A Boost In Confidence

Fresh from their victory against Global Port Batang Pier last Friday, Barangay Ginebra scored their second straight win against league leading Talk n Text Tropang Texters. The win enabled them to up their record to 4-5 and boost their chances of advancing to the next round.

Like many other Ginebra fanatics, I was also praying and hoping for a BGSM win. Aside from winning seven of their eight games so far, the Texters had one of the best coaches the league ever had in Norman Black. Likewise, TnT had a balanced line-up from top to bottom. We knew that Ginebra had to exert a huge effort in order to beat the mighty defending champions.

Everyone thought that it was going to be a walk in the park for Talk n Text especially with the way Ginebra played during their five-game losing streak. But what came to the game was a different Barangay Ginebra squad. What was predicted to be an easy win for the Texters did not come. Instead BGSM battled the defending champs toe to toe, shot for shot.

For the first time since their losing streak, Ginebra controlled the match. They defended Talk n Text well, outrebounded them, and showed a lot of energy and determination. It looked like BGSM came into the match well-prepared catching Norman Black and the rest of the Texters by surprise.

The game saw a hot-shooting LA Tenorio who had 13 points right in the first half. It also featured the awakening of the H-Bomb Rudy Hatfield who ended up with a double double output. What pleased me during the game was the return of the deadly combination of the two MVPs The Fast and The Furious JJ Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa. Even with a cut in his eyebrows, MC47 still led Ginebra to the victory. It was the veterans of Ginebra who did the damage.

Champions that they are, Talk n Text refused to die and even had a chance to send the game into overtime. There were instances when they had Ginebra on the ropes and even was even leading on several ocassions. Down by six, Larry Fonacier scored on a three-point basket to cut the lead down to three. The game became even more interesting when Labagala missed his two free throws. But the game was really meant for the Kings as Labagala himself picked up the loose ball with no time remaining.


What a huge difference that Global Port win made for the confidence of Ginebra. The 3-guard combo which was criticized during BGSM's losing streak worked wonders for them in their last two games. It seemed that JJ and MC47 had discovered the fountain of youth defying their age. Like in the game against Global Port, it was the triumvirate of JJ Helterbrand, Mark Caguioa, and LA Tenorio that finished off the Texters. Joining the three is another veteran, Rudy Hatfield.

Oozing with confidence, the Kings go on a one week break before returning to the court against another top team the Alaska Aces. The Aces have lost their last two games and will be hard pressed to get back on the winning track. Here's hoping that Ginebra's new found confidence will steer them to another win.