Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua defended the team’s acquisition of the Jeremiah Gray via trade shortly after the PBA Season 47 Draft.
The Kings got the no. 2 overall pick from Terrafirma by sending their no. 8 selection Javi Gomez de Liaño and sophomore Brian Enriquez. The deal took place 48 hours after the proceedings held at Robinsons Manila.
That move caused quite a stir online but the SMC sports director said that it is also a gamble on the Barangay’s part, since they will have to wait for the Fil-Am guard for several months as he is still recovering from an ACL injury.
“Sabi lamang kami sa trade, but we don’t know,” he said after the preseason presser, Monday at Conrad.
“We don’t know if he’s fit to play like before. Gamble ito eh.
“Parang singer ‘yan. Nung kumuha ka ng magaling na singer nung araw, nung kinuha mo uli, ‘di mo alam kung ganon pa rin ang boses nya, or sintunado na,” Chua furthered.
But it’s a gamble that a team as loaded as Ginebra, Chua offered with all humility, can take. “Not saying this as yabang, but I think Ginebra and teams like TNT and Meralco, they can afford to wait. Ibang team, they can’t,” he said.
Gray will still sit out for a while but the Kings have already sent a tender offer his way to secure his rights, according to the executive.
“You have to offer a contract para ma-secure mo siya. Okay naman. I’ve talked to him like three or four times,” he said.
Chua, however, admitted that both camps have yet to discuss the nitty-gritty of the contract. Still, he said that the 25-year-old from California is full of excitement about joining the league’s most popular ball club soon.
And among those that Gray really looks forward to is teaming up with Justin Brownlee in the import conferences, something that they weren’t able to do with San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the ABL due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, if you’re ready to come home, let us know. Sabi niya, yes. Ni ‘di pa nga namin napag-usapan yung kontrata. I guess the kid is just excited. Especially pag may import na since naging teammate niya si Brownlee.”
