UNLIKE Blackwater, there's really no guarantee that most of those seeing action for Barangay Ginebra in the PBA On Tour would be retained for the league's regular season.
With one slot reserved for whoever their first-round pick in the coming draft, the Bossing are expected to keep most of their players and are mainly using the pre-season tournament to familiarize themselves with the system new coach Jeffrey Cariaso has laid down.
The same cannot be said of the Gin Kings, who have no first round pick in the Sept. 17 draft and are expected to go with their tried and tested core in the regular season.
No less than Ginebra assistant coach Richard Del Rosario hinted as much, saying the 'On Tour' stint is chiefly about giving the team's less-heralded players the chance to boost their stock for would-be suitors.
"'Yun talaga ang goal namin to improve every game and, hopefully, give them a better situation moving forward after this PBA On Tour," said the tactician handling the team in the current tournament presented by Arena Plus and sponsored by Bingo Plus.
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"Sabi ko nga, this is an opportunity for you also na makilala kayo not just because you won or lost games but it's about how you played the game and how you fought."
Another glimpse of how close Blackwater and Ginebra have moved closer to their respective targets would be known when they tangle at 5p.m. on Wednesday at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
The Bossing tote a 3-2 card and would like nothing more than a morale-boosting follow-up to their 102-97 win over the Converge FiberXers last week.
Ginebra, on the other hand, wants to bounce back from a 95-101 loss to NorthPort last Saturday that dropped the former to a 1-3 slate.
Del Rosario has been giving the likes of Kim Aurin, Donald Gumaru and Ralph Salcedo the chance to strut their stuff. But those 3x3 players most often must defer to the likes of the more tried and tested Raymond Aguilar, Aljon Mariano, Jeremiah Gray, Nards Pinto and Von Pessumal and even incoming sophomore Jayson David.
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In contrast, Blackwater has mostly gone for the likes of James Sena, Yousef Taha, Rashawn McCarthy, Baser Amer, Ato Ular, Rey Suerte and Gab Banal while giving relatively new acquisitions Mike Digregorio, RK Ilagan and Tyrus Hill ample time to integrate.
All the time, fellow veterans Troy Rosario and JVee Casio are each given the chance to rest and completely heal from their respective injuries. (NC)
