JEFF Chan had four points, all on free throws, and missed all his shots including two from threes in his Barangay Ginebra debut on Wednesday night.
But Tim Cone is happy with what he saw.
Cone said Chan’s contributions in his first game with Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner's Cup cannot be measured by numbers, saying the latter's veteran presence allowed the Kings to settle down after a hot start by Columbian.
“I actually thought Jeff Chan had a huge contribution early in the game,” Cone said. “It kinda settled us down, and allowed us to play. I thought he made a big impact early and kinda settled us down and got us back in the game.”
Cone said that aside from his vaunted three-point shooting, it is Chan's veteran leadership that the Kings will need as they look to close the elimination round of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup strong.
“Not by his three-point shooting which everybody talks about but just being a smart veteran, making smart passes, and playing under control. It kept us everybody under control. That’s what I like about him,” said Chan.
Playing his first game just two days removed from the trade that got his former team Phoenix a first-round draft pick, Chan said his focus was on playing defense.
“I think kanina naman, nag-focus ako sa defense,” said Chan, who also finished with three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. “‘Yung second group, nung pumasok, nag-settle down. Medyo lumaki ng konti (lead).
"I think hindi naman known ang Ginebra sa offense, sa defense talaga. ‘Yung iba, iniisip scorer, shooter. Pero hindi. Talagang ang bini-build up ni coach is ‘yung defense.”
Chan admitted having goosebumps when his number was called by Cone in the first quarter.
“Actually kanina, nung pagpasok ko, medyo namalahibo ako. Grabe ‘yung pag-welcome sa akin ng crowd. I think kailangan ko talagang matutunan at pag-aralan ‘yung system ni coach. Nangangapa pa ako. Siyempre, masaya ako na winelcome ako ng barangay,” said Chan.
Chan's debut out of the way, Cone expects to make the Gilas mainstay to make Ginebra way better once he settles down.
“We can still get another couple of rungs higher especially if Jeff Chan gets into more of what we are doing and better understanding,” said Cone.
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