JAYJAY Helterbrand was pleased with the way Ginebra played its first game under new coach Jeffrey Cariaso, an 89-71 win over Globalport Tuesday night in the PBA Governors Cup.
Still, he doesn’t see any reason to celebrate yet.
“Even if we won the first game, it’s not really a measure of what the season is gonna be,” Helterbrand told Spin.ph afterwards.
“We still have a lot to work on. We still have a long way to go, a lot of improving to do, but it’s a good start for us. Hopefully, we can get better.”
Helterbrand explained Ginebra’s improvement begins with taking care of the basketball.
Although Ginebra won by 17 points, the team committed 21 turnovers or 11 more than Globalport.
“That’s (turnovers) unfamiliarity of the system and a little of first game jitters,” said the one-time league MVP.
“But I think we’re gonna be working on that for sure. That’s something coach taught us on that we really need to cut on down,” he added.
The 37-year-old Ginebra veteran said Cariaso’s entry injected stability to the team’s system, especially after the Kings went from one coaching method to another the past two seasons.
“I like coach Jeffrey. He pays attention to details. He does a lot of things different, which I think is about time for things to be different as far as the system is for Ginebra,” noted the former Kentucky State University stalwart.
“I think he’s a really good fit for our team.”
Ginebra swings back to action on Saturday when it faces Meralco at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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