Gregorio, Magsanoc want a championship ring with Meralco

Once more, with feelings. Ryan Gregorio, Ronnie Magsanoc, and Rey Evangelista joined their former team, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog (now BMEG-Derby Ace) in reliving their glory moments of last season’s championship of the PBA Philippine Cup. On Sunday, Gregorio, Magsanoc and Evangelista shared the spotlight with the rest of the Llamados, who had their ceremonial awarding of championship rings to the members of the squad that swept the Alaska Aces, 4-0, in last season’s best-of-seven championship series. Now coaching on another team, Gregorio and Magsanoc hope to win another ring, this time with the Meralco Bolts. Both admitted winning another ring will be a learning process. “I’d like to receive another ring with my new team," Gregorio told GMANews.TV. “But I know it won’t be that easy. To achieve it, we need to go though a process." Gregorio said the process has been prolonged since he’s not only teaching the players to get accustomed to the team’s system. The three-time champion coach and three-time Coach of the Year awardee is also spending more time instilling mental toughness on his players. “The problem is not only the adjustment of players to the team’s system, but players should also start believing that they can play better," said Gregorio after his team’s 87-79 triumph over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Sunday. He cited Chris Ross as an example. “Chris is a good player, but sometimes he’s being hounded by his past where his talents weren’t utilized properly," said Gregorio. “I’ve kept on telling him how talented a player he is and reminded him that he’s the only US NCAA Division I player in our squad." Magsanoc, who won a championship both as a player and as assistant coach of Purefoods, also wants to get another ring. “It felt good being with our former team during the presentation of the championship ring. The trust and admiration for our former team members were still there and it’s a special moment for us to share the spotlight with them. But we want to win another ring, this time, with our new team," added Magsanoc, the only former Purefoods assistant coach who was brought by Gregorio to Meralco. - KY, GMANews.TV