"We're riding all the horses really hard," Tim Cone said of this new frontcourt.
Without Japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger, the Ginebra Gin Kings frontcourt was depleted coming into Friday’s game against the NorthPort Batang Pier.
As if that wasn’t enough of a blow, the crowd favorites also lost third stringer Raymond Aguilar in the first half due to injury.
Coach Tim Cone, the winningest coach in the PBA, had to open his bag of tricks. The 25-time PBA champion resorted to a frontline of Jamie Malonzo, Jeremiah Gray, and Justin Brownlee most of the game.
His players responded like true champions to give the Gin Kings a 115-100 victory over the Batang Pier.
“We’re just trying to stay creative in our lineups, in our game planning. These guys are doing a really great job of being agile,” Cone said.
JB was his usual self, notching a triple-double of 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. Gray was solid, posting a 16-7-2 line in 38 minutes of action.
But the man who appeared before the podium at the end of the game is Jamie Malonzo, who scored a career-high 28 markers, grabbed 10 boards, and notched 4 blocks.
Yet, putting up all those stats is perhaps secondary to what Cone asked of Malonzo.
“We’ve asked [Jamie] to be our lead import stopper. All that stuff you’re seeing on the floor, that is despite the fact that he has to go out there and give literally a hundred percent commitment to guarding the import all the time,” Cone told the media.
As such, the legendary coach was quick to give credit to his young stud. “It’s really incredible.”
As for Malonzo, who had a breakout Commissioner’s Cup Finals, he may be rounding into form as a true star. But right now, he’s just saying it’s all part of the work for their banged up team. Aside from missing Aguilar and Standhardinger, lead guards Scottie Thompson and LA Tenorio are playing through injuries.
“We’re grinding,” Malonzo said. “We gotta give 100 percent.”
Ginebra will need another stellar performance Brownlee-Malonzo-Gray trio, or a health miracle, as they go up against a rejuvenated Magnolia Hotshots squad on Sunday in another Manila Clasico matchup.