Several PBA coaches see Ginebra as team to beat in upcoming season

For PBA coaches Chot Reyes, Chito Victolero, and Pido Jarencio, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel remains to be the force to be reckoned with in the upcoming PBA Season 46 slated for July 16.

Reyes, who recently took over the coaching reigns for the TNT Tropang Giga team that fell to Ginebra in the finals of the 2020 Philippine Cup last December, mentioned the Tim Cone-helmed defending champs at the top of the list, though he mentioned a few other contenders.

"The team's doing well. Teams to beat are Ginebra, SMB and Magnolia. [But we just want to] stay healthy and get better this season," he said in a short message to GMA News Online.

Both Magnolia coach Victolero and NorthPort coach Jarencio, though, named only one: Ginebra.

"Of course, it's still Ginebra. I think that doesn't change even though we had a long break from basketball," Victolero shared.

"Their team is pretty much perfect because we all know coach Tim will really turn any team into a title contender and that's what he's doing with Ginebra."

Jarencio, whose team traded prized big man Christian Standhardinger to Ginebra for Greg Slaughter, also agreed about which team should be considered the favorite.

"As usual, it's Ginebra," said Jarencio.

"From their performance last season, I think they could carry that momentum going into this new season. We just have to be prepared not only for Ginebra but for all teams."

Slaughter has yet to rejoin the Batang Pier since leaving for the US to get his Covid-19 vaccine.

Aside from the acquisition of Standhardinger, Ginebra will boast a lineup led by LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Stanley Pringle, Scottie Thompson, Joe Devance, and Aljon Mariano.

The PBA will formally open shop this Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig under a closed-circuit setup. Triple-header schedules will also be featured until the inaugural 3x3 meet gets under way.

—JMB, GMA News