Tim Cone explains limited minutes for Jayjay Helterbrand

 

For the second time in the conference, Barangay Ginebra fans clamored from the stands to have Jayjay Helterbrand play in the last three minutes of the game against Meralco on Wednesday night.

 

The Gin Kings were enjoying a 16-point lead with under two minutes remaining in the game, so head coach Tim Cone acquiesced once more and inserted the veteran point guard.

 

The two-time Grand Slam coach, however, is not exactly a fan of putting someone of Helterbrand's stature, a former league MVP and champion, inside the court to ice blowout games.

 

"I just don't believe in throwing veterans out there for garbage time. They deserve more than that. It's a level of respect you have for veterans," said Cone, but added that he appreciates Helterbrand's willingness to play for the fans.

 

Cone said Helterbrand, who turns 39 this year, still has a lot more left in the tank.

 

"He kills in practice. He makes such veteran plays, smart plays in practice. We're not afraid of playing him in game," he said.

 

The only reason Helterbrand is averaging 5.3 minutes per game in the Commissioner's Cup, according to Cone, is the presence of two other phenomenal guards in the Ginebra back court.

 

"It's just that we got LA (Tenorio) who's playing at a really, really high level, and then you got Scottie (Thompson) who you're trying to give minutes to and develop."

 

Tenorio plays almost 30 minutes a game and remains to be Ginebra's leader, while Thompson is a promising rookie who gets 16 minutes of action to groom him as the franchise's future.

 

"Jay gets caught between a rock and a hard place there," Cone said. "It doesn't leave a lot of time for Jayjay to play when we're trying to do those things."

 

"It's the only two things keeping Jayjay on the bench right now," he added. — APG, GMA News