Barangay Ginebra San Miguel set their vengeance on Commisioner’s Cup

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Barangay Ginebra San Miguel had a great conference last conference in the elimination which shows some highlights similar to “Lob City” of the Los Angeles Clippers.

If the Clippers have DeAndre Jordan and the rim-reaper Blake Griffin throwing dunks off a lob pass from either Chris Paul or Jamal Crawford, the Gin Kings have also Gilas stalwart Japeth Aguilar and ex-Gilas cadet Chris Ellis reaping the rim off nice passes from LA Tenorio and Jayjay Helterbrand.



But last conference success in the elimination round came to an end when Ginebra loss to a grueling game 7 to sister-team San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in an epic semifinal showdown that broke gate attendances and set a new PBA record crowd of 24,883.

Leo Rodgers as Import


The Gin Kings are moving on and focused on its redemption in next conference’s Commissioner Cup.

Ginebra tapped Leon Rodgers as their import in the next conference.


Rodgers, who is coming off a strong stint with the Jilin Northeast Tigers at the Chinese Basketball Association, said he will try to bring in the experience and winning mentality to Ginebra, having played professional basketball overseas for the last 11 years.

Before leaving China, the high-scoring Rodgers ranked sixth in the CBA in scoring with an average of 29.1 points per game on an impressive 54.2 field goal percent shooting clip as well as 40.1 percent shooting from three-point territory.

Though undrafted in the NBA 2002 draft, Rodgers has brought his basketball talent overseas, seeing action in leagues in France, Netherlands, Germany, Puerto Rico, China, Venezuela and Colombia.
He made a name for himself in Netherlands after winning the MVP in the Dutch League for three consecutive seasons (2005-2007).

Ginebra’s Die-Hard Fans on Rodgers

Ginebra’s diehard fans consider import Leon Rodgers as some sort of a ‘savior.’

Rodgers arrived in Manila early Monday, took a few hours of rest, and immediately plunged into practice at nine in the morning at the Green Meadows in Libis, Quezon City, raising expectations among Ginebra’s fans with his impressive credentials.

However, Tenorio was quick to temper expectations, saying that no one will really know how good the 33-year-old American journeyman really is until he rounds into shape and plays in an actual game.

“Alam mo naman ang fans ng Ginebra, very passionate,” Tenorio told Spin.ph, when asked about Ginebra fans’ high expectations of the high-scoring import. “Medyo kailangan pa niya (Rodgers) ng conditioning kasi may jetlag pa since kakarating lang naman kahapon (Monday).”
But after two days of practice with the Gin King, Tenorio admitted Rodgers is getting only positive feedback and lifting the morale of the team, thanks to his career numbers and his wide experience in playing in leagues overseas. 

“Pero very positive ang feedback sa kanya saka mataas ang morale ng team sa practice,” said Tenorio, whose team is also trying to shake off its painful Philippine Cup semifinal series defeat to San Mig in seven games more than a week ago.

“I hope to bring experience and winning ways to the team,” said Rodgers, best remembered for scoring 66 points after burying a CBA-record 15 three-point conversions in a game with the Tigers on March 11, 2009.

“I’ve heard great things about the PBA and Ginebra, and I’m excited to go out there and play.”


Will see if Rodgers will show his strats and wowed Ginebra fans and not disappoint them in the Commissioner’s Cup, which will tip off in two weeks from now.

Ed Umbao

Founder of PhilNews.xyz | co-Founder of PhilNews.ph

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