For Caloy Garcia, player management could be key when Ginebra and Rain Or Shine cross paths again in the playoffs. PBA Media Bureau |
By Ivan Saldajeno
QUEZON CITY--For Coach Caloy Garcia, if there is one positive Rain Or Shine can get from its triple overtime loss to Ginebra on Friday night, it's that the latter may come on Monday night with stamina concerns.
"Ang maganda namang nangyari dito is that we got them tired," Garcia said after the game held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
While he also knew that the Elasto Painters will also come tired when they meet again in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, he said that his player management could be advantageous.
"We used more players. I think that's one advantage that we can go to. Sobrang pagod sila," continued Garcia.
Garcia brought in 12 players for ROS in the game with only three, Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, and Maverick Ahanmisi, logging in 42 or more minutes.
On the other hand, Coach Tim Cone only sent out nine players for Ginebra, and three of them, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, and Joe Devance, played for about 50 minutes. Tenorio, in the process, logged in the fourth longest playing time for a local in PBA history.
[Related Story: Tenorio admits he never thought of playing 57 minutes for Ginebra]
Another advantage the E-Painters also have entering the quarterfinals is the return of Chris Tiu.
"He'll be playing on Monday," Garcia confirmed.
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