PBA: Ginebra starting to click but facing injury woes

MANILA, Philippines—Ginebra coach Tim Cone didn’t seem too happy even when the Gin Kings are starting to hit their stride following a victory over NorthPort on Sunday.

Ginebra moved to third on the standings with a 5-3 card after an up-and-down start in the PBA Philippine Cup.

But Cone can’t afford to feel relieved after one of his key cogs in Jamie Malonzo went down with an injury with only a couple of ticks to go in the game. The injury is a big blow to the Gin Kings’ campaign after already missing the services of Jeremiah Gray.

SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Philippine Cup

“Our whole thing was seeing Miah and Jamie play together and see what kind of music they can play together. That was our big plan this year. Then what happens?” said Cone following his squad’s 95-88 win.

“Miah gets the ACL and Jamie’s possibly out and now we got neither of them. That used to be a deep position for us and now it’s pretty thin.”

After dropping 14 points, six rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes on Sunday’s tight match, Malonzo got hurt after running to the basket in the final seconds of the game.

Malonzo was holding his left leg in the process, much like he did when he fell to an injury during their semifinal series against San Miguel in the previous conference.

READ: PBA: Ginebra wins but loses Jamie Malonzo to injury in final seconds

Gray, on the other hand, is still recovering from an ACL tear which he sustained during the preseason in July last year.

Fortunately for Ginebra, its young guns are showing up at the most opportune time with Ralph Cu showing tremendous promise.

“If we can continue to get these kinds of games from Ralph, that’s what we’re talking about with the next man up. Maybe now, Sydney (Onwubere) will have to step up, Stanley (Pringle) should step up some more, those are positions that need filling up if Jamie’s not ready to go.”

Cu dropped a near triple-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in their win against NorthPort.

Ginebra faces TNT next on Friday at Philsports Arena.