Head Coach: Tim Cone
Key Players: LA Tenorio, Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson
Key Additions: Jett Manuel, Art dela Cruz
Key Losses: Jayjay Helterbrand
The giant is back and Barangay Ginebra is immediately thrust into the title conversation of the Philippine Cup.
And head coach Tim Cone is nothing short of excited for his tandem of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar to tower over the competition and get a crack at the league’s most dominant presence in San Miguel and four-time champion June Mar Fajardo.
Slaughter, who stands at 7-feet, is the only person bigger than the 6-foot-10 Fajardo and paired with the 6-foot-9 Aguilar forms Ginebra’s twin towers in the post.
“We’re the only team that has those two types of guys, of course San Miguel has June Mar and [Christian] Standhardinger coming, and you know we’re the only ones right now with that in the All-Filipino,” said Cone.
For three straight years, San Miguel has reigned supreme in the Philippine Cup that began with the 4-3 Beeracle over Alaska but Ginebra is hell-bent on stopping that monopoly.
Ginebra finished second in the last Philippine Cup after the Beermen walloped the Gin Kings 4-1 in the seven-game series.
Cone, however, believes with Slaughter back and an intact lineup the Gin Kings will be able to get over that hump.
Apart from Ginebra’s frontcourt presence, the Gin Kings have another tandem in LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson who provide genius playmaking both in the halfcourt and transition sets.
Ginebra also has Art Dela Cruz who can provide added playmaking in the small forward position, the role the injured Joe Devance has.
“We’re hoping that we can replace Joe with the addition of Art, and you know the thing he does,” said Cone. “We feel positive, Greg gives us an edge, but no matter how great we are on paper we have to bring that to the court.”