BARANGAY Ginebra has yet to start practicing for the coming PBA Season 50 as the team still has to personally meet new deputy coach Johnny Abarrientos.
Isaac Go said the Kings won’t be meeting as a group until after the PBA Rookie Draft which would be the first time they will get acquainted with the 55-year-old Abarrientos, the new addition to the coaching staff following the departure of LA Tenorio and Kirk Collier.
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“September 8 first day (namin) after the draft,” said Go, who is still recovering from his ACL surgery. “So hindi pa kami nagme-meet for practice. Wala pa kaming formal introduction with him (Abarrientos). So siguro sa first day (ng practice).”
No one among the current Ginebra players has previously worked with the former league MVP, although everybody of course, know who the ‘Flying A’ is.
One of the team's star players, RJ Abarrientos, happens to be the PBA legends' nephew.
“Of course, over the years we’ve met him a few times and have some informal conversations," Go said.
But while Abarrientos has yet to personally work with the current Ginebra players, he’s already began the work with the rest of the team’s coaching staff.
“Johnny is now firmly on our staff and attending every team event,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
Of course, Abarrientos was also once a Ginebra player and won his last PBA championship with the franchise during the 2007 Philippine Cup.
It was likewise with Ginebra that he retired as a player and later on, served as assistant coach until 2011 when he joined Cone at the Purefoods franchise,
Go said the extended break for the Kings was brought about by Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the recent FIBA Asia Cup, where most of the personnel are part of the Ginebra team including players Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and Justin Brownlee.
Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos were also initially part of the Gilas pool that trained in Pampanga before heading to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
"Kalahati naman ng team namin nasa Gilas, not only players, but coaches and staff,” Go pointed out.
The 29-year-old big man from Ateneo, who is under the Titan Management Group, added Cone himself gave the team the go signal to enjoy this rare long break in the offseason.
“Coach Tim has emphasized the importance of having a long break since ito yung first time na extended break for most of the guys,” said Go, who isn't scheduled to be back in the Ginebra active roster until this December.
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