Sports
Ginebra Gin Kings Champions Again (even without Ed Ducut!)
Again, we have witnessed another exciting Ginebra fairy tale run, this time towards the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference Championship, winning it by 13 points (97-84) against Air 21 last night . Missed freethrows, countless turnovers, injured starters, a near EPIC FAIL towards the homestretch, unthinkable heroes — a typical recipe for this never-say-die team that is just oh so delectible to the taste buds of its legions of Barangay Ginebra fans.
One key play that should’ve put back Air 21 into the thick of the ball game: that missed bank shot that went way overboard by Arwind Santos at point blank range. I guess that miss typified what’s missing in Air 21: poise, focus, maturity and championship experience, overall. Hats off to them, though, for they gave one helluva fight. Both teams were hungry for that title (with Air 21 becoming the hungrier one with their aggressive defense that sent five Ginebra starters injured to the sideline), but Ginebra had the poise and one loud sixth man to back them up.
This made me wonder: which Ginebra team you liked the most? The one Jaworski-led, cellar-dwelling scrappy batch which included the Loyzaga brothers (Chito and Joey), Gonzalgo, Distrito, Mamaril, Ampalayo, Ducut, Isaac, etc. during the late 80s? Or 2nd wave of Ginebra champs comprising of the towering Marlou Aquino and the giant-killing Bal David? Or this Filam-laden roster that instead of capturing the hearts of the masses became instant converts, enchanted with the true-blue, never surrendering, against-all-odds, back-against-the wall Ginebra spirit? Give me your choices.
Post Script
What I have learned during last night’s game:
- Homer Se will NEVER be a point guard.
- Arwind Santos can shoot even from the half line with his eyes closed, but can’t convert a simple putback from point blank range.
- Chris Pacana can speak fluent English. I suspect he used to work in a call center.
- Ronald Tubid cried for his co-Finals MVP honor because it’s his first plum since his Sportsmanship Award he hardly earned during his Mosquito Division days in the late 80s (and aside from realizing that almost all of his teammates can speak slanging English that they could say the coolest comments and “pabati” during their championship celebration. In short, he was blaming himself for flunking his English subjects during college).
- Air 21 import Steven Thomas looks like Andre 3000 (Andre Benjamin).
- It’s time for the PBA to jump ship to another TV station because I think ABC 5 didn’t handle the coverage very well (imagine those crappy graphics, mundane videos, irrelevant comments, even important behind-the-scenes are not shown. In other words: SUCKY).
- There is something similar between Air 21’s guard Wynne Arboleda, UST Coach Pido Jarencio and Allan K (help me out discover what it is).
- Egay BIlliones is the richest PBA player (according to the commentators).
- Air 21 has got white fans ( I mean, like, the redneck ones looking like Vikings) cheering for them.
- Quinito Henson should have been one of the commentators last night (para lahat ng players, coaches, at staff, may Filipino blood).
I’ve decided to put a blinged-out pic of a Ginebra fan. Never thought that the Gin King fans are so gangsta na. Gumaganda na talaga ang Barangay ngayon.
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Tags: Discussion
12 comments for “Ginebra Gin Kings Champions Again (even without Ed Ducut!)”
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BGK won the series; Air21 the best team w/o Fil-shAm’s
By: rich
grich tvlive
Congratulations to Barangay Ginebra Kings for winning the championship against the pure Filipino team aside from import, Air21 Express. They won the title by always saying they won it by heart. Yeah Right! Anyway, Thanks for the best game played ever by Paul Artadi and Ronald Tubid. The game is much more exciting because of these two players providing excellent basketball throughout the series. Nice Job!
We all know that Barangay Ginebra is the most popular basketball team in the Philippines, because it markets liquor that is very affordable and very nice drink for Filipinos. The fan rocks the Araneta Coliseum by giving support to their favorite team every time Ginebra San Miguel plays in the venue. Ten percent of the crowd goes to “UBE REPUBLIC” I am one of them.
