What's Next For The Kings?

Once again, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel makes an early exit suffering a come from behind loss to the Alaska Aces. After leading by as much as 16 points, the Aces clawed their way back to Ginebra 114-108. Another season to forget for the team and another season of heartache for its legions of fans.

At the start of the Governor's Cup, Coach Frankie started on the wrong foot on his first conference. He lost the Twin Towers for the first few games of the conference so he needed to make another adjustment. Reinforcement Orlando Johnson looked promising in his first few games. He scored 50 points in his debut game then 46 in the next. He eventually faltered and his game dipped considerably.

Immediately after the loss, social media was bombarded by Ginebra fans showing different emotions. As usual, basketball experts emerged saying different reasons for the early debacle of Ginebra. Poor coach Frankie Lim got the ire of most of the fans just like what happened to Jeffrey Cariaso and Ato Agustin. So let's see what really happened to Ginebra this season. 

Seven years without a title. That is the main contention of fans. Despite having the Twin Towers of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar and a deep supporting cast as well, the Kings have not managed to get past the quarterfinals. Their best showing so far is a semifinal appearance in Slaughter's rookie season. Since then Ginebra has finished below the Top 4. 

Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa are the only remnants of Ginebra's last champion team. The rest are relatively new to the team. From there, you can say that chemistry is already a problem. The rest of the team was acquired either through trades or from the draft. All those wheeling and dealing, however, has turned the Kings into a championship contender. 

However, despite having a formidable lineup Ginebra still remained without a title. Another factor that perhaps had a major  impact on Ginebra still failing to win a title is their constant coaching change. Since Ginebra's last Finals appearance under Alfrancis Chua, the Kings have three coaching changes already. they had Ato Agustin, Jeffrey Cariaso, and Frankie Lim taking the reins over the team in the last four conferences only. It is hard to build chemistry when you keep on changing coach. 

And so the waiting game continues. For Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa, their quest for one more championship before they finally up their sleeves continues. For Greg Slaughter, his first title in the PBA continues to remain elusive. Same goes for the other players. 

Coach Frankie Lim has got a lot of work to do in the off season if he wants to end Ginebra's title woes. There is also the coming rookie draft to look forward to. Management needs to find the missing piece that will complete the line-up that will finally give the Kings their ninth championship. Expect more wheeling and dealing as Coach Frankie finds the right mix that will finally bag that elusive title for the league's most popular team. 

One thing is for sure though. All eyes will be on Ginebra. What changes will be made in the team? Who will be in or out? Will we have a new coach yet again? 

Back From The Grave

Japeth For Threeeee Bang!!!!!!!!!

Once again, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel did it again. Given up for dead for the entire conference, the Kings march on to the playoffs-- their 25th consecutive appearance. It had been a roller coaster ride for the league's most popular team and nobody expected them to advance to the next round especially with the way they lose games.

For Ginebra fans, it was one of the seasons you'd rather forget. Three coaching changes in one season speaks of the struggles that the Kings are experiencing. As I watched the NLEX game, I was not kind of hoping that Ginebra would survive this one. The die-hard fan in me says "Don't give up on your team. They need you now" fueled whatever hope I had of them advancing to the next stage.

As the 4th quarter began, shades of Ginebra's "never-say die" spirit began showing up. NLEX was relentless in trying to end Ginebra's season but the Kings refused to wilt. With LA Tenorio and the two imports leading the charge, Ginebra slowly found their way back to the game. And then it happened as I braced myself for an additional 5 minutes, Japeth Aguilar squared himself up for the three. I could not believe it Ginebra has won. Japeth did it again. He has scored game winning treys on the MVP teams.

And so Ginebra is in the playoffs. It will now be their 25th straight playoff appearance. But once again they will be facing insurmountable odds. As the eight seeded team, they face a twice-to-beat disadvantage against the top seeded Alaska Aces. A familiar situation for Ginebra but one they had overcome before. In 1991, they were also seeded eight and were facing an Asi-Taulava led Mobiline but the heroics of Bal David and the then Gordon's Gin allowed them to topple the top seeds. Ginebra faced the same situation again in 2013 when they were seeded 7th and battled the 2nd seeded Rain or Shine. But with Vernon Macklin leading the comeback, the Kings survived and marched on to the Finals against Alaska.

So if there is one team which can pull off the improbable, it's Barangay Ginebra. They are not known as a "never-say-die" team for nothing. It is just a matter of digging down deep into their reserves. Ginebra is a team loaded with talent and hopefully those talents will prevail and overcome another huge obstacle in their quest to finally ending their title drought.

