The Prize Of Being A Ginebra Fran

Final Score : Talk n Text 83 Ginebra 67

And so as it is. Barangay Ginebra falls short again of their quest to capture their 9th crown. Like the hundreds or even thousands of Ginebra fans, I was disheartened seeing my beloved team beaten black and blue by the Texters. Like them also, I can hear myself saying these words again : "BAWI NA LANG NEXT CONFERENCE!"

As a Ginebra fan, it can be easy to loose heart and give up on the team because of their numerous failures. We used to be called "die hard' fans because of the passion and support we give to Ginebra. But as years went by, the number of these so-called "die-hard" fans have dwindled. Who can blame them? 17 conferences without a title. That's tough for a fan.

As expected, all over the social media you can see trash talking between Ginebra fans and their so-called haters. From being "die-hards," fans of other teams have now labelled us as KANGKONATICS (referring to fans of a team who has always fallen short of winning a championship). It makes me want to think : Is this the prize of being a Ginebra fan? Being branded as one.

Ginebra fans are one of the most passionate in the league. You see them trooping to the venues to watch the game. Whenever there is a Ginebra game, expect it to be a sellout. For this reason, Ginebra owns some of the records in terms of crowd attendance. Even though the team is falling behind big, Ginebra fans would stay in the venue anticipating a comeback. It is this "never say die" spirit of the Kings that has endeared them to their throngs of fans.

I have been a Ginebra fan since the days of Robert Jaworski. I have been a witness to their ups and downs. I don't watch them live on the venue but whenever I watch them on television, I can't help but admire the way they hustle and grab the loose balls, I cheer for every  buzzer beaters that they make, and of course celebrate with them whenever they win championships. Futility is nothing new to them. Ginebra is a team with a history of coming back from the grave. Who can forget the acrobatic Rudy Distrito shot that brought Ginebra from a 3-1 deficit to win the championship against Shell? How about winning 4 straight games against San Miguel to win the All-Filipino championship? It only goes to show that Ginebra can come back.

Some people say that the Ginebra of today is different from the old. They are playing a different game since the Jaworski days. Others claim that you do not see the "never say die" spirit in the Ginebra team of today. Unlike before, you do not see them dive for loose balls, hustle all over the court, and others. I guess this is the reason some die-hard Ginebra fans have decided to throw their support to other teams. Others, on the other hand, have opted to go for a "wait and see" attitude.

Yes, the number of die-hard Ginebra fans are numbered. I for myself have been asked "Why Ginebra?" There are other teams out there. Why cheer for a team that cannot win a championship? Honestly speaking, I really do not know why. I could have followed the other fans who have already switched their allegiance to another team or chose to remain silent. But then again, I did not.

But one thing is for sure. While there are those fans who have already given up on Ginebra, there are still a multitude who believes that the time will come when the Kings will rise to the throne again and win a title. It is this ray of hope that makes them hold on to their passion and support for Ginebra. As one fan commented in one fan page, there is no such thing as FOREVER.

Yes, die-hard Ginebra fans are a dying breed but there are still a lot of them who will defend the team at all cost. Their passion has not waned and will continue to fire up. Ginebra is Ginebra. They are not the most popular team in the PBA for nothing. Die-hard fans will keep supporting the team. They will keep on waiting until that 9th crown is won.

But for now they will have to endure the constant bashing and trash talking of fans from other teams. Call them Kangkonatics as long as you want. Call Ginebra as Boracay champs as long as you want. These fans will never quit and surrender in supporting Barangay Ginebra. I guess this is the prize they have to pay for supporting a team as popular as Ginebra.

And The Quest Continues

And the 9th title remains elusive for my beloved Barangay Ginebra!

After disposing of Global Port in the first phase of the quarterfinals, Barangay Ginebra dropped an 83-67 loss to Talk n Text in the second phase of the quarterfinals. A win could have put them into a semifinal encounter with sister team San Miguel. But it was not meant to be. The Texters showed their championship poise denying a Sister Act and prolonging Ginebra's quest for its 9th title and ending its six-year title drought. It's now 17 straight conferences without a championship.

As usual, there were different reactions here and there. Demand for coaching change. Trades and others. and the blaming game begins.

When Ginebra drafted Greg Slaughter last year, fans had high hopes that Ginebra would finally end their title drought. The Kings also had Japeth Aguilar that time giving them perhaps the tallest frontline in the league if you add Jay-R Reyes and Billy Mamaril to the mix.

Line-up wise, Ginebra has one of the deepest and most talented bench. With guys like Mac Barracael, Chris Ellis, Joseph Yeo, LA Tenorio, Jayjay Helterbrand, and Mark Caguioa, the Kings had the material to win a championship.

With the injection of Coach Jeffrey  Cariaso, Ginebra switched to the triangle offense, a winning system not only in the PBA but also in the NBA. This system gave the Chicago Bulls, Alaska, and San Mig Coffee multiple championships. Ginebra is a team loaded with wing players and a 7-footer who, experts say, is the perfect anchor for the triangle.