I am much very proud for the Air21 Express because even without Fil-Sham’s or lets say Half Filipinos-Half Blood the team still reach the finals with pure heart and determination till the very last game. It is very nice to still have a team who believe in all pure Filipino balers rather than getting a fil-am player just to win a title. So keep it up Air21 management for not selecting fil-am players in a draft.
The Legend Robert Jaworski is not happy for the championship of Ginebra definitely and many Filipinos. Because having that kind of Ginebra line-up was totally messed. Fil-Ams players can win you a crown in the PBA but if we all try to believe in our pure Filipino balers we can win in the international tournament.
ABC 5, and the new “TV 5 Shake mo, TV mo” were owned by Mr. Tony Boy Cojuanco and who owns the three teams in the PBA, of course San Miguel Corporation by the Cojuanco’s. They are Purefoods TJ Giants, Magnolia Beverage Masters and the Barangay Ginebra Kings. TV 5 ends the contract to the PBA for the last game of this season in a very exciting championship game. Finally, “It’s over” for the ABC and TV 5 coverage. No more bias coverage and one sided support for the Cojuanco’s team.
Next season the PBA will be aired over CS “Channel 9” and the Basketball TV under the Solar Entertainment Corporation. We must expect a lot of good coverage, more camera views, good english speaking commentators not bias, and more PBA Action and PBA Classic Game Replay in Basketball TV.
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admin Reply:
October 1st, 2008 at 10:05 am
thanks for the comment ich. Let’s wait ’til Sunday if there is any improvement with the PBA’s station shift.
More news to come,
blournalist
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Point well taken, airmcfly. I think there is something really wrong with our nation’s basketball program. I agree with you that the enthusiasm of winning a championship wasn’t there, anymore. You can sense that connection is lacking between the fans and the fil-am-laden teams in the PBA. Not like before when teams get to enjoy a special bond with their fans since they are pure-blooded Pinoys, as well.
Good to know that Solar Sports got the PBA TV rights. All the while ABS-CBN has gotten the contract and going to put it on Ch. 23. Just hoping that Ch. 9’s transmitter should be more powerful than Ch. 5 so it could reach the homes of our countrymen in the far-flung provinces. Cable is non-existent there. If there is, it’s much too costly for their daily expenses.
One more thing. San Miguel Corporation also owns Coca-Cola. Thus, it can be also called the San Miguel Corp. Basketball Association. Hehe. Thanks for the comments!
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Air21 fan here. Let’s just admit that we are the best losers of the previous conference. We suck big time, that’s for sure…
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,.hi ginebra team
,.heheheehhe
,m.ang galing nyo tlgah
,.well
,.keep it up guys
,.hehehehe
,.godbless u ol
,.gudluck
,.^-6………..
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,.proud ako sa inyo team ginebra
,.dati p
,.sabi q n nga b
,.menk and tubid congrats sa inyo
,.hehehehehe
,.6-6…………….
,.^_^……………
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it’s time to move forward…. GGK should start releasing or trading players if they want to win more championships
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it doesn’t matter kung maraming negative comments s ating mga taga brgy,n kesyo fil am studded dw kya ngchampion!well nssbi nlng nla un gwa ng they cant accept that we are d CHAMPION!!!…kip it up guys,goodluck n godbless atin para s susunod n conference..hopefully makarecover n mga injured players nyo guys!!…tc n mor power!
[Reply]
admin Reply:
October 1st, 2008 at 10:08 am
Thanks led424 for the comment. This Sunday na pala start ng bagong season. Let’s check if there are some changes in the Ginebra line-up.
More news to come,
blournalist
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ganun ba talaga pag natatalo may dahilan? kaya daw natalo ang ube republic e kasi daw puro pure pinoy yung mga player nila.si kramer at canaleta po ba pure blooded pinoy?
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Amazing Barangay Ginebra Kings the true KINGS!
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Talagang epic at makasaysayan itong panalong ito.
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