Healthy Pingris rejoins Llamados on November 19

Jorge Gallent and his embattled B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados are still languishing in the cellar in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. But that doesn’t mean the defending champions are ready to throw in the towel. “We’re beginning to establish our team chemistry. We just hope this will be the start of good things to come. I know we can get better as soon as Marc Pingris joins the squad," said Gallent, whose team has only won two of its first seven games this conference. Pingris, who has yet to play a game this season after being sidelined for months due to a tear in his right leg muscles, will be back in the country on Nov. 16 and be ready to play in the Nov. 19 game against Rain or Shine. “The doctor in the United States called up Mr. Rene Pardo and told him that Ping is now in basketball shape, so he will be ready to play," said Gallent. “This is good for our team. Our guards are playing good lately, but they are hesitant to shoot because we don’t have a good rebounding frontliner. With Ping coming back, they will be more confident taking the outside shots." “I expect Ping to play quality minutes against Rain or Shine," added Gallent, the only coach in the PBA who won multiple championships as a player and coach in the Philippine Basketball League or PBL. Raffi Reavis, another solid rebounder and the Llamados’ starting center, is returning on the second week of December. But according to Gallent, the 6-foot-7 slotman will not be able to play immediately. “He has a fractured hand, so he can’t move it normally. Once he comes back, we will give him at least a week to get himself in basketball shape before he plays for us," said Gallent. Another frontliner, team captain Kerby Raymundo, will be out indefinitely due to a muscle tear in his leg. Despite a depleted line-up, the Llamados have developed a reputation as a team that never quits. Against San Miguel Beer, Derby Ace fought back from 16 points down in the second quarter, then engaged its sister squad in a toe-to-toe battle until the endgame. Had it not been for Alex Cabagnot’s game-winning lay-up in the final 1.5 seconds, the Llamados could have snatched a win over the favored Beermen. Against another powerhouse team, Talk N Text, Derby Ace reaffirmed its role as a never-say-die squad. They were down by 16, 22-38, but outscored the Tropang Texters, 32-15, to take a slim 54-53 lead at the half. - KY, Rey Joble, GMANews.TV