The Kings has nothing to be ashamed of

It was a disappointing Finals series against Alaska Aces. It was like in the 90's where Alaska is the most dominant team in the PBA but here goes the underdog Ginebra (Gordon Gin's) stealing the title from the Aces. I never have a doubt that all that the Ginebra fans who watched the rivalry of both teams in the 90's thought that the title will be within our hands at the end of the today's series. Nevertheless, it was like a broken dream for the fans and the team where we never had a chance to win even one game in the finals. But do we need to grieve on this or just move on? 

Starting this conference we are not the team we are use to be now. Looking the team before it was every man on his own. But look what the team is made of now, they are like brothers, like family, thicker than blood. It seems that you can never let each and every one far from each other.  If before it is very evident on the floor that there is no chemistry on our team but look at them now.

It was always 50% performance in the standings for few years now for us. No one ever thought that we could be beating the toughest teams in the league. No one ever thought of that we could climbed from the 10th seed going up to the 3rd seed and even had a chance in one instant that we could even go up to 2nd seed. 

Having an unhealthy roster is a big factor teams are being eliminated. Having Dylan Ababou, Mark Caguioa, Billy Mamaril and Kerby Raymundo missing games because of their injuries and we even went to win the Quarter Finals and the Semi Finals. Teams we beaten  are the toughest team in the PBA today. 

We even change coaches from Coach Siot to Coach Al. We traded players that we love that we truly felt so bad especially Maliksi. We had good players like Kerby Raymundo, LA Tenorio, Mac Baracael and Josh Urbiztondo but just for a year we lost very talented players like Mike Cortez, John Wilson, Niño Cañaleta , Ronald Tubid, Erik Menk and Enrico Villanueva. Those players who also sacrifice and fought for their lives to play with the Ginebra Jersey. 

All the players leaving Ginebra has just one thing in common. They are so miserable leaving the Kings and wearing different Jerseys. Can someone tell me which player in the PBA today will say that they never want  or wish to play for Ginebra. Even the most dominant big man in the PBA History, Asi Taulava is very vocal to say that he wants to play and finish his career as a Ginebra player.

This sentiment of mine must be long now but you might be missing the point. We've been through this a lot of times already. We are even being beaten so badly before. We still go to their practice like we do not have any other things to do watching them do their jobs. We never get tired going to any game venue to stamp our feet on the floor while yelling "GINEBRA, GINEBRA, GINEBRA". We never stopped on designing all those Tarpaulins that we are bringing anywhere the team is. 

Alaska Aces are so healthy that there is no player is hurt. They had the easiest way going to the Finals. They fought and beaten not that tough teams like what we had to go to the Finals. Their import is so healthy not like Vernon Macklin go went to the Finals hurting. They local key players are so healthy not like MC47 and LA who are playing hurt in the series. They said that it is a mismatch, yes indeed they are correct. But just imagine if the team is healthy, do you think the Aces can dominate the series? 

The bottom line is, we still support them, love them, fight for them, die for them. From the Big J to MC47. To the Spark and I believe in the future to LA, we fans and the team has nothing to be ashamed of. We made this far even we had the weakest team due to injuries. Our team support each other, love us, fight for us, die for us. This is a undying relationship that started decades ago. We just need to understand that this is not about Alaska winning the Finals. It is about what kind of team we are going to be next conference. We are so good loosing key players, next conference we are all complete. So, it is for them to beware.

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Game Plan : Ginebra vs Alaska Game 2 Finals

After a solid beating from Alaska Aces at Game 1 the People's Champ Barangay Ginebra San Miguel must work double time to forced a tie in the best of five series in the 2013 PBA

Commissioners Cup Finals. They are facing a very tough team and it is very evident in their first meeting that the Aces has the advantage in their match up. These are the things we need to consider to win Game 2 of this series;

VMACK ATTACK

Vernon Macklin proved that he can score in the paint if he wants to but he was contained by the Alaska Aces defense last Wednesday at the Araneta. We cannot afford Vmack scoring less than 20 points; so, we must give him more touches on the paint. Let the defense of the Aces draw to him and Vernon has the skill

to pass the ball outside if  needed. 

