Caguioa returns to spark Ginebra past Air21

MANILA: Barangay Ginebra has its soul back, and the Gin Kings are looking as formidable as ever.
Playing his first game in almost two months, Mark Caguioa made a triumphant return for the Gin Kings last night, helping the crowd-darlings to a 103-85 thumping of Air21 for a rip-roaring start in their PBA Governors’ Cup bid at the Araneta Coliseum.
Caguioa made his first attempt, a triple, and from there was the Caguioa of old as he finished with 15 points in 29 minutes while playing as the team’s leader on the floor that eventually made the Kings join opening day winners Petron Blaze and Rain or Shine.
Meralco joined the three at the top of the heap later in the night after the B-Boys defeated the only team they haven’t beaten in their first two years in the league – sister squad Talk ‘N Text.
Import Champ Oguchi scored 29 points and Solomon Mercado tossed in 24 as the B-Boys exploited the absence of five key men in the Talk ‘N Text lineup to score a 105-99 decision in the second game.
Ginebra was in command all throughout, though the Express were able to keep the game close until the last four minutes, when the Air21 defense suddenly gave way, hence, the lopsided final score.
It was the best that Ginebra played in a long while, with the Kings looking fluid on offense and unforgiving defensively.
But through all that, it was clear that it was Caguioa’s night, on how quick he was able to get back to active duty considering the career-threatening eye injury he suffered late in the elimination round of the Commissioner’s Cup.
“(It) made me feel good and gave me a mental feeling that I would be OK for the whole game,” Caguioa said of his first official shot since March 30, when James Yap of B-Meg accidentally hit him in the eye and broke his right orbital socket.
“It feels really good to be back on the court with these guys,” Caguioa, who will wear protective glasses for the rest of his career, added. “I just need to lose weight and in a few more games I think I’ll be alright.” Ginebra import Cedric Bozeman, a veteran of the National Basketball Association with the Atlanta Hawks, had an impressive debut with 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, clearly another good sign for the Kings in the tournament.
“It’s really a blessing that Mark was given a clearance (to play) by the doctors,” coach Siot Tanquingcen told reporters.
“For sure, Mark is the soul of this team,” Tanquingcen continued. “He’s still a bit rusty, understandably, and he’s still feeling his way around.” Import Zach Graham paced the Express with 31 points and 12 rebounds, with Ren-Ren Ritualo chipping in with 13.
Talk ‘N Text played without reigning MVP Jimmy Alapag, Harvey Carey, Ryan Reyes, Kelly Williams and Jason Castro but still came up with a tough stand and actually had a chance of pulling out an upset in the end.
“That was an enormous break for us, the champs playing with five of their main players out,” Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio said. “We wanted to make sure that we find ways to win. We will take this win any way we can.” Paul Harris carried the brunt of the offensive load for the Texters, but his 32 points and 13 rebounds weren’t enough to plug all the holes left by the injured stars of the squad.
It was also a disappointing night for Japeth Aguilar, the much-ballyhooed 6-foot-9 center who had his chance to shine for the Texters in the absence of Williams and Co.
Aguilar, who has warmed the bench under coach Chot Reyes, earned a starting spot and played 10 minutes but wasn’t able to contribute offensively. He had four fouls in that span.
Oguchi scored nine of his total in the fourth period for the B-Boys, who finished sixth here last year.