King-sized woe: Caguioa, Menk sidelined by injuries

Just when it seems everything is going well for Barangay Ginebra early into the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup comes not just one, but two spate of bad news.

First, main man Mark Caguioa will be out again for a week. Second, former league MVP and starting center Eric Menk is also joining Caguioa in the sidelines for the next two weeks. As the Kings eye a third straight win at the expense of RP-Smart Gilas team Friday at the Astrodome, the league’s most popular ball club will be missing the services of two of its most dependable players. Caguioa has a swollen left knee while Menk fractured his pinky toe. The Kings missed Caguioa for the entire season last year owing to a knee injury, his absence leaving a big void in Ginebra’s rotation especially during the Fiesta Conference finals when the team lost to the San Miguel Beermen in seven games. Injury has also slowed down Menk the past couple of years. Menk’s absence gives the Kings vacuum in the paint especially against a Smart Gilas side reinforced by American CJ Giles. “They are tough especially with an import," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico of the national team. “They shoot so well and are fluid on offense. I just hope we can defend them well." The Nationals are winless in two games so far. They are fresh from a devastating setback to Talk ‘N Text, a 33-point (103-70) loss in a game where Giles, the player being groomed for naturalization, hardly saw playing time. The former Los Angeles Lakers draftee was taken out after merely five minutes of play Wednesday. Serbian coach Rajko Toroman said that Giles has a “private problem," which turned out to be that his four-year-old son was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood disorder. Giles got the message minutes before tip-off against the Tropang Texters. If Giles doesn’t show up, Ginebra will get a big break since the American has been the cornerstone of the Nationals’ defense. Smart Gilas, the team tasked to reclaim an Olympics berth in London in 2012, bowed to Burger King in its opening game assignment, 115-105. - GMANews.TV