DEFENSE IS THE KEY

Alaska Aces is the number 1 defensive team this conference and we cannot beat them if we will let them score easy baskets. We must make sure that we play good defense and limit their assists per game.

OFFENSIVE MENTALITY

It seems that we are afraid to pull the trigger especially Chris Ellis and Kerby Raymundo. It is difficult to play Dozier at the post so Kerby Raymundo must not be ashamed of taking the perimeter shots to force the Aces import not to stay at the paint. If the Kid can make those shots he can draw Robert Dozier  outside and   there would be more chances for the guards to go hard to the basket and more chances as well to get offensive rebounds.

GOOD BALL ROTATION

Alaska Aces defense will be broken if we are able to rotate the ball properly and make our basket out of assists. We must confuse the defense of the Aces, remember we have so many scorers in our roster that we could rely to.

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The Kings late to realize they are on the Finals

It was a fantastic start for the Alaska Aces their opponent only score 6 points in a quarter is remarkable. Ginebra is known to win a game scoring more than 90 points but again their points is limited due to the sticky defense that the Aces played in the first quarter of the game 1 of the Finals. All necessary tactics were done by Coach Al Francis Chua but nothing seems to go Ginebra's way. Even worsts the reigning MVP Mark Caguioa is forced to play in the second quarter hoping to have contributions in points.

It is very evident that Ginebra is not ready last night to fight. It seems that they were too overwhelmed them being in the finals, after being so down in the eliminations. But what is the real reason why we we're beaten by the Alaska Aces? The Aces defense is the big factor why they won the game. Not to mention the shots for Ginebra is not going through even though they have good looks on the basket.  Assist also is one factor for our failure, we let them rotate the ball so good having more than 20 assists last night and we are not even close enough to what stats they have in assist. Six players for Alaska scored double digits but it is only Vernon Macklin and LA Tenorio had double digits for the team.

Regardless of any reason, we lost the game because we did not play good defense on the first place. Their highest scorer is Jazul with 16 and even their import only scored 14 points. So, it is not how they shoot the ball it is all about how we play defense. Defense can only beaten by good defense. If they will not let us score let them not score any basket as well. 

The bottom line is we are asleep all game long, I even thought one time it is even much better for the team to walk out rather than  to receive the beating they are having. But the good thing about it is that we are able to put the lead closer at the last minute of the fourth quarter. But it was too late for the team, we woke up late to realize that going to the finals will not give us the trophy. Having a come back against a defensive team is not easy at all. This is a good sign for the team. We still have the whole series to adjust and come back. After all the we've been through this conference I know we can bounce back. It is really just an off night for the team.

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Game Plan : Ginebra vs Alaska Game 1 Finals

It will be a tough battle again for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for the Finals of the 2013 Commissioner's Cup as they battle the number one team all conference long, the Alaska Aces. No one ever expect that the Kings will be at the Finals but they we're able to knocked out two star studded team in the PBA today with Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Talk n Text Tropang Texters.

With the Aces consistency this conference, the Barangay is again in their known position. They are again being considered as the under dog in this Best of Five series. For us to be able to beat Alaska we must take consider the following:

Shut down the Beast

This is the main concern we have to do, Calvin Abueva plays off the bench but every time he plays inside the court you will feel his presence. It does not matter if it is offense or defense the Beast is always effective for the Aces so we need to limit Calvin on having those offensive rebounds and we have to limit him to run on fast   breaks. 

Share the Ball

It shows that we did not share the ball that much as they did where in our elimination battle they had 17 assists while we only got 13. So we must share the ball and beat the Aces with assists. We've done it against TNT at the semi finals and it would be effective as well to beat the Aces.

Eye on Casio and the Boss

Jayvee Casio serves as the main guy of the offense of the Alaska Aces. We have to force him play defense against LA Tenorio. So LA must attack the defense of Casio. We also need to limit Sonny Thoss on taking perimeter shots.

Play double time

In our last meeting against the Alaska Aces , Mark Caguioa is the high scorer for the game but we still went home being beaten by the Aces. With the Spark still doubt to play for this series, guys like LA Tenorio,  Chris Ellis and Mac Baracael must help Vernon Macklin on points.

