BalotSports.info

Barangay Ginebra coach Jong Uichico sees no need for his three injured players to return to action immediately despite of the team’s tough three-game schedule to end their elimination-round campaign in the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup where a quarterfinal seat, at least, is at stake.

Uichico said Jayjay Helterbrand (hamstring), Mark Caguioa (knee) and Junthy Valenzuela (knee) are still “under observation” but he does not want to risk any of them.

“Puwede naman makabalik but we’re still trying to get them in game shape the soonest possible time,” said Uichico.

“With this Christmas break, mabubuhos na ’yung concentration ng team sa kanila,” he added. “Hopefully we can [get back] our injured players and that’s what we’re hoping for.”

Helterbrand has been in and out of the lineup, while Caguioa played just a couple of games in the conference before sittingit out to rest his knee. Valenzuela has yet to play in the All-Filipino tournament.

Currently tied with Purefoods Tender Juicy for fourth spot with a 9-6 win-loss mark, the Kings still have an outside shot for one of the two semifinal seats—but Uichico won’t gamble at this point.

“What’s important for the team right now is for them to be 100-percent healthy when they play again,” said Uichico, whose team faces defending champion Talk ’N Text when the league resumes on Wednesday.

“Ngayon, paunti-unti pa lang sila sa ensayo and for us that’s already a good sign. If they will be 100-percent ready, that’s the only time we can commit na makababalik sila,” he added.

Among the three, Helterbrand has the best chance because his doctors have given him the green light. But he still needs to strengthen his legs to survive the pounding in the league.

Valenzuela, according to Uichico, is not yet in full shape and his knees need more conditioning and strengthening. The same is true with Caguioa.

“’Yung kay Mark, depende sa magiging reaction ng knees niya. Right now kasi, wala pa siyang full practice sa team, paunti-unti lang,” he said.

Ginebra ended the year with a 106-97 win over Coca-Cola on Christmas Day on Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome to avoid a thee-game losing streak.

The team will take a few days off before returning to practice.

After taking on the Tropang Texters (10-5), the Kings will face league-leading Alaska (11-2) on January 9 in Batangas City and wind up their double-round stint against Burger King (5-10) on January 17.

The top-two teams after the elimination phase get the two automatic semifinal seats, while the next three teams clinch a spot in the best-of-five quarterfinal round.

The No. 6, 7, 8 and 9 teams will vie in the crossover knockout wild-card stage with the survivor taking the last quarterfinals berth.