Coach Jawo 2.0, Light the Spark Up

For a long time now many Ginebra Fans miss the presence of the legendary playing Coach Robert "Sonny" Jowarski on the venue of a PBA games every time their team is on the court. As we all know Big J is the father of the never say die attitude that Ginebra Lives on today. But right after he left the team for his political dreams it was a big nightmare for the Barangay.

For one decade of being not part of the team, Ginebra strangles starting with loosing key players through trade and players being forced to retire due to lack of playing time. Those players where actually the one who really knows what is the real meaning of the Never Say Die attitude. Many star players came to play in the Kings uniform, remember Jun Limpot, Vergel Meneses and Allan Caidic. All of them are franchise players of their respective team but they never understood what it is the real meaning of "Never say die".

Years later, the era for those superstars is over as the Mark Caguioa Era comes their way. Obviously, the Spark is a player of intensity and never gives up to a game. But does he has the spirit to regain the never say die attitude of the team. Do not get me wrong, Ginebra the whole decade is not worst even the Never Say Die attitude is fading. They even won a lot of Championships even Jawo is not with them. But still Ginebra is not Ginebra without that spirit.

This past few years is a disaster for the team, after winning the Fiesta Conference Championship with Coach Jong Uichico against Air 21 in the 2007-2008 season the team never had a great record at all. Injuries let the Fast and the Furious sit down on the bench. Put all the blame to Coach Siot, but he is not the problem of the Kings. The question is who/what is missing for the Kings?

Retirement of the Jersey of the Living Legend was done and there is like a spirit coming from  him is being transferred to Mark Caguioa when stood near to each other. Ginebra won that game even they straggled the whole first half and the never say die spirit was alive. But it was just for that game, the next games of the Barangay Ginebra was just the same games they have. No Spark, No Light, No Spirit.

Recently, major changes made to the roster, a huge change of coach from Siot to Al Francis, a monster trade that let as acquire LA Tenorio, a blockbuster trade for Kerby Raymundo and a shocking trade of Mac Baracael for the team. The team is getting stronger and stronger as more high hopes to win games. But still it is all the same way as before. We are being beaten, beaten badly by opponents. What make it worsts for this conference is that the best player for the team is injured. 

Mark Caguioa is the only player in Ginebra uniform with the spirit of Never Say Die attitude  and the rest ,they seems not to understand the spirit that Mark is wanted to input back to the team. But after having a record of 0-4 in the start of the conference the team came back huge and in the last two games of the team they all showed a REAL NEVER SAY DIE ATTITUDE. Who brought this spirit to the team? Jawo is not at the court, neither Noli Locsin, Vince Hizon, Marlou Aquino, Bal David, Jayvee Gayoso, Pido Jarencio, Wilmer Ong, Benny Cheng, Dodot Jowarski, Terry Saldaña, and EJ Feihl, so who? Is it the Spark? Well he have his part but it seems he did not make it alone.

The person who fought for the team, the person who motivate the team, the person who bring energy standing on the bench the whole game, the person who ate all the criticisms the fans threw to him and the man who never doubt that this team is made to succeed. It is Coach Al Francis Chua who brought back the never say die spirit of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. Letting the players believe in their skills is the formula Jawo used to have the never say die spirit they started. They are not even as flashy as our players today but with their spirit they were loved by the fans. This is what the fans want; they never stop believing that Jawo will be back on the bench with the Barangay. He is not with the team now but we have Jawo 2.0 with Coach Al Francis Chua. Thank God the spirit is back for the team. Thanks to Coach Al that serves as the Gasoline for Mark Caguioa that serves as the Spark on light up the NEVER SAY DIE SPIRIT that was sleeping for a decade now.