Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — So far, so good.
That was how Barangay Ginebra San Miguel star guard LA Tenorio described the performance of the team’s new Asian import Kim Jiwan.
Kim, who replaced Mongolian Sanchir Tungalag, made a good account of himself in his Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) debut game against the GlobalPort Batang Pier.
He scored 11 points on top of five rebounds and three assists, but shot a putrid 4-of-13 from the field in the Gin Kings’ 111-108 thriller against the Batang Pier.
Read: Ginebra survives GlobalPort in overtime, 111-108
In fact, the Korean sniper fired just 1-of-7 from the three-point area.
But Tenorio defended Kim’s dismal field goal percentage, saying the import is actually “deadly from the outside.”
“Kim just arrived yesterday from the United States, so kinakalawang pa talaga yan. May jetlag pa,” Tenorio said of the reinforcement. “Pero the way he moved, his high confidence, I can see na he is a very good player.”
He added, “I heard he plays point guard so he really has a good vision. He has high basketball IQ. Hopefully he can adjust and help us right away.”
Tenorio believes after a few practice sessions with the Gin Kings, Kim will be able able to show his true form.
“Oo naman (he can do better than that),” he said. “Hopefully makapag-adjust agad siya sa physicality. I really think he’s a big help for us.”
Ginebra, which now holds a 3-4 win-loss record, will try to capitalize on the momentum when it faces the Star Hotshots on Sunday (June 7).