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Video : Game 5 Ginebra vs TNT Replay

1ST QUARTER

2ND QUARTER

3RD QUARTER
4TH QUARTER

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Ginebra : Never doubt the heart of the People's Champ

It was indeed an exciting series between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Talk n Text Tropang Texters, when everybody thought that TNT will have the first spot on the finals after beating the Kings two in a row. Game 2 and 3 is a disaster for the Poeple' Champ where they are not able to execute well on their offense and they seems to be shocked of how the way Tropang Texters play their defense.

It was predicted to be a long series since Ginebra is known to be like it; having been again in the same position since the franchise was establish, the team was the underdog, the under rated and the least team to expect to win each and every game. After a monster beating they had last Game 3 of the series the Kings fought like there is no tomorrow. The same kind of game they played against Rain or Shine last semi finals of the current conference. 

Ginebra seems to know how to win in the most critical scenario that they will ever be. TNT may say that they have the Heart of the Champion which is not questionable due to their championship experience and titles this current generation but you may never put into doubt the Heart of the People's Champ, the Heart and Soul of the PBA, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and they did not just have that spirit yesterday it lives on for more than 2 decades.

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Video : Game 4 Ginebra vs TNT Replay

1ST QUARTER

2ND QUARTER

3RD QUARTER

4TH QUARTER

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The King is Physically Fit but not Emotionally ready

The leagues top local scorer is in the sideline for few months now due to a knee injury and fans are waiting for his return. Many speculations came out that in Game 3 he will be back to play to help his team be part of the 2013 Commissioners Cup Finals. In the last All Star Game, Mark Caguioa was expected to be there but people thinks he will not play due to his injury. But no one can stop the "Heart of the PBA" not to play. Obviously, he played for the fans but it is a risky gamble for him to play in a non bearing game. 

Playing just limited minutes in the said All Star Game against Smart Gilas you can observe that  Caguioa can move, jump, run a bit and shoot the ball. He can even battle for rebounds but as he said he is some kind of afraid to force it. Definitely, you can see on the game that he is really not forcing it but what is the real reason why? Knowing him for few years now, every time he play he make sure that he will give it all on the game. But that is not what we saw last Sunday. 

He barely jump when he took a shot, when he runs it seems that he is carrying his feet so gentle on the floor. He said that he is not feeling any pain, but let us face it in a non bearing game we are used to see Mark Caguioa showing his dribbling skills and crossover moves against his opponent. 

If we will consider everything, GAME 3 might be his come back, he might play tonight but are we going to see him play the same game as he is doing this conference. Taking note of his doctor he is fit to play tonight .Physically he is but not emotionally. Caguioa is afraid to make mistake of forcing his knee and being sidelined again. Being in his position is really not that easy, this is another opportunity for them and I believe he is just doubtful if this is really the right timing for his come back. Even the coaching staff of Barangay Ginebra I think can see that he is not emotionally ready because if so they will not let all the decision to Caguioa if he wants to play or not.

What ever happens tonight, if he will play or not, we just need to hope that he will be the same Mark Caguioa we have known before, Fearless!

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Air Force Ellis can Fly Fly Fly!

Chris Ellis of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was the early favorite for the 2013 All Star Slum Dunk Competition and he seems to prove all speculations right. Air Force Ellis with his finest and high leaping ability had a perfect 50 points on the Elimination round for him to advance in the Finals of the Slam Dunk Competition. 

Ellis first dunk is an one hand wind mill with all the legs like walking on the air. "The first one is what I call the Skywalker Dunk" the current Slam Dunk Champion said. Chris Ellis dedicated that dunk to Samboy Lim and it is very evident on that first dunk of Ellis where he is like walking on the Air while flying.

His second dunk was a ball bouncing the floor and the back board with a wind mill slam. The underdog of the competition Elmer Espiritu also went to the final round with Ellis where Elmer even led the first round of the championship round but Ellis redeemed himself with with a spectacular reverse wind mill slam but do not forget the Vince Carter dunk that he did with his elbow hanging on the rim.

Sports analyst and fans are now looking for more slam dunk titles for Chris Ellis in the future.

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