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Gins need a miracle
July 1995
Mathematically, Ginebra San Miguel still has a chance to survive the elimination round of the PBA Commissioner's Cup. that is, if Ginebra could muster a surprised comeback by beating talent-laden squads Purefoods TJ Hotdogs tomorrow, San Miguel Beer on Sunday and Sta.Lucia next Saturday, and neither Formula Shell nor Pepsi Mega reach four wins.
Tough job, indeed, but if Ginebra hopes for at least a chance at a quarterfinals berth, the Gins have to do it on their own. But this is really nothing new for the Ginmakers. Fact is, Ginebra has been languishing at the bottom for the past six tournaments.
And cynics further compound the woes of the Gins by saying only a miracle could resurrect Ginebra. Others insist the locals' lackadaisical performance has been a culprit in the team's sorry state in the Commissioner's Cup. Only a revamp could revitalize Ginebra's waning popularity.
Some quarters, though, insist that for Ginebra to keep up with the rest of the eight-team field, the 49-year-old Robert Jaworski, the PBA’s Living Legend, should take a backseat, refrain from playing and leave all court action to his wards. That’s the only way for Ginebra to get back to its winning ways, according to the non-believers.
Unfortunately, those remarks have come from even some people who once were cheering for Jaworski and company. They have turned their backs against the Big J and shifted to other ballclubs. And the Big J absolutely doesn’t like what he hears.
Jaworski, obviously peeved by those unwelcome remarks, chided his critics whom he brands sarcastically as “mga genius na wala namang nalalaman.” Defending his stand, Jaworski cited the predicament of two of the most talented ballclubs in the league which have yet to get their tickets to the quarterfinals “Ano ba ang kaibahan namin sa Shell at Purefoods, ano? He asks, then he continues, “Pareho lang naman kami ah, Ang problema, sa kanila. Puro superstars eh kami, We’ve learning.”
But Jaworski is not just looking for excuses or finding fault in others. Fact is, he recognizes the problem hounding the team. There’s a lot more to be done to finally break the long spell that’s hitting his team. “Our team is a new group since last year.” Noli Locsin, Wilmer Ong and Porfirio Marzan were acquired last year in the annual draft while Benny Cheng was acquired from Purefoods last year. Ngayon, bago na naman tayo. We’ve just starting to blend in the All-Filipino.”
To add to Ginebra’s trouble, import Isaiah Morris wasn’t as good as his credentials say. Even his replacement, Darryl Prue, has nothing spectacular to offer (his debut performance was frustrating as the Gins lost anew to Alaska in Iloilo last weekend).
Said Jaworski of Morris, who disappointingly could only give Ginebra a single victory (against co-cellar dweller Pepsi Mega) before leaving the squad two weeks ago following a loss to Sta.Lucia Realty, “We had that American (Morris) na hindi naman talaga ganoon ka-brilliant. In America, he plays well, but obviously doon, walang double-teaming. Plus the fact (it is) not for him to be the reason for the debacle that is happening to the team.
Just the same, Ginebra needs to rebound quickly. It must make a real turnaround to keep their appeal to the paying public stable and unharmed. For if Ginebra keeps losing time and again, no one knows how long they could hold to their throng of followers who continue to cheer and have been loyal to the squad for a long time.
For how long, that remains to be seen.
July 1995
Mathematically, Ginebra San Miguel still has a chance to survive the elimination round of the PBA Commissioner's Cup. that is, if Ginebra could muster a surprised comeback by beating talent-laden squads Purefoods TJ Hotdogs tomorrow, San Miguel Beer on Sunday and Sta.Lucia next Saturday, and neither Formula Shell nor Pepsi Mega reach four wins.
Tough job, indeed, but if Ginebra hopes for at least a chance at a quarterfinals berth, the Gins have to do it on their own. But this is really nothing new for the Ginmakers. Fact is, Ginebra has been languishing at the bottom for the past six tournaments.
And cynics further compound the woes of the Gins by saying only a miracle could resurrect Ginebra. Others insist the locals' lackadaisical performance has been a culprit in the team's sorry state in the Commissioner's Cup. Only a revamp could revitalize Ginebra's waning popularity.
Some quarters, though, insist that for Ginebra to keep up with the rest of the eight-team field, the 49-year-old Robert Jaworski, the PBA’s Living Legend, should take a backseat, refrain from playing and leave all court action to his wards. That’s the only way for Ginebra to get back to its winning ways, according to the non-believers.
Unfortunately, those remarks have come from even some people who once were cheering for Jaworski and company. They have turned their backs against the Big J and shifted to other ballclubs. And the Big J absolutely doesn’t like what he hears.
Jaworski, obviously peeved by those unwelcome remarks, chided his critics whom he brands sarcastically as “mga genius na wala namang nalalaman.” Defending his stand, Jaworski cited the predicament of two of the most talented ballclubs in the league which have yet to get their tickets to the quarterfinals “Ano ba ang kaibahan namin sa Shell at Purefoods, ano? He asks, then he continues, “Pareho lang naman kami ah, Ang problema, sa kanila. Puro superstars eh kami, We’ve learning.”
But Jaworski is not just looking for excuses or finding fault in others. Fact is, he recognizes the problem hounding the team. There’s a lot more to be done to finally break the long spell that’s hitting his team. “Our team is a new group since last year.” Noli Locsin, Wilmer Ong and Porfirio Marzan were acquired last year in the annual draft while Benny Cheng was acquired from Purefoods last year. Ngayon, bago na naman tayo. We’ve just starting to blend in the All-Filipino.”
To add to Ginebra’s trouble, import Isaiah Morris wasn’t as good as his credentials say. Even his replacement, Darryl Prue, has nothing spectacular to offer (his debut performance was frustrating as the Gins lost anew to Alaska in Iloilo last weekend).
Said Jaworski of Morris, who disappointingly could only give Ginebra a single victory (against co-cellar dweller Pepsi Mega) before leaving the squad two weeks ago following a loss to Sta.Lucia Realty, “We had that American (Morris) na hindi naman talaga ganoon ka-brilliant. In America, he plays well, but obviously doon, walang double-teaming. Plus the fact (it is) not for him to be the reason for the debacle that is happening to the team.
Just the same, Ginebra needs to rebound quickly. It must make a real turnaround to keep their appeal to the paying public stable and unharmed. For if Ginebra keeps losing time and again, no one knows how long they could hold to their throng of followers who continue to cheer and have been loyal to the squad for a long time.
For how long, that remains to be seen.
