“OUR SUCCESS can be summed up in one word, ‘incredible’. This is the appropriate word to describe our title-clinching victory of Commissioner’s Cup against dethroned champion San Miguel Beer.”
Ito ang masayang pahayag ni Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone matapos kunin ang PBA Commissioner’s Cup title sa pamamagitan ng 93-77 pag-dispatsa sa SMB sa Game 6 kamakalawa sa Mall of Asia Arena.
Ito na ang ika-11 korona ng Gin Kings sa liga at unang Commissioner’s Cup title magmula noong 1997.
“To be frank and honest with you, I couldn’t believe it we did it in easy fashion. It never registered in my dream especially you’re up against the league’s strongest team. It’s way beyond my expectation we achieved the near impossible dream,” sabi ni Cone.
“Well, it is a product of hardwork, dedication, determination, desire, aspiration and the will to win. My players played hard enough and pulled their resources together to achieve the ultimate goal. I praised them for a job well done,” wika ni Cone na kinuha ang ika-19 na PBA titles mula noong 1991, kasama ang dalawang grandslams noong 1999 at 2014.
“Beating SMB is difficult like scaling the mountain because the team is loaded with talents and has an array of good shooters. To win, you have to play above board and superior throughout,” dagdag pa ng champion coach.
Pinuri ni Cone ang all-around performance ni best import Justine Brownlee kung saan binigyan niya ng sakit sa ulo si San Miguel coach Leo Austria sa kabuuan ng laro.
“Justine played one hell of a game. He was all over the court shooting, rebounding, assisting, blocking shots and defended well against Renaldo Balkman. I salute him for his remarkable game,” sambit ni Cone.
Nagbuhos si Brownlee ng 31 points, 19 rebounds, 7 assists at 4 blocked shots sa mahigit 44 minuto sa court, habang nag-ambag sina Greg Slaughter ng 19, Scottie Thompson ng 12, LA Tenorio ng 11, at Jeff Chan ng 10.
Taglay ang pamosong tatak na ‘never-say-die’ na pinasikat ni dating playing coach Robert Jaworski, dinomina ng Barangay Ginebra ang laro.
“This is sweet and memorable. I will never forget it,” wika ni Cone na unang nakikilala sa PBA bilang coach ng Alaska.
Ginamit ni Austria ang lahat ng kanyang nalalaman sa coaching at walang tigil sa pag-eksperimento, subalit bigong makahulma ng mabisang formula para talunin ang Kings at ipuwersa ang winner-take-all Game 7.
Tinalo ng Barangay Ginebra ang SMB sa halos lahat na departamento.
“We’re completely outclassed. They deserve the title,” malungkot na pahayag ni Austria. CLYDE MARIANO
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