Injured Dillinger patient on Ginebra debut

MANILA, Philippines—Jared Dillinger has already changed teams, but his return to the floor is still uncertain.

The versatile forward has yet to play in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with his last game logged during the Philippine Cup, and he said it might still be some time before he could suit up for Barangay Ginebra.

“I spoke to coach Tim Cone and the management, they really want to make sure I take my time with this so they’re very patient,” said Dillinger after the Gin Kings lost to Rain or Shine 104-81 Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“They just want me to be healed, there’s no timetable but when I feel 100 percent, I will play right away.”

Dillinger is still nursing an injured right quad forcing him to miss the bulk of the previous conference and the start of the current one, and it was during this time that Ginebra scooped him from Meralco’s unrestricted free agent list.

The 6-foot-4 wingman, who spent the past six years with the Bolts, said that his recovery process is well underway but he was disappointed that his first game as a Gin King was a loss.

“I’m happy to be here, but I’m just thinking about the loss so back to the drawing board,” said Dillinger. “The rehab and therapy’s going great, I’ve been following the program I got from my doctors and trainers in the States.”