By JONAS TERRADO
Jared Dillinger admitted having mixed emotions going into the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals as he faces former team Meralco for the first time as a member of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Dillinger will now be on the other side of the fence after he and the Bolts lost to Ginebra in Game 7 of the 2017 Governors’ Cup Finals held before a record crowd of 54,086 at the Philippine Arena.
The 35-year-old forward said that while he still carries sentimental feelings about his time with the Bolts, he also understands that there’s business that needs to be done.
“Being in the MVP Group for almost 10-11 years, I’m not gonna lie to you and say that it’s just gonna be another game,” Dillinger said after Ginebra practice at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Ortigas, Pasig City.
Dillinger played for Talk ’N Text from 2008-2013, winning five championships, before joining Meralco in 2013 after a three-team, five-player trade with Barako Bull.
“I have a lot of memories there, a lot of respect for Meralco and the for MVP Group,” he added. “But again, I couldn’t be happy to be here with San Miguel Corp. They’ve given me the opportunity to play and just for that alone, I’m gonna put my blood, sweat and soul.
“So regardless of whoever’s on the other side, I’m gonna battle. I’m gonna battle, for sure.”
Dillinger signed with Ginebra last June after being placed in the unrestricted free agent list by Meralco. He had played just five games after missing the whole duration of the Commissioner’s Cup due to a nagging quad injury.
He logged a total of 31 minutes since debuting for Ginebra last Nov. 15 against the Columbian Dyip and played all four games of the Kings’ semifinal series win over the NorthPort Batang Pier, posting five points in 12 minutes in Game 1.
“It’s pretty difficult,” he said. “But I’ve been putting my time in, I’ve been doing extra work on the side, trying to learn and soak up as much as I can and I’m gonna stay ready. If coach’s gonna call my name, I’m ready and that’s how you treat it.”
Having Dillinger should give Ginebra more ideas on how to beat Meralco, given his familiarity with coach Norman Black’s system. Dillinger, however, stressed that there’s no need for him to provide inputs.
“Coach Cone and all the coaching staff, they’ve been coaches for a long time. So they’re experienced in their level and their IQ is a lot higher than mine, so I think they know what to do,” said Dillinger.
“If they ever do ask me something, yeah I’ll say my two cents. But you know, his (Cone) job as a coach is to coach us and my job is to play so I’m just gonna play.”
Dillinger recalled how he and his former Meralco teammates discussed about trying to get back in the Finals. While it did come to fruition, Dillinger won’t be on their side this time.
“We’re on group chats and we talk and we were saying earlier in the season that how great it would be if we all play each other in the Finals again. And lo and behold, we’re now here,” he said.
“It’s great. It’s cool that it’s the third time playing in four years. So it’s gonna be a great series.”
