Now in a good position of sweeping the titles in the pro-league’s second tournament of the 35th season, following their All-Filipino Cup title conquest at the expense of the Alaska Aces in four games, Grerorio and his overachieving Giants have set their eyes in accomplishing a feat only three teams – the legendary Crispa, San Miguel Beer and the Alaska Aces themselves – have so far succeeded.
The Redmanizers – who did the trick twice – the Beermen and the Aces, though, took theirs in a three-conference season format.
“We’ve gotten 50 percent of accomplishing a sort of grandslam so it’s but natural that we set our sight on that and hopefully attaining the rare honor," said Gregorio, who became the franchise’s winningest mentor after winning three of Purefoods eight titles so far.
“We have the talents, the system and players who are capable of doing everything to achieve a goal, so I believe we can do it," said Gregori, who added that succeeding would depend largely on the kind of import the team will be acquiring.
To this, team manager Alvin Patrimonio, himself a former King Giant, butted in saying," I have been instructed by Mr. Pardo to get the best import possible for our campaign in the next conference. I have been in constant touch with our agent in the U.S. for that purpose."
Gregorio cautioned though that a tournament laced with import can be very tricky
“A reinforcement, you see, is supposed to play the entire 48-minute regulation game and because of that, I have to bump off at least one or two players from the lineup," he explained. “So in deciding who will be bumped off I would have to think deeply so as not to break the team chemistry that had been successful in our All-Filipino campaign. “
Gregorio and the Giants actually have several missions to accomplish in the coming Fiesta Cup to complete their back-to-back title bid. If he and his boys collect a ninth title, they stand to overtake sister team Barangay Ginebra as the fifth winningest club in the PBA’ 35-year history.
Top gunner James Yap, who had just gotten his first best player of the conference trophy, will lead the Giants’ bid of winning two in-a-row and will also have his own goal of winning a second most valuable player (MVP) award.
A ninth title would allow the Giants to join the now-defunct Toyota in fourth place behind the 13 each of the Beermen’s and the Redmanizers, and the Aces’ 12.
Gregorio would also break his tie with SMB coach Siot Tanquincen and the now-retired Arturo Valenzona in the list of PBA mentors with more than one title victory. He, Tanquincen and Valenzona have three each behind Baby Dalupan’s 15, Tim Cone’s 12, and Norman Black’s 10.
Other coaches with two or more title victories are Jong Uichico (8), Tommy Manotoc, Dante Silverio, Yeng Guiao and Chot Reyes (5 each) each, and Robert Jaworski and the late Ed Ocampo (4 each).
Source: Author Unknown | GMANews.TV
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