Ginebra hopes for a healthy Helterbrand

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra coach Jong Uichico hopes to get starting guard JayJay Helterbrand healthy and ready for the Kings’ best-of-seven series against Rain or Shine in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup semifinals. Helterbrand strained a hamstring in the team’s 114-71 rout of the Elasto Painters last May 24 during their playoff for the last outright semis berth in the season-ending meet. Uichico is keeping his fingers crossed that the three-week rest would be enough for Helterbrand to get back in active duty. The injury also prevented the Ginebra playmaker from seeing action in the 8th South East Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) men’s championship in Medan, Indonesia, which the Powerade-Team Pilipinas won via a four-game sweep. “Pinag-pahinga ng doctor si JayJay. Basically, rest period lang naman ang kailangan niya to prevent the possibility of a pulled hamstring," said Uichico. Game 1 of the semifinals starts on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. Rain or Shine sealed the showdown with the defending champions after ousting Purefoods Sunday night, 93-89, in their do-or-die quarterfinal game. Like the Kings, the Elasto Painters are hoping rookie guard Sol Mercado will also suit up for the franchise’s first semifinals stint. Already without leading scorer Mark Caguioa (knee injury), Uichico admitted having Helterbrand around at this stage of the playoffs is necessary for the league’s crowd darling. While Junthy Valenzuela already began practicing with the team and Cyrus Baguio slowly filling up the void left by Caguioa, the Ginebra coach said Helterbrand’s steady plays and experience are major keys in the Kings’ title retention bid. – GMANews.TV