Nang Maging Champion Ang GINEBRA!

Nang Maging Champion Ang Ginebra: 1986 Open Conference

Jay P. Mercado, special to InterAKTV · Saturday, July 7, 2012 · 6:23 pm


This series, which takes a look back at Robert Jaworski’s four titles as playing-coach of Ginebra, is part of 7 Days of Jaworski, InterAKTV’s special tribute to the Living Legend, whose jersey will be retired on Sunday, July 8.



In 1986, fans at the ULTRA could hardly feel the cold December weather. The PBA Open Conference featured a heated matchup between Ginebra San Miguel and Manila Beer, the two teams that ruled most of the tournament.


Nang Maging Champion Ang Ginebra

The finals duels came as no surprise, because the two teams featured the best import duos in the PBA. Ginebra had two former Best Import awardees in Michael Hackett and Billy Ray Bates, while Manila Beer had former University of Houston star Michael Young and the cunning Harold Keeling.

Both teams were hungry, because neither franchise had won a PBA title yet.

Ginebra was led by playing-coach Robert Jaworski, but his bosom buddy, Francis Arnaiz, left the team for the United States midway through the conference. Veterans Chito Loyzaga, Terry Saldana, Romy Mamaril, Joey Marquez, Ed Ducut, and Rey Perez were joined by newcomers Joey Loyzaga, Rudy Distrito, and Dante Gonzalgo. Rookies Dondon Ampalayo, Leo Isaac, and Mike Advani made up the rest of the team.

Curiously, Manila Beer’s nucleus was made up of several Crispa Redmanizers, including Atoy Co, Abet Guidaben, Yoyoy Villamin, Mon Cruz, and Tito Varela. Jaworski’s Toyota teammates, Ed Cordero and Tim Coloso, were also with Manila Beer.

Game One of the series lived up to the hype, going down to the very final second. With under seven seconds left and the game tied at 133-all, Young, the Best Import of the tournament, missed a challenged shot from the flank. Bates collared the rebound, dribbled coast-to-coast, and sailed for a powerful jam just before buzzer went off. There was massive bedlam at ULTRA as Bates was mobbed by his teammates.

Manila Beer equalized in Game Two through the heroic efforts of its twin imports, 121-111, while Ginebra exacted revenge in Game Three with a 139-130 victory.

Leading 2-1, Ginebra smelled blood. But Manila Beer wouldn’t go down easily. The epic Game Four went into double-overtime, with Jaworski — then already 40 years old — playing all 58 minutes of the game! Ginebra pulled out the win, 145-135.

The loss took the starch out of Brewmasters, which lost to an inspired Gins team in Game Five, 130-120. Michael Hackett, who played a supporting role to Bates for most of the conference, erupted for 45 points, while Bates added 31.

It was Ginebra’s first title in franchise history, and Jaworski’s first championship as a playing coach.
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Nang Maging Champion Ang Ginebra: 1988 All-Filipino Conference

Jay P. Mercado, special to InterAKTV · Saturday, July 7, 2012 · 10:39 pm


This series, which takes a look back at Robert Jaworski’s four titles as playing-coach of Ginebra, is part of 7 Days of Jaworski, InterAKTV’s special tribute to the Living Legend, whose jersey will be retired on Sunday, July 8.



The 1988 All-Filipino Conference finals between Añejo and Purefoods was one of the most hyped championship series in PBA history. People saw it as the battle of former Toyota teammates and arch-rivals Robert Jaworski and Ramon Fernandez, who were facing each other in the finals for the second time.


Nang Maging Champion Ang Ginebra

While the two teams split their games in the semis, Purefoods was the odds-on favorite coming into the series after leading the standings all through the eliminations and semifinals to earn the first finals seat. Añejo, on the other hand, had to survive an epic sudden-death match against San Miguel, 102-100, to earn the second championship seat.

Purefoods was a powerhouse, with Fernandez backstopped by the core of the disbanded Tanduay squad led by JB Yango, Willie Generalao and Padim Israel. More importantly, they were bannered by top rookies Jojo Lastimosa, Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Glenn Capacio and Jack Tanuan.

Añejo, on the other hand, had old reliables such as the Loyzaga brothers Chito and Joey, Rudy Distrito, Leo Isaac, Dondon Ampalayo, Romulo Mamaril, Dante Gonzalgo and Harmon Codinera teaming up with the Big J.

Game One was close all throughout. It was a seesaw battle until the dying minutes, and Fernandez uncharacteristically buckled under pressure and missed two crucial free throws late in the game. Añejo was able to convert on the next play, and went on to shock Purefoods, 111-105.

Game Two was rocked with controversy. Purefoods coach Cris Calilan benched Fernandez for the entire game despite being on the bench. No one at ULTRA had any inkling why Fernandez was not fielded in, but it didn’t stop the Hotdogs from exacting vengeance against the 65ers, winning 117-112 after getting 54 free throw attempts. Lastimosa top-scored for Purefoods with 27 points while Jaworski led Añejo with 20.

