TIM Cone doesn't see playing minutes becoming an issue for Barangay Ginebra's souped-up backcourt heading to PBA Season 49.
The Ginebra coach believes first round rookie pick RJ Abarrientos complementing veterans Scottie Thompson, Maverick Ahanmisi, and LA Tenorio, together with sophomore and new acquisition Stephen Holt.
Abarrientos was selected no. 3 overall by the Kings in the recently-concluded rookie draft, a major pick acquired by the Kings by going out and trading Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, and their own first round pick at no. 10 to receive Holt and Isaac Go in return.
"I don't see an issue on that. Mav can play with RJ, Stephen Holt can play with RJ. They can play with each other. It's a nice rotation of the guys," said Cone when asked about a possible playing dilemma among his guards.
"We can play three guards. Maverick, Scottie, and RJ, all playing together. It could be pretty exciting. We don't see that as a playing time issue with those guys."
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More than anything else, Cone sees Thompson, the former league MVP, benefitting the most with the arrival of the 24-year-old fancy guard, a nephew of PBA great Johnny Abarrientos.
At the same time, the champion coach also clarified the drafting of the young Abarrietos doesn't have to do anything on the current injury of Thompson (back injury).
"We feel Scottie can play with him (Abarrientos). I felt Scottie really played his best basketball when he had LA at his side. LA can do some of the ball handling, and free him up to get the rebounds and play as an off guard. Do all of those Scottie things that nobody else does," said Cone.
"And now with RJ, he can take away some of the burdens from Scottie and allows Scottie to do some of those things again." (RG)
