Gins on the rocks? Uichico slams team for poor showing

Jong Uichico is one of the most mild-mannered coaches in the Philippine Basketball Associaition (PBA). That’s why, it’s easy to pinpoint if there’s any problem with the Baragay Ginebra Kings once you heard the normally-private mentor giving his players a mouthful and disclose it to sportw writers. "I am really frustrated on the way we're playing. This is not Ginebra. I've been here the past four years and the team we have now is just different. I can’t figure out why, but the second group were the ones that never gave up, they had the fire and I don't see that on the starters," said Uichico, shortly after the Gin Kings survived upset-conscious Barako Energy Coffee, 93-90. And Uichico has one strong description on his team's latest victory – ugly. "It was an ugly win," Uichico said. "It was an escape win. It was more a relief that we won, but there’s nothing to be happy about on the way we played." Uichico, who won six titles with San Miguel Beer and two with the Gin Kings, believes that there’s no way they can make it to a higher level if they continue to play sloppy. "I guess the players still want to win, but are they doing the things needed? Are they focused? Are they concentrating in practice? Winning is different. We are barely making it against teams. We need to get things together," he added. Asked whether the inclusion of new players had somewhat disrupted the team’s harmony or his star-studded team couldn't get along, Uichico said sacrifice is an important key to success. "It’s so hard to have so many rotations in one spot. I guess, the best way for us to win is sacrifice," said the second winningest coach among active PBA coaches. The Gin Kings recently acquired two-time most valuable player Willie Miller and new import Mildon Ambres but the two couldn't fit quickly with Ginebra's system. Uichico said Miller is still trying to find his niche on the team. "He’s trying to get along with the players inside and outside the court," said Uichico. "But I want him to be more assertive, too." "We tried to acquire players to beef up our weakened spots, but things did not fall through, so hopefully later on, down the line, we keep on finding the right way, the right combination." "I wish i knew the right combination. We're very talented but sometimes, talent doesn't win you games all the time." - JVP/Rey Joble, GMANews.TV