confident team than they were three months ago when we first started. We’ll just see if we could translate that to better games in the upcoming conference.”

To help the Kings in their trek to championship-contender status in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup conference is Othyus Jeffers, who is taking another crack at making an impact in the league.

The 30-year-old forward has played one game before in the PBA, racking up 38 points, 13 rebounds, and two steals in his lone game for Talk ‘N Text in the 2014 Governors’ Cup. However, Jeffers has been inactive in the international leagues for more than a year.

Cone, though, is confident that Jeffers will provide them the versatility they want in the team which already flaunts a talented roster.

“It’s like he’s starting over again. He’s been off playing for about maybe six months. His real play was the NBA Summer League, although he joined some leagues in Chicago. He’s working his way to shape a little bit, but he’s going to land us some great versatility, which is kind of what we need,” he said.

Cone also thinks Jeffers will give Ginebra’s wing position a boost, complementing the twin towers of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar.

“We’re big-heavy and he’s going to come in and fill that wing position for us,” he said. “He’s the kind of guy who can play with Greg and Japeth, and he’s still powerful enough as a power forward that he could play with Greg or Japeth. He gives us a little bit of versatility and that’s what we’re looking for.”

“The fact that he’s really strong, he can play inside, and he can rebound gives us an opportunity to have a guy who can go in and out.”