In the post-game interview, Calilan revealed he received instructions from top management just before the start of the game not to play Fernandez. This instruction apparently covered the entire finals series.

Despite playing without the team’s spiritual leader, Purefoods remained competitive, as its rookies more than held their own against Añejo. But what was sorely missed was the veteran leadership and presence of their former playing coach. With Game Three closely fought, Añejo eked out a 112-110 victory courtesy of the Big J’s two made free throws, negating Totoy Marquez’s heroic 30-point performance.

With a 2-1 lead, Añejo was poised to win the championship but it didn’t come easy. Before the game, reports filtered out that Añejo forward Dondon Ampalayo just came from the hospital, having been on dextrose because of apparent exhaustion.

Purefoods was ahead practically the entire game, posting a commanding 76-57 lead in the third quarter. But Añejo made its move in the fourth. With the Hotdogs ahead 114-107 with a little over two minutes left in the game, Ampalayo strung together eight points, including a crucial follow-up off a Chito Loyzaga miss to tie the game at 117 with 36 seconds left.

After a Jerry Codiñera jumper with 22 seconds to go, the Jaworski mystique came to fore once more. The Big J missed a defended three pointshot but collared the offensive board and went up for a twinner to knot the count amidst an explosion from the crowd with 2 seconds remaining. The game went to overtime.

In the extra period, Jaworski led the 65ers, scoring four clutch free throws, stealing the ball twice, feeding Mamaril for the go-ahead basket, and drawing the last foul of Generalao, earning for himself Best Player honors. The 42-year old Big J led all scorers with 28 points to earn his second championship for a team best described by late broadcaster Pinggoy Pengson as put together by “Spit, Guts, and Jaworski pride.”


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Nang Maging Champion Ang Ginebra: 1991 First Conference

Jay P. Mercado, special to InterAKTV · Sunday, July 8, 2012 · 2:00 pm


This series, which takes a look back at Robert Jaworski’s four titles as playing-coach of Ginebra, is part of 7 Days of Jaworski, InterAKTV’s special tribute to the Living Legend, whose jersey will be retired on Sunday, July 8.



There was unfinished business between Shell and Ginebra when the two teams met in the finals of the 1991 First Conference. The previous year, the two squads met in the PBA’s season-opening tournament, a controversial finals series that ended in a tumultuous Game Six that sawthe 65ers walking out of the game. Shell was leading, 62-47, with less than three minutes in the second quarter, and Añejo felt like it was getting the raw end of the referees’ calls.


Nang Maging Champion Ang Ginebra

Robert Jaworski and the rest of Añejo headed to the locker room and never returned. The PBA slapped the team a hefty P550,000 fine.

It was providential that the two franchises would clash again a year later. Shell had retained its import, Bobby Parks, but lost veteran leader Arnie Tuadles to Great Taste. Ginebra beefed up its lineup by signing Philip Cezar from free agency, and was getting back top backcourt defender Leo Isaac, who missed the previous year’s series because of injury. The Gins also featured Jervis Cole, a more offensive-minded import.

Shell established its supremacy early in the series, winning Game One through the collective effort of former University of the Philippines stars Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc.

Ginebra came back strong in Game Two, with Jaworski leading a fourth-quarter comeback. The Living Legend scored the last 10 points in regulation for Ginebra, capped by a trademark barreling drive that resulted in a three-point play off Magsanoc. Jaworski continued his onslaught in overtime, forcing Magsanoc to foul out, and leading Ginebra to the 125-114 victory. The 45-year-old Jaworski ended the game with 20points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

Shell won the next two games, including a 127-125 overtime victory that gave it a 3-1 edge.

Despite the big hole, Ginebra remained unbowed under Jaworski’s leadership. Ginebra dismantled Shell in Game Five, 116-90, highlighted by an incredible 32-0 run in the fourth quarter to break the game wide open.

Shell fans were confident heading into Game Six, because they felt their team simply “rested” in Game Five. True enough, Shell established command of the game early, leading by 14 points in the second quarter.

But Ginebra gnawed at the lead, and pressured Shell to commit one uncharacteristic error after another. Buoyed by cheers from the ULTRA crowd, Jaworski and Ginebra walked out victorious, 123-119, capped by two free throws by Distrito and a monster dunk by Cole in the final seconds.

Suddenly, it was down to one game for all the marbles.

Game Seven was held on a Sunday. ULTRA was packed to the rafters as Ginebra fans came out in droves, anticipating no less than a third championship for the team.

But if fans thought Shell players would be jittery, they were disappointed. Shell zoomed ahead led by Parks, Magsanoc, and Paras. Jaworski had to play extra minutes to make sure that the game would not get out of reach for Ginebra. The Big J masterfully orchestrated Ginebra’s plays, which were mostly anchored on Cole.

