Is chemistry really the issue for Ginebra?

Chemistry issues? Nah.
Talent redundancy is.

Three games into the PBA Commissioner's Cup and the crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings find themselves sitting pretty with a 2-1 slate. Thanks to a powerhouse line-up that is once again being bannered by prized wards Mark Caguioa (18 ppg) and Jayjay Helterbrand (5.5 apg, 1 spg) plus 7"1 import Chris Alexander (24 rpg), it seems that there's just no stopping the Gin Kings.

Still, chemistry-issues have been raised by no other than Gin Kings' coach Siot Tangquincen.

Based on what we've seen so far and already know, chemistry issues has never been a concern for this team. Had it been hastily assembled or made of newbies ala Air21, then yeah, but it still features the same old backcourt and anchor in the paint (Eric Menk) and even its newest additions-- Kerby Raymundo and the returning Rudy Hatfield are at one point or the other, all played competitive ball together either in PBA All Star games or, better yet, the country's national team.


The real issue here, that we're pretty sure coach Siot knows, is the redundancy of his players.

Yes, having multiple guys on the rosters who are good at what they do will always be a blessing no matter how you look at it. And this could've worked a year or two ago when guys would get hurt during the stretch of the season and the new recruits could simply come in and fill the void.

Well guess what. For the first time in years, everyone's actually healthy thus creating the huge problem of redundancy.

Helterbrand and Mike Cortez are pretty much even as PGs, with Mr. Fast being more of the helter-skelter type and Cool Cat the more structured one. But when things go down, both are attack guards who do their best work in the break.

Then you have the returning Rudy Hatfield-- an energy guy who rebounds, hustles and does the dirty work. Those same adjectives could easily be used to describe another guy wearing the same Gin Kings jersey: Willy Wilson. Whose minutes have gone done by a mile this conference no thanks to playing behind Raymundo, Eric Menk, Hatfield and even rookie Dylan Ababou.

Once Rico Villanueva comes in healthy, he'll also create a log jam at the four spot and clear redundancy with Menk, Hatfield and another bruiser in the fold, Billy Mamaril.

From a fantasy owner's standpoint, you'd love to be in this situation with these guys because you'd expect minimal drop-off production wise. But the problem is, in real life, game time situations, some guys need their minutes to get into a good rhythm on the floor and it's not always the case for some of the Gin Kings.

Fortunately for the Gin Kings, they've added the brainpower (Alfrancis Chua) to help solve the rotation mess in which they were able to throw in John Wilson. If you're a fan of Chua's (which this writer is since his PBL Stag Pale Pilsen-Tanduay-Santa Lucia days), then you know that he values perimeter defenders (Denok Miranda, Ryan Reyes and Bitoy Omolon being the last few he handled and groomed) over flashy scorers.

And really, having Kerby Raymundo in the post for the Gin Kings is such a joy to watch. They've never had a guy who can move as gracefully as this in the post not since Noli Locsin retired.