Ginebra’s gunner Caguioa to sit out rest of conference

MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion Barangay Ginebra will miss a key “sparkplug" for the remainder of its campaign in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup. This as Mark "the Spark" Caguioa, Ginebra’s high-scoring guard who’s been sidelined by a knee injury, will not be 100 percent healthy in time for the Gin Kings’ semifinal outing or probably another stint at the finals. According to coach Jong Uichico, the team had already scratched the still-recuperating Caguioa off the final roster that Ginebra submitted to the PBA last May 30. “We finally decided not to put him in the lineup. He can play, but hindi talaga 100 percent," Uichico said in a press statement from the PBA. Caguioa has not played a single game for the crowd favorites this season owing to a knee injury, a condition that also cost him a slot in the Powerade Team Pilipinas of coach Yeng Guiao. The Ginebra gunner has undergone knee operation and rehabilitation in the U.S. since early this year, with a hope of him joining the team midway into the Fiesta Cup. But Uichico said at this point, Caguioa is still 80-90 percent healed from the injury. “Maganda `yung improvement niya from February until April, that’s why we’re hoping he could make a comeback by May. But somehow, nitong mga nakaraang araw medyo bumagal `yung recovery niya," the Gin Kings' mentor reported. “So we deemed it more proper not to let him play na lang. Huwag na lang muna madaliin dahil sayang lang kung ma-injured siya uli," he added. The Ginebra coach said he’s in constant talk with Caguioa and even with his therapist. “Right now, we’re trying to get him over here para dito na siya mag-continue ng rehabilitation," Uichico said. Without their top leading scorer last season, Uichico said the Kings have lost one major offensive option, a big factor the team will be missing in their title-retention bid. “Mark is always good for 15 points or more on any given night. He’s always a scoring threat for our opponents," Uichico admitted. But even without Caguioa, life goes on for the Kings, who clinched an outright semifinals berth two weeks ago by beating the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a playoff, 114-71. The Kings won seven of their last eight games in the eliminations to turn things around after struggling with a lethargic 1-5 start. “We’ve survived at this point without him (Caguioa). So we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we’ll be able to go farther now that we’re fully aware Mark is not going to play for us," said Uichico. As an outright semifinalist, Ginebra enjoys the luxury of awaiting their next foes. The Gin Kings are set to face the winner of the best-of-three quarterfinals series between Rain or Shine and Purefoods, which is currently tied at 1-1. - GMANews.TV