Chua proud of Kings under fire

MANILA, Philippines - Ginebra San Miguel coach Alfrancis Chua said yesterday he couldn’t ask more from his overachieving players who defied daunting odds to barge into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after the team started the conference 0-4 and was the No. 7 seed entering the playoffs.

Last Sunday, Ginebra formally bowed out of contention, losing to Alaska via a 3-0 sweep of the title series. The league’s most popular team survived four do-or-die knockout games, two against Rain Or Shine and two more against Talk ‘N’ Text, to arrange the Finals showdown with the Aces.

“We did everything we could but the guys were just too tired, too banged up,” said Chua. “I’m proud of them. They never gave up. We did it for the fans whose loyalty is what drives us to fight. Vernon (Macklin) hurt his right thigh in Game 5 of the Talk ‘N’ Text series and was never the same in the Finals. He had all kinds of treatment to relieve the pain and reduce the swelling. In Game 3 of the Finals, we had to rest L. A. (Tenorio) and Vernon at the same time and that gave momentum to Alaska. L. A. hurt his knee and thigh in a collision with (Calvin) Abueva. Kerby (Raymundo) was exhausted, too.”

Chua confirmed a report that Ginebra considered replacing Macklin if the series went to a Game 4. “It was obvious Vernon couldn’t attack like he used to,” said Chua. “We really appreciate what management considered but in the end, we decided to go with Vernon, no matter what. He took us to the Finals and didn’t want to quit so he went out there to battle. His body wasn’t responding anymore, he was playing by instinct. That’s the kind of warrior he is.”

It was rumored that San Miguel Beer ABL import Brian Williams might be pulled in to replace Macklin even on an interim basis but the move was reportedly scuttled as the ABL wouldn’t allow Williams to return for the playoffs if he left to join Ginebra. The ABL begins its playoffs with San Miguel taking on Thailand in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinals at the Ynares Sports Arena tomorrow.

Chua said surviving four do-or-die knockouts and playing five games in 10 days up to Game 3 of the Finals took a toll on Ginebra whose leading scorer Mark Caguioa sat out 11 games during the conference due to a sprain in the medial collateral ligament of his left knee. Caguioa was reactivated for the Finals but played sparingly. Another would-be key contributor Dylan Ababou sat out the entire Commissioner’s Cup to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

“We weren’t content to just be in the Finals,” said Chua. “It wasn’t like that at all. We were out there to compete. In the end, fatigue set in. Nobody, except our loyal fans and management, thought we could make it to the Finals after our poor start. In my career as a coach, it was the first time I experienced something like this. Since leaving Sta. Lucia Realty, I was out of the PBA for 4 1/2 years. Then came the break to be a consultant with Ginebra two years ago. I owe this opportunity to Boss RSA (San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang), Boss (PBA chairman and Ginebra governor) Robert (Non) and Boss (San Miguel Corp. director of sports) Noli (Eala). And I owe this achievement in my first conference as head coach with Ginebra to my players and coaching staff. They made it happen.”

Chua said Ginebra will take a long break and report back to practice for the Governors Cup on July 10 or 15. “The guys deserve a rest,” said Chua. “I feel for L. A. because he won’t get a break. He’ll be playing with Gilas in the FIBA-Asia Championships. When we go back to practice, we’ll have lots of time to prepare for the third conference which, I think, will open Aug. 14 or 18.”

Tenorio will leave for Lithuania on June 2 with Gilas for a training camp supervised by former Lithuanian national coach Kestutis Kemzura. The FIBA-Asia Championships will be held here on Aug. 1-11.

Chua said Ginebra’s import for the Governors Cup will be 6-5, 230-pound Dior Lowhorn of Texas Tech and the University of San Francisco. Although listed 6-7, Lowhorn was measured to be under 6-5 in an unofficial PBA sizing during a recent Manila visit while playing for the Saigon Heat in the ABL.

“Dior was signed up about two months ago,” said a source. “He’ll be a huge inside presence for Ginebra in the third conference. He can shoot, rebound and play defense. He’s a perfect fit. In the ABL, Dior showed he can overpower even a big guy like Asi Taulava.”

Lowhorn, 26, finished his San Francisco varsity career No. 4 on the all-time scoring list with 1,773 of his 2,003 career points. Two of his collegiate coaches were Bobby Knight and Eddie Sutton who both posted over 800 wins apiece in the varsity ranks. Lowhorn saw action in Belgium, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Venezuela before moving to Saigon in the ABL this season. He averaged a league-high 26.7 points and 8.4 rebounds with the Heat.