‘Great things happen to great people’
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, center, celebrates with teammates after Game 7 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Cavaliers won 93-89. AP
A REPORT from Oakland, California, that the defending champion Golden State Warriors were being pegged plus-five favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals was received with mixed amusement and disapproval around Metro Manila.
Out in the Mandaluyong City wet market sports hub, one group in the vegetable section squandered a total of P70,000 after the Warriors surrendered the NBA crown to the Cavaliers yesterday. This same group, mind you, had previously hit a minijackpot betting on Cleveland in Game 6 of the Finals.
The losing group had honestly believed the two-game winning momentum gained by the Cavaliers, who had had a dismal 0-2 start in the NBA title playoffs, would automatically evaporate once the Finals moved back to Oakland for the all-or-nothing Game 7.
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On the other hand, fruit and dried-fish push-cart vendors along New Panaderos, off the main market, stuck it out with the Cavaliers. They bagged a hefty bonus after the P1,000 they placed on the underdog Cavaliers paid a handsome P3,000 dividend each in the E-Gaming outlet.
Reviewing the contrasting sentiments, it would appear that countless Golden State fanatics felt the Warriors, despite back-to-back losses that forced the 3-all Finals standoff, would be solid and unbeatable in their homecourt for Game 7.
They lost dismally because those who sided with the underdog Cavaliers treated the event more realistically.
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How the Cavaliers, who had dropped down a 3-1 Finals hole, clawed back to deal the record-setting Warriors (73-game season wins) a third straight defeat in franchise history also culminated a 52-year hunt for a first ever championship for the northern Ohio city.
“This is what I came back for,” cried the mighty and magnificent LeBron James, who left Miami and returned to his mother pro club two years ago.
Of course, everything had seemed indefinite and unsure in the blazing see-saw Game 7, until the phenomenal Kyrie Irving connected with a towering 3-pointer off Stephen Curry from right quarter, 1:09 left.
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“Best player on the planet,” said Irving of James, who scored a triple double (27 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds) to emerge the Finals MVP for the third time. He had won the award in 2012 and 2013 with Miami.
Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said James deserves the honor because he has a great heart.
“Great things happen to great people,” Lue extolled.
James, who had just emerged from a joyous romance with the wood court, said he could not wait to come home and hoist the trophies at Cleveland’s home terminal.
