Ginebra the underdog

It'll be a big test for Ginebra coach Tim Cone to harness his resources in tying to beat Magnolia in the PBA Golden Season opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight Filling the gaps is something Cone has to do with Japeth Aguilar and Isaac Go on the injured list and Jamie Malonzo gone abroad.

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That leaves Troy Rosario, newly-acquired Norbert Torres, Ben Adamos and possibly Stephen Holt to hold the fort inside the paint with size a major handicap.

Cone will likely play small with Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos and Mav Ahanmisi rotating in the backcourt. Abarrientos started only once in 19 games in the Philippine Cup last season but may take a bigger role at point guard to slide Thompson at two. Ahanmisi could be the wildcard at two or three. Holt’s versatility will be useful as he can play multiple positions. For Ginebra, the key is controlling the pace. Cone employs a short

rotation so Ginebra has to set the tempo for a deliberate, half-court battle. To control the pace, it’s critical to control the boards.