Cone praises Helterbrand’s performance despite limited minutes

Jayjay Helterbrand in Ginebra’s game vs Meralco in Lucena. PBA IMAGES

Jayjay Helterbrand’s numbers in Barangay Ginebra’s win over Meralco on Saturday read only two points, three rebounds and an assist.

Not a fair reference as to how the veteran playmaker impacted the Gin Kings’ second straight victory and his head coach Tim Cone can attest to it.

“We played a tough game under tough conditions and I thought Jayjay and Mark (Caguioa) came out with a lot of energy in the third quarter and that changed the tempo for us and gave us a big lift,” Cone said after Ginebra’s 107-93 win in Lucena. “I thought that was a real key moment of the game.”

“Jayjay especially played really, really well. He hasn’t been playing a lot so for him to come in that well and that quickly and adjust, not feel bad about not playing, is really a high character thing for Jay, so I’m really proud of him,” Cone said of Helterbrand, who didn’t even play in Ginebra’s victory over NLEX last Wednesday.

The 39-year-old Helterbrand ran the point late in the third quarter, where the Kings ended the pivotal period on a 13-3 run that broke a 68-deadlock.

Caguioa, meanwhile, showed his vintage form as he was seemingly challenged with a taller and younger Mohammad Jamshidi guarding him.

He had his best game of the conference with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field after averaging only 4.7 points on 33% shooting from the field in the first three outings.