With a talented roster and a winning system, I believe that there is one more thing missing for Barangay Ginebra to finally win its 9th title and that is CHEMISTRY. Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, and Billy Mamaril are the only remnants of the team that won for Ginebra its last title in 2008. This is an entirely new team, a young one at that.  You cannot build chemistry if players keep coming and going. You need to keep the roster intact to work on that.

With Ginebra eliminated already, Coach Jeff has more time to perfect the new system he wants to instill in the team as well as work on building the chemistry. The next conference does not start until January 27. So until then GOODBYE GINEBRA and see you again next conference.

Through The Eye of the Needle

Once again. Ginebra is through the playoffs. After another fine start at the beginning of the season, the Kings went sputtering again in the homestretch of the eliminations. If not for their huge win against the Aces, Ginebra would have been in a deeper hole. Luckily, they find themselves with a twice-to-beat advantage in the first round of the playoffs against Global Port Batang Pier.

One win is all the Gins need to advance to the next stage of the quarterfinals where they will be facing the Talk n Text Tropang Texters. Ginebra defeated the Texters in the opening game of the season but it will be a different game this time around. Aside from that, the Texters ended the eliminations with a bang beating the Aces and the Beermen in succession to finish as the fourth seed.

So it looks like Ginebra is going to have to do it the hard way once again. It's the King's 23rd consecutive playoffs appearance. If I am not mistaken, they have beaten the record of the legendary Crispa Redmanizers in terms of playoff appearances. Throughout that streak, they have made it to the Finals only once during the 2013 Commissioner's Cup where they were swept by the Alaska Aces. During that year, they had to endure two do-or-die games. The most memorable one was when they climbed from a twice-to-beat disadvantage against Rain or Shine.

The road to their 9th title is indeed going to be tough for Ginebra. Should they manage to hurdle both the Batang Pier and the Texters, standing in their way is sister team San Miguel Beer, who is the conference top seed. San Miguel themselves is hungry for a title after years of futility. So if that series should happen, it's really going to be a war.

But if there is one team who can overcome tremendous odds, it's Barangay Ginebra. Millions of fans have been witnesses to numerous come back wins by the Kings. Who would ever forget the acrobatic shot of Rudy Distrito in 1991 that sealed the comeback win of Ginebra? How about the fight back of Barangay Ginebra in 2001 against San Miguel? Down 0-2 in the series, the gritty crew of the Kings led by Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk stormed through the next four games to win the series 4-2.

Another Season of Disappointment

With the addition of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar to the Ginebra fold, fans had high hopes that the PBA's most popular team would finally end their title drought. At first, it looked like it would finally come true as Ginebra rolled into the top of the standings during the eliminations of the Philippine Cup but there run was cut short by eventual champions San Mig Coffee Mixers in the semifinals.

They were not so lucky during the Commissioner's Cup when import woes hounded the team. Original import choice Leon Rodgers proved just a hype and was sent his pink slip before the playoffs. Then NBA veteran Josh Powell played only one game as he got a call from the Houston Rockets. Finally, former Best Import Gabe Freeman reinforced the team come playoffs but he was checked by Talk n Text and could not lead Ginebra past the Texters.

In the Governor's Cup, they hired former player Jeff Cariaso as head coach and added Olsen Racela as well. Known as Tim Cone's long-time assistant, fans expected a switch to the triangle which Cariaso is very familiar with, They also took in college standout Zaccheus Mason as their import. Adjusting to a new coach and system, the Kings entered the playoffs with a 5-4 record and as the 6th seed to face the Aces in the quarterfinals. Facing a twice-to-beat disadvantage, Ginebra roared to a 9-0 lead in the 1st quarter but Alaska slowly crept their way back and took away that advantage. Compounding the King's woes was the injury to Mason in the 2nd quarter. Eventually, the Kings lost and bowed out of contention but not without giving the Aces a huge scare.

And so that ninth crown remains elusive for Ginebra. Despite having the tallest frontline in the league and  a deep bench from top to bottom, the Kings once again finished the season empty handed. Like the previous season, Ginebra fans are once again left hoping that Ginebra will become champions again. With a proven effective system in place and a winner of a coach in Jeffrey Cariaso plus a few tweaks here and there, the disappointments will finally come to an end and Ginebra will be back on top again.

See you next season Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. We are hoping for the best and that you will once again be a champion.

A Bright Future Ahead

The set is stage. Game 7 Manila Classico. Ginebra vs. San Mig Coffee. Mark Caguioa vs. James Yap. Undoubtedly the two most popular teams in the PBA going for all the marbles. What else can fans ask for? More so it was the first Game 7 between the two teams. Throw down all the stats because it was going to be a war. The gate attendance said it all - 24,883, the biggest crowd in league history.

But what fans expected to be a slugfest turned into a rout. The experience of the San Mig Coffee Mixers paid off in the end.Playing in their second straight semifinals, San Mig emerged victorious getting the right to face its nemesis Rain or Shine. Inexperience showed in the faces of the Kings. Only Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, and Billy Mamaril had playoff experience. Mark tried to carry his team on his shoulders but it was too much of a burden in the end game.The usually steady LA Tenorio wilted to the pressure. Greg Slaughter who was a dominant figure during the series was checked.

