MANILA – Jeffrei Chan tempered expectations from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings fans as he moves to the crowd-favorite squad from Phoenix Fuel Masters.
The Bacolod City, Negros Occidental native hopes the Kings fans will not see him as some sort of a “savior” as his team fights for a playoffs spot in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“I hope the fans won’t expect too much from me and see me as a savior of the team,” Chan said. “I know the team is pushing for the playoffs … I’ll do whatever I can to contribute.”
Chan, 34, averages 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game this conference. He is set to make his Kings debut against Columbian Dyip on Wednesday night.
“I’ll try to ask the coaches what I need to learn,” he said. “I’ll also try to study their schemes on defense, though probably it won’t be that complicated.”
The former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay said he is glad he will now be handled by head coach Tim Cone – his idol when he was not yet playing in the PBA.
Leaving Phoenix is giving him “mixed emotions,” he said.
“We already developed camaraderie (at Phoenix) but at the same time I’m happy to be playing for Ginebra, which we know is a famous team,” said Chan.
According to the Bacolodnon, he has been looking up to Cone since the latter’s “Alaska days,” especially when the coach won a Grand Slam. “It’s a dream for me to play under him.”/PN
