Reminiscing Ginebra’s Philippine Cup Championship

[Since I was in a bit of tamad mode to write new entries—and man, these were the entries I wrote before that I never got to upload, so I have to give it justice—I am uploading some of the entries I wrote back in February, the latter part of it, during the Finals of the PBA Phil Cup. Bear with me. Bear with the addict in me. ]

Anyway, congratulations to Mark Caguioa of the Barangay Ginebra Kings for FINALLY (and I mean it) winning an individual award this 2006-2007 PBA Philippine Cup: Best Player of the Conference. Yey!

And I also know it may sound silly, but when they announced that it was he who won it, I was jumping up and down my room, as if I was the one who actually won it.

I’m in mass communication, right?

And I am fully aware of the power of media, and the influence it has on things.

I used to hate the PBA Press Corps for giving Mark Caguioa what (I think) is due him, and maybe all the bitterness Caguioa is taking out shook them. Naawa na rin siguro kasi ilang conference nang umaasa yung tao. Come on, how many conferences na ba na he’s leading in stat points tapos he’ll only flop in media votes? Yeah, maybe he just wouldn’t care about what the media says about him. Sabi nga niya, he wouldn’t make an effort to kiss the media’s ass. He knows he’s good, so why bother?

Haha. Malamang deep inside, nabubuwisit na rin yun kasi, kahit napapansin nga ang efforts niya, hindi naibibigay yung one thing na every (sane) player wants: a Best Player of the Conference award or a Most Valuable Player award.

But maybe he has opened his mind to the sheer possibility (and likelihood) that the media just wouldn’t… give it to him.

Yey for him.

And he didn’t flop last night. He’s got around 20+ points (I didn’t know if he reached 30. In my count, he did, but in the television, I don’t think he did.), some assists and some rebounds. (Sorry, I still don’t have the exact number. I think it was 7 assists.)

Go Mark Caguioa! Hehehe.

(Am I pathetic?)

I hated Ginebra when they lost Game One, which I watched live by the way. I hated Rafi Reavis even more when he flopped on the free throws, and must have cursed him to hell when he muffed the three-pointer (JUST WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?). And now Ginebra pulls off two—convincing, I might say—wins over San Miguel: a 131-101 and a 146-111 one. (Pretty high scoring, don’t you think? Talo pa ang NBA.)

I’m writing this down because I know nobody would listen to me. (And most probably I turned you guys off with this whole basketball thing.)

Ginebra wins it—and wins it in fashion

What more could you ask for? A heart-stopping, jaw-dropping finale of the 32^nd season of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Talk ‘n Text Philippine Cup.

Right now, I am really just overwhelmed by the emotion of seeing my favorite team win. And it’s not just that.

I feel for Mark.

(And yes, I know you know that I have a very weird attachment to this player, and you should know why.)

He was crying, and the whole time that the ABC Sports courtside reporter was talking to him? I was crying. I was… I felt his pain. I felt the fatigue. And maybe when Ginebra won tonight? It was something that… I know I wanted, not for me, but for them. Mark Caguioa needed to prove himself, and prove himself he did.

Game One was a blowout game, for San Miguel, that is. Game Two was closer one; and again, screw Rafi for that two flubbed free throws and the muffed three-pointer. Game Three and Four were absolute blowouts: 30-pt and 35-pt wins, respectively. Game Five was a more respectable loss for San Miguel in terms of they only lost by around ten points instead of 30. And Game Six was the ultimate heart-stopper.

I don’t care what you guys say, but I guess when I was there alone in my boarding house’s living room, I must have prayed a hundred prayers.

Is this Dallas Mavericks-Miami Heat, the repeat?

For those of you who don’t know, Dallas Mavericks opened last season’s NBA Finals with a 2-0 lead and then muffed the next four, “handing” Miami Heat the championship.

And Game Six?

It was a close one as well, decided by Dwayne Wade’s free throws, as much as the Game Six of PBA was decided by Jayjay Helterbrand’s free throws.

Okay. For one, I have to scream, holler and shout at Jayjay and Mark for forgetting their “better halves” in their thank you speeches. I don’t know why, but it irritated me that you guys forgot the women who stayed by your sides and watched games live (I wish I was one of them. Hahaha.) I didn’t hear any “Lauren” or “Charlotte” in your speeches, and poof…

Rudy Hatfield’s speech was… for the most part, unintelligible because he was half-eating half-shouting his words, but I deduced it was a nice, and spit-ful one. Hehe. (Kawawa ang microphone ng ABC Sports ) Eric Menk was totally hot, and… what else?

Congrats to Johnny A.

(I didn’t know Ronald Tubid was married already.)

Thank you, Ginebra for an exciting series.

Thank you, Mark Caguioa for the emotions you’ve caused me. hehehe. for the clutch baskets and for the energy… the “spark”… and the heart.

Thanks Jayjay Helterbrand for the assists, the TWO ALL-IMPORTANT FREETHROWS THAT WON THE MATCH, and for your… cute smile. Hahaha.

Thanks to Rudy Hatfield for the heart… the offensive rebounds and the three-point plays. For your “warrior” presence.

To Johnny Abarrientos, the steals champ, thanks for the running game, the steals and the rebounds that aren’t really expected for a guy your size. But thank you, just the same.

To Eric Menk: Though you sat out most of the series, I have to admit when you came back, Ginebra sprung back to life. And yes, I might say, you are one MAJOR PAIN. go eric. I hope you get your game back.

To Rafi Reavis: Sorry for cussing at you for muffing those two free throws and the three-pointer, and… thanks for redeeming yourself in Game Three. (hahah.) for being a defensive player… thanks.

To Billy Mamaril: Though I never really liked you in Game Six because you missed the free throws, okay lang, kasi nag-champion naman na kayo. Hehehe.

To Sunday Salvacion: waah. Mr. Clutch Basket. Where’s Rodney Santos now, huh? (am kidding) anyway, thanks for the life-saving and life-sustaining three-pointers that you’ve drained throughout the season, and I’m looking forward to more.

To Mark Macapagal: For the cuteness. Hahaha. (Joke) for the three-pointers and defensive stops. Though I would’ve wanted you to have really just played it out and have more minutes on the floor, I have to admit Ronald Tubid has more intensity and firepower. Don’t worry, you’re still the “FIERY.”

To Mr. Fearless, Ronald Tubid: I hate your sniggers and smirks, but love your drawing of offensive fouls. Bring in the firepower, and thanks.

To Andy Siegle: For the smiles you bring to the Ginebra fans every time you enter the ball game (which is not often, I tell you), thanks.

Mike Holper: the ever cute sophomore. You bring intensity, you know that? Hope you were used more, though.

To Coach Jong Uichico: salamat sa championship! Marami pa ha?

Okay. This is the end of the reminiscing. Hehe. ayan ha. Happiness. Finally I got these entries out, and I am still feeling that feeling I felt when I wrote these articles. I’m still happy for Ginebra, and I’d always be. Promise, I’d have to admit that I somehow doubted that they could still make it where they are now in the present conference because most of their key players are either loaned to the RP team, injured or plainly just not there (Yes, that’s you, Rudy. I know it’s cornball romantic to be there for your soon-to-be, but you have a job to do.).

But then again, they’re not Ginebra if they just drop down and die.

Never say die.

Mag-aaral na ako! (Hirap naman kasing mag-aral para sa isang exam na alam mong multiple choice, diba.)