Done with national team, Gilas standouts shift focus on club duties

Scottie Thompson (No. 8) will continue his playmaking duties with Barangay Ginebra. — AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Looking at the quick change from serving the flag and the country to continuing the title hunt of the most popular team in the country, it is understandable that the schedule will be exhausting for the main members of Barangay Ginebra.

“We approached it very hard!! Just kidding,” said coach Tim Cone as he, Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo returned to their familiar Ginebra uniforms after the Fiba (International Basketball Federation) World Cup Asian Qualifier against Meralco on Wednesday in PBA Governor’s Cup.

The 5:45pm match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum will mark a busy first week for the Gin Kings, who will face four teams in seven days that include Phoenix Fuel Masters on Saturday, Converge FiberXers on Sunday and Terrafirma Dyip. Next Wednesday.

It will also see how Brownlee can quickly focus on domestic duties after his impressive Gilas Pilipinas debut in the sixth window, how Thompson shook off the disappointment of missing two clutch free throws against Jordan and how Malonzo can give an impact after logging important minutes in two. games.

But Cone, who also moved back to strategize for Ginebra, is confident that the three will be fine.

“Our guys are very good at going forward and controlling what they can control. We don’t control the schedule, but we control the response to the challenge. Justin, Scottie and Jamie will be good,” Cone said.

Ginebra hopes to do well against a Meralco team that has won its last two games to move up to sixth place with a 5-3 record. Another win could put the Bolts in serious contention for the top four, which would result in a double advantage to beat at the end of the eliminations.

Also important is the 3pm opener between Phoenix and Rain or Shine, a game that has implications in the race for at least the eighth and final spot.

Phoenix has an advantage at 3-5 after the upset of Converge three days before, and through Rain or Shine, tied at 2-6 with NorthPort and Terrafirma, could be a result that can help Master Fuel seal the playoff seat.

Keeping themselves in the hunt are the Elasto Painters, who will be bringing in a new import in Jordan Tolbert after Greg Smith II went down with an injury.

Almost every game this week is important. NLEX meets Terrafirma while Magnolia plays NorthPort on Saturday while the opener pits Converge and Meralco, all at the Big Dome. INQ

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