"That looked like an old play that the Alaska team of the 90's used to run" - was all I could say to myself as I saw San Mig Coffee's big men set up a pass to the small man waiting beneath the basket. And it happened a second time in the same quarter. I guess it isn't surprising when your assistant coaches are Johnny Abarrientos and Jeffrey Cariaso, and your head coach is Tim Cone.
They may have changed companies, but they still carry with them the Alaska underdog fighting spirit. You know how that is, they are smaller than their opponents, and sometimes, even less skilled. But whatever they lack in physical ability, they make up for in terms of heart. And although they no longer are the players on court, the team they are now in, as the teams they have been in, continues to show heart. And who best to show that heart but Marc Pingris - a local player - matching the intensity of Petron's import. Although this was the 7th game - when you would expect all players to be tired, and Pingris had suffered a sprain in the previous game, he played like there was no tomorrow, and no career to look out for. He dove after that basketball several times, as though it were as precious as gold.
And he was the man guarding the import. There were several times when Petron seemed to be on the verge of catching up, but a crucial block, or a defensive play by Pingris helped stop a re-surging Petron team. The crowd was even chanting MVP near the end while Pingris was shooting free throws - something I believe I've never witnessed in a PBA game, and only experience when playing NBA Live. The San Mig fans really showed support for their team.
Also of note was Blakeley who was recipient to one of the beneath the basket plays I was talking about earlier which he ended in an emphatic dunk. If Pingris was working on the defensive end, it was Blakeley who gave San Mig the much needed offense.
Petron would have been able to bring the lead down to one if they only made their free throws. There was a stretch where Jun Mar Fajardo missed 4 free throw attempts. Looks like "Hack a Shaq" paid off. And you would expect that from a big man, but not from 2013 PBA MVP Arwind Santos who also missed a couple.
Contrast that with James Yap, the former MVP, who wasn't having a good night, and only had 6 points near the end of the game, before being fouled, but at least he made both free throws.
Kudos to Tim Cone who has finally tied Coach Baby Dalupan as the PBA's Coach with the most wins at 15 Championships. Mr. Cone, I think you will break that record before you even retire. You still have plenty of coaching years ahead of you, God willing, so try to go for 20 Championships.
Coach Cone said it best when asked what made the difference. His answer was adversity - San Mig Coffee went through a lot of it compared to Petron who dominated the entire conference. But the San Mig Coffee team never gave up, and the championship had to go down the wire.
God never forgets His people. You could hear the praise from Pingris - praising the Lord for protecting him even when he had an injury. God will raise up men who will stand for Him. Johnny, and Jeffrey, and Jojo, and Alvin praised Him before. Pingris is praising Him now. And in the future, some rising star will yet praise Him once more, for the Lord is good and He blesses those who walk in His ways and whose hearts long to honor Him. To God be the glory forever and ever.
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