Barangay Ginebra’s Ralph Cu. Photo from PBA Images. 

MANILA — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has been undefeated in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup despite playing undermanned.

The  Gin Kings have been missing the services of main guard Scottie Thompson, as the former league MVP has been dealing with a back injury, but head coach Tim Cone’s troops collectively stood up and filled in the former Perpetual ALTA’s absence.

One thing that worked for them in their latest victory was their three-point shooting, with Ginebra draining 16 of their 44 three-point attempts Sunday night against the Phoenix Fuel Masters, and Cone hailed his players for this outing.

READ: Ginebra pulls away from Phoenix for 2nd win

”We still got guys like Stanley [Pringle], Maverick [Ahanmisi], and Nards [Pinto] who are all very capable three-point shooters,” the Ginebra mentor said during the post-game press conference last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Jamie [Malonzo] has been shooting the ball extremely well, not just this conference, but last conference, so we’ve got those guys who can shoot threes,” he added.

And aside from the quartet, another Gin King also caught fire last night — Ginebra rookie and birthday boy Ralph Cu. 

READ: Despite shooting woes, Tim Cone has high praises for Ginebra rookie Ralph Cu

“I think nobody really knows Ralph all that much, but we see him in practice every day, so we’re very comfortable when he takes shots,” Coach Tim said about the former De La Salle Green Archer.

The 6-foot-4 Cu, who was previously playing for BGSM’s halfcourt squad in the PBA 3x3, is now playing in his second conference ever since being drafted as the no. 23 overall pick during the 2023 PBA Rookie Draft.

Ralph Cu draining a title-clinching deuce for Barangay Ginebra in the PBA 3x3. Rom Anzures, ABS CBN News.

He appeared in eight games in the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup but only saw a little more than seven minutes of action per contest while also averaging 1.1 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists.

Following their semifinals exit, Cu, as well as fellow rookie and 3x3 player Donald Gumaru were a part of Gilas Pilipinas’ camp as practice players, and the wingman made the most of every chance that he has gotten so far. 

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” said Cu, who — scoring-wise — had the best game of his young career last night, finishing with 12 points on 4/6 shooting from beyond the arc, as well as two rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal. 

“I think this is the most opportunity that I’ve had in my whole life. Even in college, I was a bench player. I just want to make the most out of the opportunities that are given to me.”

He fired nine of his total points in the pivotal third period wherein Ginebra started their onslaught to lead by as much as 19 later in the game, and Cu said that this was just him trusting his capabilities. 

“I noticed their defense was giving me shots. They wanted me to shoot the ball. So I just wanted to let them pay and I think that helped the team, it opened up the other guys once I hit those shots,” he explained.

“It’s very overwhelming, but I trust my work and I just want to be able to help the team in whatever way I can.”

Ralph Cu in action against Rain Or Shine. Photo from PBA Images.

In Ginebra’s pair of wins in as many games this conference, the rookie has been putting up 9.5 markers and 1.5 rebounds while also shooting 55.6% percent from the three-point line and 53.8 overall from the field. But moving forward, this is what Cu wants to do as the All-Filipino conference progresses: “Hopefully, I can be more consistent.”