Gin Kings put young core to test in Macau friendly

Barangay Ginebra will have a chance to test-drive its new-look roster on Wednesday when it takes on the New Taipei Kings in an exhibition game in Macau.

Third overall pick RJ Abarrientos, Stephen Holt, Isaac Go, and even late draft pickup Paul Garcia joined the crowd darlings in its flight for the Chinese territory on Tuesday afternoon, hoping to get a feel of Tim Cone’s system and the squad’s tendencies in friendly that should help the Gin Kings in the season-opening Governors’ Cup that kicks off on Aug. 18.

“I’m glad,” Abarrientos, the highly-touted guard from this year’s draft class, said of his first week training with the powerhouse club.

“The players, the coaches, and [the ball boy] have been joys to be with,” he added in a clip posted by Ginebra’s popular utility staffer Marious Atienza.

Abarrientos was a talent the Ginebra franchise tabbed following a deal that had the Gin Kings trading away MVP contender Christian Standhardinger and veteran guard Stanley Pringle to Terrafirma.

Also included in that swap were Holt and Go, two integral members of the Terrafirma squad that put together a franchise-best 5-6 record in the elimination phase of the last Governors’ Cup.

That deal infused a lot of young blood in the Ginebra roster.

Garcia, meanwhile, is a product of the Ateneo Blue Eagles program.

“When I visited practice, it was refreshing to see because there are new faces,” team governor and newly-appointed PBA vice chair Alfrancis Chua said.

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“Whenever you have new guys, you get the feeling you can create something again,” he added. “It’s just like having a new car—whenever you have a new car, you look forward to driving it, to modifying it. If you have an old car, the aircon becomes fragile and it becomes tough to drive.

“I just hope that (Barangay Ginebra) turns in a good showing, and so does San Miguel, and then Magnolia,” said Chua, also San Miguel Corporation’s sports director.

Ginebra brought along cornerstone Scottie Thompson to the trip but will continue to miss the injured Jamie Malonzo and resident import Justin Brownlee, who is neck-deep in helping Pelita Jaya to a title in the Indonesian Basketball League.