In Case You Missed It: Thank You #ManilaClasico BY Nikko Ramos

In Case You Missed It: Thank You #ManilaClasico BY Nikko Ramos



Before another instalment of the biggest rivalry in the PBA began, everyone’s eyes and ears were pointed towards Renaldo Balkman, sitting in the middle of the AKTV Center set, dwarfing Mico Halili and Ronnie Magsanoc. Not because he’s a really big man, but because the load he was carrying on his shoulders was much, much larger. Literally all the attention in the world when it came to the PBA, at that very moment, was on Balkman and his meltdown. Not on Manila Clasico.

And then the ball was tipped. And then we all forgot Arwind’s neck being grabbed. And none of us looked back. To trim the list to just three details would be a crying shame. So here’s everything you need to know about San Mig Coffee taking on Barangay Ginebra in an instant classic, ICY were crazy enough to MI:





This post will end up being a 5-book novel series if I elaborated on every single detail that deserved elaborating on. Such is the curse of the human brain. I’m seriously unsure if we can handle all that basketball awesomess without blowing a gasket somewhere in our heads.

But just to get it out of the way, here’s what went down that deserves some ink:

1. Chris Ellis got a dunk immediately after the jump ball. Dude can jump.



2. James Yap answered with a three. Dude can shoot.

3. BillyMams (I refuse to spell his name any other way) and his shooting (!!!) was San Mig Coffee’s biggest problem early on.

4. Kerby Raymundo and his offense off the bench (!!!) also became cause for Tim Cone headaches.



5. Somewhere in there, a nice little preview of the future took place between Ellis and Alex Mallari. Air Force got that huge chasedown block and Mallari got a highlight with that nice little grown-man move as he brushed off Mark Caguioa for the layup on the break.

6. Mark Caguioa was hot from the get go. (SPOILER ALERT: He would stay hot til the beautiful end)

7. James Yap hit a three from, well, allow our own Robi Raya to tell you:

That was from Isabelle Oli’s apartment! Ang layo!

— Roberto Luis B. Raya (@DaRealRobiRaya) March 10, 2013

Told you. Dude can shoot.

8. Jerwin Gaco came into the game and put in quality minutes. #GaconaticsAssemble



9. LA Tenorio and Vernon Macklin decided to be the PBA’s CP3 and Blake. You pass, I dunk. Simple formula. Exciting results.

10. Joe De Vance kept a struggling SMC team afloat for a stretch.

11. Last two minutes. Ginebra up 10. Game should be done, yes? NOT.

12. SMC and their press cut it to 5 quicker than you can say “Triangle, pare!”

13. CAGUIOA. Mark. The Spark. PinoyVino. Caguioa. Big three from the elbow.



14. YAP. James. Carlos. Big Game. I Don’t Say Die Either. Yap. Answers with a three.



15. In the end, it was CAGUIOA AGAIN. Corner three. Bench goes crazy. Barangay goes wild.

16. With the game sealed, Ellis threw it up to VMack for an exclamation point of a jam as time ran out. Tim Cone didn’t like it.

17. Ginebra wins. #ManilaClasico comes at the perfect time.

With all the negativity floating around Philippine basketball, what with the Balkman meltdown and the new UAAP rule, Pinoy hoopheads needed aboost, a break, a reminder why we’re all so madly in Meg Ryan rom-com love with this game. In comes James Yap and Mark Caguioa duelling til the very end. Thank you Ginebra. Thank you San Mig Coffee.

Just when everyone around the world re-discovered the PBA thanks to the latest #Petronovela episode, many of us felt upset. Upset that the only time we make Sportscenter is when Balkman chokes a teammate or when Mick Pennisi flops. “If only they knew more about the league”, we sighed.

The world may not have seen this game. Caguioa and Yap’s battle will probably not go viral outside the Philippines. But WE saw it. WE felt it. And now, just in case we forgot for a moment, WE know for sure: Damn, nothing beats Philippine basketball.

That’s why this night will always be special, why my grandkids, and your grandkids, will be sick and tired of hearing about it. It’s because nobody lost. Not us. Not San Mig Coffee. Ginebra took the victory, but we are all winners.

The PBA is a great league. #ManilaClasico, its greatest rivalry. Why? Because all it took was one game for two teams, two transcendent stars, to heal the wounds of a tumultuous week.

On this night, hindi lang Ginebra. Pati San Mig. Pati buong PBA. Pati lahat tayong mga fans. None of us ever said die.

Salamat, #ManilaClasico.

Photos c/o Interaktv, Nuki Sabio

Source: Slamonlineph.com