Star head coach Jason Webb has vowed not to put much pressure on the shoulders of their new recruits as they prepare for the upcoming PBA Governors’ Cup.
Star was involved in a recent three-team trade that saw them acquire Keith Jensen and Jonathan Uyloan from Globalport by giving up Ronald Pascual and Yousef Taha.
Uyloan together with rookies Mark Cruz and Norbert Torres were then shipped by the Hotshots to Phoenix for Rodney Brondial and RR Garcia Garcia, the former Far Eastern University star who averaged nearly 18 points in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The arrival of the 5-11 Garcia to the Hotshots will give Webb a deeper point guard rotation since he already has Mark Barroca and Justin Melton, as well as Alex Mallari – a 6-4 combo guard.
“We got deep on that position (point guard), and with RR, it gives us a real steady hand at the position,” said Webb “He’s young but he plays like a veteran. He can run a team. With RR, people are going to share playing minutes.”
Webb however insists he well be giving Garcia and Brondial the proper time to understand their system.
“I don’t want to put any expectation on them,” said Webb when contacted by Bulletin-Tempo yesterday. “Of course, I expect them to play the Star way – we play as a team.”
“He’s young but he plays like a veteran. He can run a team. With RR, people are going to share playing minutes,” added Webb, who plays the same position during his playing days.
As for the 6-2 Brondial, Webb said this is a good opportunity for the onetime Adamson standout to learn from one of the best players in the PBA in Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Marc Pingris.
“He can learn from Ping,” said Webb. “He can’t replace Ping… Ping cannot be replaced. But he can learn from him. Idol nya si Ping, so it’s a good opportunity for him to learn from Ping.”
Webb said that their goal is to play deep in the playoffs in the third and last conference of the league following early exits in the Philippine Cup and in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The team will start training session on June 2 for the Governors’ Cup, which is scheduled July 15. Webb said they are still finalizing their import, adding that he cannot identify as negotiations are still on going.