After Grueling PBA Title Run, Ginebra Stars Shift Focus to Crucial FIBA Window

There will be no rest just yet for these Barangay Ginebra stars as they join Gilas Pilipinas for Window 3 of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. 

Championship celebrations will have to wait for the Barangay Ginebra group of RJ Abarrientos, Troy Rosario, Justin Brownlee, and head coach Tim Cone. 

Fresh off their PBA Season 50 Commissioners’ Cup title run, the Ginebra quartet are now with Gilas Pilipinas for Window 3 of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers starting this July 3 against the New Zealand Tall Blacks. 

And while there will be no rest for the weary, representing the country is simply too good of an opportunity to pass up. 

“Hindi ka makakapag-no pag tinawag ka maglaro para sa bayan. There’s no reason na magpahinga or wag ilaban ‘tong window na ‘to. So nagpapasalamat lang ako kila Boss Al (Chua) and sa mga bosses na mabigyan ng chance maglaro dito and mag-prepare for this coming window,” said RJ Abarrientos, who won his first PBA title in the Commissioner’s Cup.

“I’m very excited, and ‘yun nga, sabi ko nga hindi pa ako magpapahinga dahil hindi lahat ng mga players ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na magsuot ng jersey para sa bansa. Kaya very blessed, very thankful ako na nasa Gilas ako.” 

The Gin Kings needed to go through the gauntlet in their quest for the Commissioner’s Cup trophy, taking down the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in six games, before going the full seven games against the TNT Tropang 5G in the Finals. 

Barely a week after Game 7, the Ginebra group buckled down to work. They participated in an open workout at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan last June 22, and are now in the midst of a training camp in Brisbane, Australia, ahead of their July 3 tilt against the Tall Blacks. 

“Medyo nag-eenjoy pa ako i-celebrate ‘yung championship sa Ginebra, pero may call eh. So kailangan ko muna i-postpone ‘yung celebration and focus sa preparation dito sa upcoming window. I hope maging maganda ‘yung performance namin and makakuha ng panalo,” said Rosario, who makes his return to Gilas after missing the cut in the first two windows. 

Though it will be a quick turnaround, Brownlee pointed out their familiarity within Cone’s system and a Final 12 that includes the likes of Juan Gomez de Liaño, Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, and AJ Edu. 

“We pretty much run a similar system with a couple of different things. But I think on the international stage, there’s a lot more talent. A different group of guys, a bit more physical; guys are more athletic,” Brownlee, who won his historic seventh PBA title, shared. 

“I try not to think about (feeling old)…but these guys are so young and youthful and they bring a lot of energy on and off the court. So I’m just trying to keep up with those guys.” 

Cone, meanwhile, stressed the importance of this window, especially with Gilas dropping their home games in Window 2. A win, he said, would give them more wiggle room come the next round, where teams will carry over their respective records. 

“If we don’t win one of these games, we’re gonna have a very small margin of error as we move forward into the next round. It’s almost like we’re gonna have to sweep the next round with high quality teams like Iran and Jordan,” he said. 

“So it would really help if we can win one of these two games, and that would give us more margin of errors as we move forward to the next round.”

Banner images from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Facebook.

RJ Ballecer

Editor

RJ Ballecer is an Associate Editor at The GAME who primarily covers the local volleyball scene. His work focuses on human-interest pieces, and lifestyle-leaning stories on athletes' fashion and off-the-court activities.

 

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