Barangay Ginebra guard LA Tenorio reacts after hitting a big triple against Phoenix during their game in the 2021 Governors’ Cup. PBA IMAGES
Barangay Ginebra’s title-retention bid is off to a great start. With three straight victories to open their campaign, the Gin Kings are now one of the four unbeaten clubs in the PBA Governors’ Cup, just behind NLEX’s 4-0 card.
But that’s hardly a convincing reason to celebrate, if you ask resident import Justin Brownlee.
“Yeah, it feels good. But we’re definitely not satisfied yet, though,” he told reporters on the heels of a grind-out 125-121 overtime victory over Phoenix last Sunday.
“I still don’t think we’re playing our best basketball. Both defensively and offensively,” he said.
And then there is the significant number of absentee Kings due to injuries. Five members of the crowd darlings, including spitfire guard Stanley Pringle (feared knee ligament tear), remain indefinitely sidelined. Also hurt are Jared Dillinger (patellar tendon), Joe Devance (knee), Aljon Mariano (knee and ankle) and Mark Caguioa (calf).
Coach Tim Cone, for his part, knows that his charges have a long way to go, but those three outings—especially the two close shaves against NorthPort and Phoenix—were welcome exercises for his other players.
“I think it’s really good for our team, for our team confidence, that we can play tough down the stretch, and win tough games,” he said.
“I really appreciate that kind of effort that we’re playing [with], especially without having Stanley in the lineup for the last two games,” he went on.
“Not having him in the lineup and being able to win these last two games was really quite satisfying,” the decorated mentor added.
On tap for Ginebra is Magnolia, a corporate sibling who it battles on Christmas Day not only for holiday bragging rights but for a chance to climb the standings.
“It feels good to be 3 and 0, but we still have a lot of hard work to do in this conference,” said Brownlee.
“This is a tough team,” Cone said of the Hotshots. “Again, it’s another team that mismatches us because they’re a little smaller and quicker than we are, and those are tough matchups for us.”