God favors Jawo, Ginebra

Sometimes, you’ll just have to throw away logic, the Xs and Os and all those post-game analyses to try and explain what just happened last night. 

In the wordsof  Ginebra coach Chot Tanquincen after the Kings’ thrilling win over the Petron Blaze Boosters: "God couldn't have a written better script for this night.”

And he couldn’t have said it better.

The game between Ginebra and Petron was indeed fixed. Somebody call Don Allado, we’re going to bomb Twitter with this new conspiracy. But this time, it’s not the PBA management that we’re going to blame in this fixture, because apparently after how last night ended, God must be a Ginebra fan!

There couldn’t have been a much better ending to the night wherein, Robert Jaworski, the man who created the “never-say-die” identity of Ginebra was being given recognition. There couldn’t have been a much better ending to the night wherein more than 15,000 Ginebra fans stormed to Cubao to witness the legend and their favorite team live on the hardwood. Nope, there couldn’t have been a better ending than this one.

With Petron in control for pretty much the whole game, Ginebra somehow found a way to get back and steal one from the Blaze Boosters through a last-second shot by Ginebra import Cedric Bozeman who was, by the way, struggling all night.

You think that was not fitting? Take this: Ginebra was down by 11 points heading to the final quarter following a booming Dondon Hontiveros three-pointer. With the momentum on Petron’s side, it would have been one of those games wherein Ginebra would’ve just faded in the final canto.

Still not satisfied? How about this one: Mark Caguioa, the guy widely considered as Jaworski’s heir, dropped Jawo-esque numbers with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists to steer the Kings back into the ball game. Caguioa dropped 17 of his 25 markers in the second half.

In an emotional night for Jawo and all of the fans who trooped to Araneta, that was exactly the most fitting ending.

No better script: Ginebra wins one for Jawo on his retirement ceremony. Photo by The STAR's JUN MENDOZA

The game felt like it was taken from the pages of a Hollywood script or a fairytale book. In the night wherein you’re honoring the man who set the foundation for your team, for Ginebra to win that way was just amazing, and being a part of that electric crowd of 15,000 was just chilling.

From the ceremonies to the final buzzer of the game, from the introduction of the past Ginebra players to Robert Jaworski’s speech up to Mark Caguioa’s post-game interview, last night was a live testimony of how it feels like to be a part of this Barangay. From the chants of “Ginebra! Ginebra!” during the retirement ceremony, the chants of “Jaworski! Jaworski!” that brought the tough court general to tears, the chants of “MVP! MVP!” during the game each time Caguioa handled the ball, to the cheers of a roaring crowd after the final buzzer in a Ginebra win, everything was priceless. It felt like Petron, who in their right has a very good fan base, was playing in Ginebra’s own home court. That’s how special that night was for Ginebra fans.

And in the night wherein it was supposed to be the fans’ turn to pay tribute to Jaworski and Ginebra, Ginebra fans went home as the winners yet again, much like how they felt when Jaworski was ruling the court in the late 80s and in the 90s. Despite having different faces, a different coaching staff and the famed Jaworski sitting in the Araneta locker room instead of the bench, it didn’t matter. It had the same exact feeling for Ginebra. 

It was that feeling when Ginebra fights back and wins the game in the end, showing the heart and courage that Robert Jaworski and the past Ginebra stalwarts were known for.

In a magical night for the Jaworski family and the Ginebra franchise, the ending couldn’t have been better. 

For Ginebra fans everywhere, it was another Ginebra tale to remember. 

Savor this Ginebra fans, much like Jawo and this year’s Ginebra team, you deserve it.