30IT will definitely go down as one of the hardest roads Ginebra trekked before reaching the Promised Land.
Even coach Tim Cone was in awe of how his squad retained the crown in the season-ending PBA Governors Cup last Friday, thanks to its never-die-say attitude.
“I am shocked that we’re here. But NSD (never-say-die), we’re a team that doesn’t quit. We had that legacy, and it’s always an honor and a curse to try to live up to that all the time,” Cone said.
“It’s really hard to live up to, but these guys find ways to live up to that,” he added.
Cone spoke after Ginebra turned back a game but outclassed Meralco side 103-92 in Game 6 of their best-of-seven finals duel before a wild and roaring crowd of 20,224 fans, mostly Kings supporters, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The match proved to be a delayed coronation for Ginebra after Game 6, originally set last Wednesday, was postponed due to fire caused by faulty at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings trailed 1-2 but went on to win the next three games to wrap up the race-to-four series 4-2 and annex their 14th title overall and tie Magnolia and Alaska as the second winningest ball clubs in the pro league behind San Miguel Beer’s 27.
Ginebra also bagged a fourth straight crown, all at the expense of the Bolts in the Governors Cup.
The Kings had to make do without star guard Stanley Pringle beginning early in the year due to a meniscus injury and wound up as the No. 6 team with a 6-5 card, including a four-game losing streak, after the elimination round where they negated fancied TNT’s twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Ginebra hurdled No. 2 NLEX 3-1.
Ace big man Japeth Aguilar also suited up for the Kings in the finals practically on one good foot after sustaining a calf injury.
Those adversities appeared to have dimmed Ginebra’s title hopes.
“It’s a little bit shocking for us because we were so very down at one point, we barely reached the bottom of the barrel. There was a point where I don’t think we’re gonna be emerging and make a statement in this conference,” Cone, who took home his 24th crown, the most in the league, said.
“But again, we have a very veteran team. We have great veteran leadership and the leadership really stepped up.”
LA Tenorio banged in 30 points, to go with four rebounds, and four assists, while Best Import of the Conference Justin Brownlee added 24 markers, 16 boards, and six dimes for the Kings in the clincher.
Christian Standhardinger also had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Best Player of the Conference Scottie Thompson, named finals MVP, wound up with 15 and three.