Things are looking bright for Ginebra though. Greg Slaughter, the no, 1 pick in the last draft, can be the dominant big man that Ginebra has been missing since losing Marlou Aquino and Eric Menk. Four double doubles during the series and four 20 points game. That's what you call  dominance. And this is just his first conference. He has an able partner in Japeth Aguilar who dominated the eliminations with nearly 20 points a game but faded in the San Mig series. Imagine what could have happened if Japeth had gotten his usual numbers? Together, the Twin Towers will be the cornerstone of Ginebra's future.

LA Tenorio, the Iron Man of the PBA,Gilas stlawart, and Jones Cup MVP, was absent in Game 7. But we all know what he can do. I can still remember his buzzer beaters against Ginebra. He can still do that. I know he will bounce back. Ginebra will be his team once MC47 retires. Mark Caguioa proved his critics wrong when he single handedly almost carried Ginebra on his shoulders. Vintage MC47 in Game 7. He proved to everyone that he still got game. Truly, he is the "heart" of the Ginebra franchise.

Yes, Ginebra may have lost but the admiration of their fans will continue to grow stronger. They may have failed to enter the Finals and contend for the crown but their resurgence in the eliminations as well as in the playoffs are signs of things to come for the Kings. Their quest for their elusive 9th crown continues. One thing is for sure: we, their fans,will be there with them when they reclaim their lost glory.

At The Top of the Mountain

Barangay Ginebra ends the elimination round against defending champion Talk n Text. With an 11-2 record, the Kings enter the playoff phase as the top seed and a twice-to-beat advantage against the 8th seeded team either Global Port or Alaska.The last time Ginebra ended the eliminations as no. 1 in 2006,they went on to win the championship.

The current line-up of Ginebra is worth comparing to the 2006 All-Filipino line-up that won the Kings its last All-Filipino crown. Anchoring the back court of Ginebra that time was Johnny Abarrientos whom the Kings got from Coca Cola together with Billy Mamaril, Rudy Hatfield, and Rafi Reavis. The Fast and The Furious tandem of Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa was playing their best years. Eric Menk was unstoppable inside the paint. The line-up also included gunners like Ronald Tubid, Sunday Salvacion, and Mark Macapagal.

That 2006 line-up of Ginebra emerged as no. 1 during the eliminations. They went on to beat Talk n Text 3-2 in the semis and faced a strong San Miguel side which had Olsen Racela, Danny Seigle, and Danny Ildefonso and Chot Reyes as their coach. The Beermen stormed to a 2-0 advantage in the series but Ginebra came back to win the next four games to win the series 4-2 becoming the fifth team to come back from such deficit. Jayjay Helterbrand was adjudged Finals MVP and Mark Caguioa was Best Player of the Conference.

The 2014 roster of Ginebra is deep up and down the order. Anchoring the front line are the Twin Towers of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar along with Billy Mamaril, Jayar Reyes, and Brian Faundo. It also includes Chris Ellis and Mac Barracael. Tbe backcourt consists of veterans Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand plus LA Tenorio as the anchors. Coming off the bench are Josh Urbiztondo, Emman Monfort, and rookie James Forrester.

Clearly, the impact of Greg Slaughter was immediately felt. With Japeth churning in BPC-like numbers and with Jay-R Reyes coming off the bench, the Kings have a solid frontline. LA Tenorio leads the league in assists and has effectively controlled the offense of the Kings. Mark Caguioa may no longer be as effective as he was but he remains the "Spark" of the team in terms of leadership.

The current line-up has beaten all the teams in the league accounting for only 2 defeats. But their battle is not yet won. Their ultimate goal is to finally nail their 9th title which has eluded them for six years already.

Kings On A Roll

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel ended the eliminations at the top of the standings after beating then leader Petron Blaze Boosters. When was the last time Ginebra emerged as the no. 1 team after the eliminations? Getting Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar seems to be paying off for the Kings. The Twin Tower combination of Ginebra have continuously logged in double-double numbers game in game out. With the two manning the middle, Ginebra has rolled to five straight wins since absorbing their only loss at the hands of the Bolts.

Aside from Greg and Japeth, Ginebra is also getting consistent contributions from Mac Barracael and Chris Ellis. Josh Urbiztondo is also starting to get his game back. Eman Monfort has been a revelation as well. He may not be scoring but his hustle reminds me so much of Rudy Hatfield. Not to mention the team's veteran unit of Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa. Jay-R Reyes has also delivered solid numbers for the Kings.

Ginebra fans have been used to seeing their team struggling in the early rounds and make a late run in the latter rounds. At the start of the new season, Ginebra seems to have made a significant change-- steamrolling their opponents and finding their way at the top of the mountain. A few more wins and they will move to the next round. Here is hoping that they sustain their strong run in the eliminations and take that momentum all the way to the Finals.