Barangay Ginebra's Growth Spurt

More Air-time for Air Force Ellis
Photo courtesy of Sports5

Standing tall with a 3 wins 1 loss slate, there are several reasons for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel faithful to celebrate. Though they've been in a similar position just last season, this year's version is looking even more formidable with head coach Jeffrey Cariaso and his Triangle Offense in place.

The young core of Japeth Aguilar (17 ppg 12 rpg 3 bpg), Greg Slaughter (15 ppg 12 rpg 1bpg) and Chris Ellis (11 ppg) are leading the charge while veterans Mark Caguioa (8 ppg 3 rpg 1 apg) and L.A. Tenorio (4 ppg 4 rpg 5 apg) provide the steadying "bail the kids out when needed" presence every now and then. What's different here is how systematic the team looks under Cariaso, how they all know who are their main guys (Aguilar and Slaughter) or basically the guys who can make the whole game easier for every one else. It's no longer Caguioa shouldering all of the offense or Tenorio putting on his Superman cape and doing it all-- it's inside, out, Triple Post, disciplined basketball.

At times, we see Slaughter serving as the Triangle's anchor with Ellis and Aguilar working off him. Some times, we see Aguilar out of that mix and freelancing-- looking for the easy drop pass or just sneaking his way inside for the putback slams and easy deuce.

There's only one, steadying voice coming from the bench despite the team (and bench's) starpower. Coach Cariaso has every one in line, playing within his system and getting the support of his veterans who were his contemporaries even once upon a time.

If one were to nitpick, sure, it's still early. Sure, they haven't faced the elite teams yet and the stakes are relatively lower at the moment. That hey, maybe someone should tell Coach Cariaso to put in guys like Dylan Ababou, Emman Monfort and James Forrester a bit more.

But are you really going to go that route?

The team is 3-1, the trio of Ellis, Aguilar and Slaughter are all young. Ababou, who is a slow small forward, can't play ahead of Ellis or his sub Mac Baracael. The minutes you want for Ababou is already meant for those two aforementioned guys, and some even for Aguilar. Monfort? Josh Urbiztondo is taller. Forrester? You want to see more Forrester and less Caguioa, Ellis and Jayjay Helterbrand? You mind saying that again?

We've gone on record several times to state that on paper, the Never-Say-Die, "underdog" tags for Ginebra is long dead and gone. How could a team that features perennial and potential PBA MVPs be considered as such when there are teams like Kia, Blackwater and Barako around?

Consider this a reward for all the Ginebra faithful. The ones my age. Not these kids who parade the NSD tag because it's "cool." Not the ones who keep whining and crying about players, coaching changes, minutes for their idols, etc.

This 3-1 start, the triangle offense under Coach Cariaso-- these are the rewards being reaped by those who stayed with the team through the hardships and challenges. Those who were there for the Banjo Calpito-Ronald Magtulis-Jun Jun Cabatu years. Those who were around for the Wilmer Ong Era. Those who were there even before that.

Right now, Ginebra will never be considered an underdog again. But they sure as hell earned their "favorites" tag.

We're going out again on record to say that Ginebra will be in one of the PBA Finals this season-- might even bring home a title or two.