PBA: Ginebra import Michael Dunigan: 'We need to find our identity'

When Ato Agustin took over as Ginebra coach, it signaled that the team will no longer use the triangle offense and instead go run-and-gun.

Come the first game of the Commissioner's Cup, however, there was no trace at all of the running team the Gin Kings envisioned. They scored only three points off the fastbreak as they lost 85-74 to Meralco on Tuesday.

"We're just all over the place. We need to find our identity as a team," said import Michael Dunigan, who finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds for Ginebra. "Wanna shoot threes, wanna go inside, we gotta put it together."

Indeed, the team seemed to be at loss on what to do offensively during the game, relying on outside shooting first before feeding big man Greg Slaughter the ball in the post late.

Ginebra went 7-of-28 from rainbow country, while the sophomore center scored 15 of his 23 points in the final period.

"We got bigs. We need to find a way to utilize the bigs," said Dunigan on their offensive strategy. "We're taller than most teams; in my opinion we should go inside-out.

"Fastbreak is a nice thing of course but we got bigs," he added.

Ginebra never led in the game after going up 4-2 in the early stages, struggling to keep up with the methodical Meralco squad reinforced by energetic import Josh Davis.

Dunigan, however, is confident that the Gin Kings will get their groove soon once they spend more time training together. He only arrived in the country on Saturday to join the team, attending practices only twice so far.

"It's more of a team chemistry team but we'll be okay," he said. It's a learning experience the first game, two practices. Long way to go, it's a long season." —JST, GMA News