It seems like Jeff Chan has finally settled in with the Gin Kings.
The Negros sniper had his finest performance yet for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Sunday night, when the Gin Kings faced the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their 2018 Commissioner’s Cup semis opener.
The 35-year-old swingman produced 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field – 3-of-5 from beyond the arc – along with four rebounds and two assists in nearly 22 minutes to help the Gin Kings take a 1-0 lead in the series, 102-89.
This, after just averaging 5.6 points prior to Sunday.
And what better way to do that against his former team, the Elasto Painters, where he spent eight colorful years as he collected two championships, a Finals Most Valuable Player award, and six All-Star Game appearances.
“Masasabi ko lang na medyo kumportable na ako, medyo nakukuha ko na,” said the 10-year pro. “Pero not fully.
“The other day nag-usap naman kami ni coach Tim [Cone] regarding sa role ko, so medyo nabigyan ng ilaw, parang ganun.”
And Cone was one of those left in awe.
“Jeff is a really great weapon when he’s got good players around him,” praised Cone.
“When he’s got really good players around him who can create openings for him, he is really dynamic, and Jeff showed that to us tonight.
“I think so far, in that game, he was the difference between our offense with him and our offense without him in the past. He makes us a tougher team,” declared the decorated strategist, who has been longing for Chan for years.
Although he has shown that he has now jelled well with the Gin Kings, Chan won’t let himself be carried away, as he and the Barangay have their sights locked onto the coming games of this best-of-five series.
“Happy siyempre nakuha namin yung Game One. Pero first game lang yun, may two games pa kami. Now, focus kami sa Game Two, masaya lang kami na yung execution namin on defense against Rain or Shine, nag-work.
“Dapat maging ready kami sa mga adjustments nila,” the two-time PBA champion with Rain or Shine stressed.
