MARK Caguioa has started practicing with Barangay Ginebra yesterday and, pending the release of another test this week, could suit up for the Gin Kings in the season-ending PBA Governors’ Cup starting Sunday.
The 6-foot spitfire, who was named the Commissioner’s Cup’s Best Player of the Conference despite not playing in the finals, injured his right orbital eye socket in a fall during the eliminations and was initially declared out for the rest of the season.
He rejoined Ginebra in the Final Four—where it lost to eventual champion B-Meg, 4-2—after he showed encouraging signs of recovery based on MRI results.
Meanwhile, the Kings failed in two recent tries to make its nucleus younger after Alaska and Talk ‘N Text rejected trade offers.
A source bared that the Kings had haggled for the services of Texters reserve center Japeth Aguilar, but the deal was rejected by incoming TNT coach Norman Black.
Ginebra also tried to negotiate for deals that would have taken Sonny Thoss and LA Tenorio into its lineup, but Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo shot them down.