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Ginebra dilemma
December 1991
Expect an exodus of Ginebra players to the other PBA teams next year. Aside from expiring contracts of many players which would be astronomical to match, reports are rife that all’s not well inside the Ginebra camp.
The benching of starting center Rey Cuenco, the locking of the door at the Ginebra dugout, and the reduced playing time of Rudy Distrito and Leo Isaac in the pivotal Game 4 is perceived as a sign that the relationship between playing coach Robert Jaworski and the players isn’t that smooth anymore.
Seven Ginebras are set to seek more lucrative contracts and are decided to leave if their demands are not met by the La Tondena franchise. Sources said most of these players want to move over to Shell which is being coach by former Ginebra assistant coach Rino Salazar.
In deference to Jaworski, however, Salazar is reportedly keeping his fingers off possible negotiations. The Sources further said that La Tondena would be hard put to match the amount the transferring players are seeking. If this happens, the Ginebras may not be as competitive as before, and in the long run will lose their appeal to the fans.
The Ginebras whose playing contracts are expiring are Dondon Ampalayo, Philip Cezar, Cuenco, Distrito, Isaac, Dante Gonzalgo, Chito Loyzaga, Larry Villanil, Jaworski and Jayvee Gayoso.
***
Alaska won the Third Conference title simply because it wanted it more than Ginebra. As early as the first game of the best-of-five series, Alaska already showed the Gins its determination to bag this one. And did it with gusto, convincingly overpowered the Gins from best import Wes Matthews, who went ice cold in the finals series with the sticky defense applied on him by the Airforce, down the locals who didn’t really contributed much to the Gins’ campaign. Must be the loud whisper that majority of the Gins’ players with expiring contracts have expressed desire to seek greener pasture.
But that shouldn’t take away the sweetness of winning the crown for Alaska. The Airforce deserved the victory which was already long overdue. They really worked very hard for it since the start of the conference and they knew this was their chance to get their first-ever crown after they blew the opportunity against the Purefoods Hotdogs last year.
Credit must go to Tim Cone who patiently did everything to transform his team to achieved the goal. He really has sacrificed a lot just to keep the team, going, aiming for the top.
During Game 4, the night’s best player, Bong Alvarez, was suffering from an injury aside from his Achilles heel that he admits is still aching once in a while. He had sprain in practice last Friday and did not practice Saturday. He only had shooting practice Sunday morning but felt he could take the pain and play. “Pwedeng ilaro ito mamaya para manalo,” he told himself.
Alvarez poured in 30 big points that night and was really playing good defense against Matthews. But the most important thing for Mr.Excitement is the fact that he was able to comeback with vengeance.
“Unang-una, kung mayroon pinakamasayang tao ditto sa Alaska, ako ‘yon. Ditto ako napilayan, kung baga 2-0 na kami last year tapos sa sobrang pagpapakamatay ko, doon ako napilayan. Nagtiyaga ako for almost one year sa therapy ko for this conference. At least ‘yung nangyari sa akin last year, ito na ang kapalit.”
December 1991
Expect an exodus of Ginebra players to the other PBA teams next year. Aside from expiring contracts of many players which would be astronomical to match, reports are rife that all’s not well inside the Ginebra camp.
The benching of starting center Rey Cuenco, the locking of the door at the Ginebra dugout, and the reduced playing time of Rudy Distrito and Leo Isaac in the pivotal Game 4 is perceived as a sign that the relationship between playing coach Robert Jaworski and the players isn’t that smooth anymore.
Seven Ginebras are set to seek more lucrative contracts and are decided to leave if their demands are not met by the La Tondena franchise. Sources said most of these players want to move over to Shell which is being coach by former Ginebra assistant coach Rino Salazar.
In deference to Jaworski, however, Salazar is reportedly keeping his fingers off possible negotiations. The Sources further said that La Tondena would be hard put to match the amount the transferring players are seeking. If this happens, the Ginebras may not be as competitive as before, and in the long run will lose their appeal to the fans.
The Ginebras whose playing contracts are expiring are Dondon Ampalayo, Philip Cezar, Cuenco, Distrito, Isaac, Dante Gonzalgo, Chito Loyzaga, Larry Villanil, Jaworski and Jayvee Gayoso.
***
Alaska won the Third Conference title simply because it wanted it more than Ginebra. As early as the first game of the best-of-five series, Alaska already showed the Gins its determination to bag this one. And did it with gusto, convincingly overpowered the Gins from best import Wes Matthews, who went ice cold in the finals series with the sticky defense applied on him by the Airforce, down the locals who didn’t really contributed much to the Gins’ campaign. Must be the loud whisper that majority of the Gins’ players with expiring contracts have expressed desire to seek greener pasture.
But that shouldn’t take away the sweetness of winning the crown for Alaska. The Airforce deserved the victory which was already long overdue. They really worked very hard for it since the start of the conference and they knew this was their chance to get their first-ever crown after they blew the opportunity against the Purefoods Hotdogs last year.
Credit must go to Tim Cone who patiently did everything to transform his team to achieved the goal. He really has sacrificed a lot just to keep the team, going, aiming for the top.
During Game 4, the night’s best player, Bong Alvarez, was suffering from an injury aside from his Achilles heel that he admits is still aching once in a while. He had sprain in practice last Friday and did not practice Saturday. He only had shooting practice Sunday morning but felt he could take the pain and play. “Pwedeng ilaro ito mamaya para manalo,” he told himself.
Alvarez poured in 30 big points that night and was really playing good defense against Matthews. But the most important thing for Mr.Excitement is the fact that he was able to comeback with vengeance.
“Unang-una, kung mayroon pinakamasayang tao ditto sa Alaska, ako ‘yon. Ditto ako napilayan, kung baga 2-0 na kami last year tapos sa sobrang pagpapakamatay ko, doon ako napilayan. Nagtiyaga ako for almost one year sa therapy ko for this conference. At least ‘yung nangyari sa akin last year, ito na ang kapalit.”
