BARANGAY Ginebra coach Tim Cone hopes to have Greg Slaughter, Mark Caguioa, and Joe Devance back for the 2021 season where the Kings seek another Philippine Cup title — just months after winning the 2020 bubble edition.
Cone said the three players will be vital to their defense of the Philippine Cup title they just won on Wednesday inside the Smart Clark Giga City bubble.
Of the three players, Slaughter was not part of the championship team after taking a sabbatical from basketball.
The seven-footer tweeted a congratulatory message on Twitter shortly after the Gin Kings' title-clinchinhg win in Game Five.
“We are hoping to get Greg back. I think that he will be huge for us,” said Cone during the postgame press conference on Wednesday following their title victory over TNT.
“I’m hoping that he will come back and play one more year," said Cone, referring to Caguioa. "And of course, Joe."
The 41-year-old Caguioa just finished his 18th season with Ginebra, the longest tenured player in one team in PBA history. Although there is little talk about his future, Devance, 38, has been battling injuries as of late.
Cone said Slaughter will play a big impact to the team if he returns to the squad and join Japeth Aguilar again in the Ginebra frontcourt.
“I would love to have Greg back to the team. That will help Japeth out in terms of giving him a break. We can be a little bit more creative in the way we play. We get Greg back and move forward to the all-Filipino,” said Cone.
Even though Caguioa has only played very limited minutes late in his career, Cone said the Ginebra veteran remains an valuable for the Gin Kings, especially in practices.
“I’m hoping Mark Caguioa decides to play one more year only because he is such a presence in the team. He is a presence in the locker room, he is a presence at practice, incredibly positive influence to the younger players,” said Cone.
Cone, however, said those decisions will still have to be made in the months leading to the 2021 season which will start in April.
“We will see how these guys feel after a couple of months. I’d like the team to come back intact and find a way to get Greg back in the lineup and go from there. I think we can still compete for championships if we stay intact and get Greg back,” Cone said.
“I don’t see any dramatic changes in the team,” he added.
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