Crippled lineup fails to blunt Ginebra

With leading scorer Mark Caguioa still in Los Angeles undergoing therapy to beat the pain from tendonitis in both knees, Barangay Ginebra is turning to other players for points and coach Joseph Uichico can’t thank his lucky stars enough for the team’s surprising 2-0 start in the PBA this season.

Caguioa is expected back in town late this month or early the next but won’t be able to play until the end of November. Another casualty Rafi Reavis is in Florida for rehabilitation and may return next week with therapists optimistic of a complete recovery from a tender Achilles heel.

Caguioa and Reavis aren’t the only players in Ginebra’s injury list. Billy Mamaril, bothered by a strained calf muscle, and Eric Menk, suffering from a pulled hamstring, sat out the Kings’ last outing where center Alex Crisano hurt his calf and failed to finish the game.

Mamaril, Menk and Crisano should be able to report to duty next week but it’s not sure if they’ll be back in harness when Ginebra plays Red Bull at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

Ginebra assistant coach Allan Caidic said yesterday despite the missing links, the team has been able to cope because of Uichico’s system. Resiliency is what Ginebra is known for. Proof was in last Fiesta Conference’s finals where the Kings managed to capture the crown with a hobbled lineup and chief playmaker Jay-Jay Helterbrand out of commission in the last five games.

Last Wednesday, Ginebra opened the season with an 89-86 win over defending Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia Realty. Helterbrand led all scorers with 26 points but guard Paul Artadi, not usually an offensive threat, provided the punctuation mark by erupting for 18 points, including 4-of-4 free throws (he shot .387 from the line in the last Philippine Cup).

Ginebra went on to upset Air21, 101-92, last Sunday with fresh recruit Jun-Jun Cabatu delivering a career-high 23 points to go with six rebounds, five assists and two steals in 30 solid minutes off the bench.

“With so many key players injured, we told the rest of the guys to take the chance and show what they can do,” said Caidic. “We’re happy the guys are stepping up.”

Cabatu, 24, was a walk-in at Ginebra tryouts during the offseason after he was released by Alaska. He made his PBA debut with Welcoat as one of three rookies elevated straight from the PBL in 2006. The others were Jay-R Reyes and Jay Sagad. Then, Cabatu saw action for Alaska last season, averaging 2.9 points in 14 games in the Philippine Cup.

In the offseason, Caidic said agents like Danny Espiritu and Charlie Dy were contacted to send their players without contracts to the Ginebra camp.

“We were looking for big men,” said Caidic. “A lot of free agents showed up, like Bernzon Franco and Mike Gavino. We invited UST rookie Anthony Espiritu to try out. There were others who came like Rensy Bajar. About seven or eight free agents were in our tryouts. We later advised Espiritu to get exposure in the PBL where he can toughen up instead of being a practice player with us. In the end, we decided to offer Cabatu a one-year contract.”

Because Cabatu has range and plays the four spot, Caidic said he showed the potential to fit in. Caidic described him as “a shooting four.”

“Coach Jong felt he could help,” he said. “He has a good touch from medium range. He can defend the interior. So far, so good. We’ve told Jun-Jun not to be content with making the team, to be consistent and to continue working hard. When the injured players come back, it’ll be more difficult to get playing time but the players who deserve the minutes will get them.”

Cabatu, whose father Sonny suited up for Ginebra, played five years for La Salle in the UAAP and three in the PBL before turning pro. A brother Christian was drafted by Sta. Lucia in the second round this year.

Against Air21, Ginebra faced a team reeling from back-to-back losses and knew the sailing wouldn’t be easy. But Uichico masterfully kept the game close until he saw the chance to steal it in the fourth quarter. The Kings capitalized on Air21’s 23 turnovers to score 27 points and leaned on torrid shooting from three-point range to remain unbeaten. Cabatu shot nine of his 23 points and Artadi six of his 11 in the fourth to key the big victory.

There’s a brewing rivalry between Ginebra and Air21. It was the Express that eliminated Ginebra in the knockout wildcard eliminations in the last Philippine Cup, relegating the Kings to a lowly ninth place finish. Then, Ginebra exacted sweet revenge in the Fiesta Conference, bouncing back from 1-2 and 2-3 series deficits to bag the title in seven games.

“It’s all about heart,” said Uichico, referring to Ginebra’s rousing start despite a decimated cast. “That’s why we’re called the never-say-die team.”