Two of them are likely out for the entire Tour.
It appears Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s biggest stars will be shelved longer than expected.
Ginebra assistant coach Richard del Rosario bared Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle will likely sit out the ongoing PBA on Tour.
“Hindi na siya maglalaro [Christian]. Si Stanley baka hindi na rin maglaro for the entire Tour. Eto na talaga lineup,” said del Rosario after the team’s 90-78 loss to the San Miguel Beermen on Sunday.
Apart from the two, also not seeing action for the crowd-favorites are Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and Jamie Malonzo, who are expected to join Gilas Pilipinas’ build-up for the FIBA World Cup. The training camp begins on Wednesday.
That leaves Ginebra with a thin frontline manned by old reliables Aljon Mariano and Raymond Aguilar, who scored 17 and 14 points respectively in Sunday's contest at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
“From being one of the biggest team before, ngayon I think we’re the smallest team kasi ako na ata pinakamalaki sa team namin,” he said.
It’s even a stretch to call them big men, according to the long-time Tim Cone deputy.
“So puro gwardya kami ngayon. Even ‘yung mga bigs namin, stretch na matawag na bigs.”
Still, del Rosario and the rest of the coaching staff are unfazed and ready to take on these challenges without coach Tim Cone, who will also be with the Gilas camp.
“We just have to look at who’s here and try to maximize the skills and the talents that they have and hopefully we can compete every night,” he said.
They have to figure things out soon, specifically before Sunday, when they face rival Magnolia Hotshots who are “big” and “cohesive as a unit.”
(GM)