BARANGAY Ginebra coach Tim Cone said the team will be looking to develop rookie John Cedrick Abis into a key piece in its rotation.
Cone laid down Ginebra's plans for the little-known rookie out of Perpetual on Tuesday, just days after the PBA's most popular ballclub announced Abis' signing as the 14th player in its roster.
READ Who is Ginebra new signee John Cedrick Abis? Let's take a look
The league's most successful coach took exception to comments from rival fans that Abis was signed simply to make up the numbers at Ginebra and doomed to spend games in the far end of the Ginebra bench.
On the contrary, the fact that Ginebra drafted the 6-foot-3 forward in the second round at 23rd overall in the last PBA draft and waited until he finished the NCAA season with the Altas shows how much the team values him, Cone said.
"First off, we're allowed a roster of 15 players. He is only our 14th [player under contract]. We can still add another after John, but have held off," said Cone.
Abis also comes in highly recommended by Perpetual Altas coach and Ginebra deputy Olsen Racela and Scottie Thompson, who is de facto team manager of his alma mater's varsity team.
Racela has also revealed that Abis had attended Ginebra practices during the NCAA season and has impressed Cone with his 'guard skills.'
"We drafted John in the second round, so obviously we really liked him coming from Coach Olsen's program at Perpetual," said Cone.
The plan, Cone said, is to give Abis the opportunity to improve and reach his full potential at Ginebra and eventually move up in the ranks, the same way as Ralph Cu, Jason David, and fellow rookie Sonny Estil.
"We feel he has a future and we will look to develop him like we did with Jason David and Ralph Cu, and are currently doing with Sonny Estil," Cone said.
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