In one memorable play, Paras was about to pick up a loose ball, only to be shocked to see Jaworski diving to the floor to tap the ball to the Ginebra import, who responded with a thunderous slam dunk. It was the never-say-die spirit at its finest.

Ginebra kept the game close, with the leading changing hands now and then. With four seconds left and the game tied at 102, Paras blocked a Chito Loyzaga drive, sending the ball careening out of bounds. Jaworski sued for time and drew up a play for Distrito.

Jaworski inbounded the ball to the waiting Distrito, who drove for quickly to the basket. He was forced to alter his shot, falling away to avoid the outstretched arms of Paras and Jojo Martin.

Distrito’s “Hail Mary” was answered as the ball miraculously found its way inside the basket, as the crowd exploded with a deafening roar. It was bedlam at ULTRA, but there was still one second left for Shell to tie the game.

In the ensuing play Magsanoc got himself open for a three-point shot — or so he thought. But Cole came flying out of nowhere to block the attempt, preserving the historic Ginebra victory.

Jaworski won Best Player honors, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in another sensational championship performance that will be remembered as the greatest finals game in PBA history.


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Nang Maging Champion Ang Ginebra: 1997 Commissioner’s Cup
Jay P. Mercado, special to InterAKTV · Sunday, July 8, 2012 · 3:22 pm


This series, which takes a look back at Robert Jaworski’s four titles as playing-coach of Ginebra, is part of 7 Days of Jaworski, InterAKTV’s special tribute to the Living Legend, whose jersey will be retired on Sunday, July 8.



History was stacked against Robert Jaworski when his Gordon’s Gin Boars went up against the formidable Alaska Milkmen in the 1997 Commissioner’s Cup. Jaworski had not beaten Tim Cone in two previous finals matchups, and the Milkmen was in the midst of their dominant run.


Nang Maging Champion Ang Ginebra

Alaska flexed just enough muscle to get the first finals berth, while Gordon’s Gin had to go through the wringer in a sudden-death game against San Miguel Beer that went into double overtime, 106-100.

The Milkmen were reinforced by former Pepsi import Kevin Holland. Gordon’s Gin meanwhile, brought in Chris King as a late replacement for the high-flying Tyrone Hopkins, who was given the pink slip at the end of the elims despite the Boars’ 6-3 card.

Jaworski felt that he needed a more complete player to reinforce the team, so while Hopkins was no slouch, Jaworski pulled the trigger on the import change.

Their marathon duel with the Beermen just three days before the start of the finals had Boars fans worried.

But Jaworski had some tricks up his sleeve. He kept himself on the bench all game, relying on speedy Bal David and sniper Pido Jarencio to quarterback the team. Jaworski also assigned sophomore center Marlou Aquino to cover Holland in the post one-on-one. In the first game, Aquino even outscored Holland, 24-21, while King had a triple-double to lead Gordon’s Gin to a surprise 99-89 victory.

Game Two turned out to be a pivotal game. With his confidence oozing, King went for a slam at the end of the third quarter, but suffered a hamstring injury in the play. King had to be subbed out, allowing the Milkmen to grab control. With Alaska ahead 95-93, Jaworski sent King back into the game, and the import responded by nailing a dagger three-pointer that inspired Gordon’s Gin to a 102-96 victory. Jaworski and co. surged to a 2-0 lead, but a dark cloud hung over Ginebra fans because of the injury to King, who was a doubtful starter in Game Three.

But Gordon’s locals stepped up to the challenge. With the hampered King playing just 15 minutes, Jarencio and reserve Terry Saldaña went to work. Jarencio sizzled all night long with seven three-pointers for 23 points, while Saldaña did a solid 26-minute relief job, scoring 10 points and hauling down 12 rebounds while outrebounding the entire Alaska team in the third quarter. With 1:20 remaining and Alaska ahead, 86-84, Jarencio sank his seventh trey to put Gordon’s ahead, 87-86, the same score when the buzzer sounded. Jarencio’s seven treys was one short of the PBA record owned by Jaworski, which he established way back in 1980.

Alaska battled back to win the next two games, 108-90 and 86-81, primarily through the heroics of Jojo Lastimosa.

With pressure mounting, Jaworski summoned every single ounce of his players’ collective strength to focus on Game Six. The Living Legend wanted his players to give everything and play like there was no tomorrow.

The players responded, as four locals backstopped King with twin digits. After taking a 46-44 lead at the half, Gordon’s Gin turned the game into a rout, exploded for 33 points while limiting Alaska to just five. Gordon’s took a 79-49 lead going into the fourth quarter, and wound up with the 105-79 victory.

“Pinagpaguran namin ito. Hindi ito drawing o chamba. Our focus to win was there and I’m glad that everyone responded to the challenge. If they just use their minds, it would be our biggest weapon. It’s just a matter of being focused and the boys were able to accomplish that,” said Jaworski after copping his 4th title as a playing coach of the franchise.

Source: Interaksyon.com