Surging Kings

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Barangay Ginebra didn’t look like the defending champion that it is in the early stages of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations after winning just two of its first five games.

Tim Cone, their battle-hardened and decorated coach, admitted at one point that the Gin Kings were “deferring to Justin (Brownlee) too much,” and stressed that “other guys had to step up.”

Looking vulnerable, Ginebra remedied that over-reliance by trading away three reliable role players to NorthPort for Stanley Pringle, the league’s reigning scoring champion.

That deal sent ripples throughout the league, and the results—since then—back that up.

Pringle finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists in his debut for the crowd darlings in a 100-85 ripping of NLEX in Batangas—a scintillating performance that roused not only their loyal throng, but also Cone.

Cone believes that he has a 1-2 punch that is like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant for the Golden State Warriors and he was so pleased with Pringle’s arrival that even before playing NLEX that night, he told his team that they were only going to be better as the conference plods along.

That statement has given opposing coaches something to think about and try to solve: How to beat Ginebra down the road, when the intangibles are all in place.

Louie Alas, the Phoenix coach, said that the key lies on the approach. Alas and his Fuel Masters have been the only ones to put a dent on Ginebra’s record ever since Pringle arrived, winning, 111-103.

“Ginebra is indeed much tougher compared to before. I’m not saying that they weren’t as strong before, but now they’re even deeper. ” Alas said.

But the Phoenix win came in Pringle’s second game. The next wins for Ginebra were against powerhouses Alaska and Magnolia—both blowouts—when everyone in the team were getting a better feel of each other.

“You just have to put a premium on containing their starters. [By doing so], at least you have a chance at stealing a W.”

Chito Victolero, Magnolia’s coach, basically has the same view.

“They have been a powerhouse, an elite team even before,” he said just after his Hotshots just got bamboozled, 102-81. “Then you bring in someone like Stanley? Definitely, they’ll improve.”

Brownlee scored 49 points against the Hotshots, with three locals tossing in twin digits.

“As I would always say, bilog ang bola (the ball is round). What is important—not only for me but also for other teams who would play them—is that they have to believe that they can beat Ginebra.”