Starting from sratch
September 17, 2005 | 12:00am
It seems like so much has happened to the Coca-Cola Tigers since they last won a championship. Now, with a new coach, a vastly different set of players, and very little time on their hands, the proud franchise finds itself in the position of looking at a long uphill climb, learning on the job.
"When Coach Eric (Altamirano) handled us, he wasnt given time for us to regroup," explains point guard Johnny Abarrientos, whose knees are starting to show their years. "Then there was a shuffle. Now, were adjusting again to the system of Coach Binky. Then there was a draft, so there were new players. Then there were trades, so there were new players again. And a new coaching staff. So, were back to zero, square one."
In an all-Filipino practice game against the Purefoods Chunkee Giants at the adidas Sports Kamp, the Tigers groped for form. Although they showed flashes of brilliance-particularly from rookie guard Denok Miranda and neophyte forward Jondan Salvador, they were blasted by the Giants in the first quarter, and were never able to cut the lead below double digits.
Uncharacteristically, they missed at least a dozen lay-ups in the intense match.
"Were still in the process of trying to rebuild, to get the players to believe that things could still happen," admits new head coach Binky Favis, a tremendous scout in his own right. "I know its not going to be easy; the players know that. At least its good that the players are working hard in practice, so I think well get there sooner than later."
Although the Tigers dont have a high ceiling some other PBA teams have acquired, they do have a solid frontline in Billy Mamaril, Poch Juinio, Rafi Reavis and Ali Peek. However, one thing that still frustrates the perennial contender (aside from the trouble finding an import) is the lack of chemistry. With all the players whove been there a year or less, like Gerard Francisco, Peek, Miranda, Salvador, Mamaril, John Arigo and Carlo Sharma, it will be hard to get everyone on the same page without a firebrand of an import to keep them on purpose.
"We really dont know the style of coach Binky now," Abarrientos continues. "When he was the assistant of Coach Chot (Reyes), he would give us things on the defensive side. Now, hes the head coach, we have to adjust to him on both the defensive and offensive sides. What he did, so we wont be confused, is he brought us back to the basics. What were used to, the triangle, thats where hes taking the flow of things. Now were having a hard time, because he asked us to try a play."
Of course, the team has never been the same since Rudy Hatfield has been unable to play, and Jeff Cariaso was traded. The Tigers are now looking for someone to lead them in the hunt for a title. But it takes time to ingrain a new system. And that is a commodity Coca-Cola doesnt have yet.
"Were having a hard time getting acquainted with the screening game again," says Favis, who was also an assistant in Ginebra before finally being called up to run his own team. "Thats one thing that Im trying to inject into this team. Again, theyre a lot better now than when we started, but were still a long way off."
"One more thing thats true is that the Tigers are out of shape," Abarrientos admits. "We need to work harder, so that before the league opens, well be ready."
Coca-Cola has set such consistently high standards in the past that it is difficult to swallow their inability to execute. Theyre hoping that their individual abilities and experiences will miraculously blend into a lethal basketball machine that they used to be, in the recent past, before all the unforeseen changes took place.
"We just want to be the best that we could possibly be. We just want to be competitive; we just want to keep improving every day. Whether that will mean winning is another thing. But Im pretty sure these guys know what it takes, anyway," Favis said.
"When Coach Eric (Altamirano) handled us, he wasnt given time for us to regroup," explains point guard Johnny Abarrientos, whose knees are starting to show their years. "Then there was a shuffle. Now, were adjusting again to the system of Coach Binky. Then there was a draft, so there were new players. Then there were trades, so there were new players again. And a new coaching staff. So, were back to zero, square one."
In an all-Filipino practice game against the Purefoods Chunkee Giants at the adidas Sports Kamp, the Tigers groped for form. Although they showed flashes of brilliance-particularly from rookie guard Denok Miranda and neophyte forward Jondan Salvador, they were blasted by the Giants in the first quarter, and were never able to cut the lead below double digits.
Uncharacteristically, they missed at least a dozen lay-ups in the intense match.
"Were still in the process of trying to rebuild, to get the players to believe that things could still happen," admits new head coach Binky Favis, a tremendous scout in his own right. "I know its not going to be easy; the players know that. At least its good that the players are working hard in practice, so I think well get there sooner than later."
Although the Tigers dont have a high ceiling some other PBA teams have acquired, they do have a solid frontline in Billy Mamaril, Poch Juinio, Rafi Reavis and Ali Peek. However, one thing that still frustrates the perennial contender (aside from the trouble finding an import) is the lack of chemistry. With all the players whove been there a year or less, like Gerard Francisco, Peek, Miranda, Salvador, Mamaril, John Arigo and Carlo Sharma, it will be hard to get everyone on the same page without a firebrand of an import to keep them on purpose.
"We really dont know the style of coach Binky now," Abarrientos continues. "When he was the assistant of Coach Chot (Reyes), he would give us things on the defensive side. Now, hes the head coach, we have to adjust to him on both the defensive and offensive sides. What he did, so we wont be confused, is he brought us back to the basics. What were used to, the triangle, thats where hes taking the flow of things. Now were having a hard time, because he asked us to try a play."
Of course, the team has never been the same since Rudy Hatfield has been unable to play, and Jeff Cariaso was traded. The Tigers are now looking for someone to lead them in the hunt for a title. But it takes time to ingrain a new system. And that is a commodity Coca-Cola doesnt have yet.
"Were having a hard time getting acquainted with the screening game again," says Favis, who was also an assistant in Ginebra before finally being called up to run his own team. "Thats one thing that Im trying to inject into this team. Again, theyre a lot better now than when we started, but were still a long way off."
"One more thing thats true is that the Tigers are out of shape," Abarrientos admits. "We need to work harder, so that before the league opens, well be ready."
Coca-Cola has set such consistently high standards in the past that it is difficult to swallow their inability to execute. Theyre hoping that their individual abilities and experiences will miraculously blend into a lethal basketball machine that they used to be, in the recent past, before all the unforeseen changes took place.
"We just want to be the best that we could possibly be. We just want to be competitive; we just want to keep improving every day. Whether that will mean winning is another thing. But Im pretty sure these guys know what it takes, anyway," Favis said.
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