Ka-Barangay Ka Ba? Anong Klaseng Ginebra Fan Ka?

Well, here we go again. Despite the new coach and a prolific import, our beloved Ginebra is once again lurking at the bottom of the standings. And at times like these, different kinds of Ginebra fans are emerging. The questioning and blaming game begins. What is really bugging Ginebra? Is it really the coach or the players? Let us take a closer look.

The Analyst Fan

"Greg is too soft. Japeth needs to shape up. Retire Caguioa and Helterbrand. Trade LA."

I pity the players. "Bawal ang matalo" kasi ikaw ang sisisihin. Daig pa nila ang coach. Why don't we do it this way? Kayo ang maglaro at sila ang fans. Tapos kayo ang sisishin pag natatalo ang Ginebra. Maybe you will realize how hard it is to be out there playing for the fans who will only blame you in the end game. Or better yet apply as the new Ginebra coach? Maybe you are the one who can end the drought for Ginebra.

The Balimbing Fan

As an active member of Ginebra pages, I get to encounter different responses from fans after a Ginebra loss. "Lilipat na ako ng ibang team nakakasawa na." "Nangagamoy Bora na naman." "Talo na naman." Who's forcing you to cheer for Ginebra anyway? These fans claim to be "die-hard" Ginebra fans since they were young. If you are, why switch team? From the word itself "die hard," one who will stick with the team win or lose. We live in a free world and you are free to choose which team to support. If you cannot support the team during their struggles then don't support them when they are winning. Mas lalo lang kayong masasabihang balimbing or bandwagon.

The Die-Hard Fan

These are the fans who will truly stick it out with Ginebra no matter what. Sila yung makikipagtalo sa mga pages to defend their team. They are the ones who will still troop to the venues and shout "Ginebra! Ginebra! Ginebra!" whenever the team is rallying to overhaul a huge deficit. These fans would not be ashamed to say "Bawi na lang next game or next conference." These fans would continue to hope that Ginebra's glory days would return.

The Governor's Cup is not yet over and there is still a chance. The situation is nothing new for Ginebra. If they advance, then the whole barangay will be happy. If not, then they can always bounce back.

So let me end this article with a familiar song:

Pag Natatalo ang Ginebra
Gary Granada

Sinusundan ko ang bawat laro 
Ng koponan kong naghihingalo 
Sa bawat bolang binibitaw 
'Di mapigilang mapapasigaw 

Kahit hindi relihiyoso 
Naaalala ko ang mga santo 
O San Miguel, Santa Lucia 
Sana manalo ang Ginebra 

Sa Coliseum at Astrodome 
Nakikisiksikan hanggang bubong 
Nang-aalaska, nanggugulo 
'Pag nagfi-free throw ang katalo 

Ang barangay ay nagdiriwang 
Half-time ay kinse ang aming lamang 
Cameraman, huwag mo lang kukunan 
Si senador at congressman 

Pagbigyan n'yo na ako 
Paminsan-minsan lang ito 
Gumaang ang nabibigatang puso 
Pagbigyan n'yo na ako 
Sa munting hilig kong ito 
Kung hindi baka mag-away pa tayo 

Nang second half ay mag-umpisa 
Puro palpak ang tira nila 
Offensive foul si Noli Locsin 
At si Gayoso na-traveling 

Sa kakaibang shorts ni Jaworski 
Ay ipinasok ang sarili 
Kalagitnaan ng fourth quarter 
Tabla ang score, 88-all 

Drive ni Pido ay nasupalpal 
Defense nila na-technical 
Parang gumuho ang aking daigdig 
Nang maagawan si Bal David 

Nang bumusina ng last two minutes 
Three points ni Hizon ay nagmintis 
Kunsumisyon ay nagpatong-patong 
Graduate si Marlou at si Ong 

Pagbigyan n'yo na ako 
Paminsan-minsan lang ito 
Gumaang ang nabibigatang puso 
Pagbigyan n'yo na ako 
Kahit na kahit paano 
Sumaya nang bahagya itong mundo 

Twenty-four seconds, lamang ng lima 
Ang kalaban, bola pa nila 
Dumidilim ang aking paningin 
Ang tenga ko ay nagpapanting 

Bumabalik sa aking isip 
Ang nakaaway ko noong Grade 6 
Parang gusto ko nang magkagiyera 
'Pag natatalo ang Ginebra 

Galit ako sa mga pasista 
Galit ako sa imperyalista 
Feel na feel kong maging aktibista 
'Pag natatalo ang Ginebra