BARANGAY Ginebra looks to make the most of the season restart to get into high gear after a sluggish start to the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup campaign.
The reigning champions will enter the resumption with a pedestrian 2-2 win-loss record that could've been worse had Christian Standhardinger not hit a buzzer beater in Ginebra’s 87-85 win over NorthPort last July 30.
But just when momentum looked on Ginebra's side, the conference was suspended shortly thereafter after Metro Manila was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
No wonder coach Tim Cone is looking at the resumption as a fresh start.
“I don’t think it will benefit us much because of the break and inactivity we had, but we are hoping to get out of the gate quickly so we can narrow the gap between us and the leaders,” said Cone on Monday.
Devance out
Ginebra is currently tied for sixth place, but still within striking distance of the two remaining undefeated teams in Magnolia (4-0) and TNT (3-0).
The Gin Kings though will be without one of their veterans in Joe Devance, who opted not to join the team in Pampanga for the meantime to recover from a knee injury.
“He has an issue with his knee, so he stayed behind to rehab it. We hope he’ll come up to Pampanga and return to the lineup in two to three weeks,” said Cone.
The Gin Kings are already without Aljon Mariano, who underwent surgery to remove bone spurs on his foot and is likely out of the Philippine Cup.
Arth Dela Cruz also has not played a single game for Ginebra due to injuries, while Mark Caguioa is on injured/reserve prior to the postponement of games.
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