Two contrasting twists surfaced at the conclusion of the PBA MyDSL Philippine Cup championship series last week.
There was the deterioration of the Barangay Ginebra legend, followed by the emergence of a possible new dynasty, San Mig Coffee.
Regarding Ginebra, there was no hiding the disappointment of countless team devotees after the fabled squad was humiliated in a 27-point loss to powerhouse San Mig in the deciding seventh match of their semifinal confrontation.
In boxing, that can’t be mildly likened to a setback by decision. It was, like it or not, a devastating knockout.
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In fact, not a few Ginebra fanatics were next overheard swearing they will have to think twice next time before running to the coliseum to watch another outing of their favorite team.
These same fans were clearly bothered by the fact that this year’s Ginebra squad—pillared by big boys Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter, marshalled by credentialed swingmen LA Tenorio and Marc Caguioa—had a sprinting start in the All-Filipino series before fading out and tragically exiting in fragments.
There, indeed, had been great expectations for the most popular PBA squad, originally made famous by its never-say-die warrior spirit.
As Dhong Tangkad, a former JRU Bomber now trading coconut in the Mandaluyong wet market, swore, his team (Ginebra), based on its balanced, re-charged lineup, was in its most formidable shape: “Nasa kanila na lahat, tangkad, bilis, galing (They’ve got all the needed ingredients—height, speed, skills).”
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Anyway, one game or one loss doesn’t make or unmake a team.
However, the detestable foldup against San Mig in the do-or-die match of the Philippine Cup semifinals unraveled what critics had feared: The Ginebra team had softened up through the years.
While the original Barangay Ginebra functioned with selfless determination and dedication, the philosophy of playing all-out—like poor settlers being weeded out from their turf—the fierce, fearless underdog spirit had visibly waned.
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It’s like this: While the original Barangay Ginebra was always capable of “lying down, bleeding a little and rising again” (with apologies to Chairman Mao Zedong), the new Ginebra team appeared completely uncertain of what it should do next.
There were various prescriptions, as could only be expected. But the most resonant was this one from a never-say-die Ginebra fanatic: “Ibalik si Jaworski!” Bring back Bobby Jaworski. And why not? Of course, Ginebra’s problems are a lot more complicated than that.