Caguioa overwhelmed as Ginebra fans vow to stand by team down to bitter end

Caguioa overwhelmed as Ginebra fans vow to stand by team down to bitter end
By Snow Badua



BARANGAY Ginebra may be in a deep 0-2 hole in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Alaska, but the undying love shown by the team’s army of fans has left players overwhelmed.

On Saturday, superstar Mark Caguioa was touched to see a horde of fans show up in Ginebra’s afternoon practice at the Xavier School gym, a day after the Kings proved disappointments once again in a 90-104 loss to Alaska in Game Two.

“Just finished practice ibang klase talaga ipinapakita ng mga fans ang dami nag punta today miske 0-2 Talagang dpa tapos ang laban,” said Caguioa, ending the tweet with the hashtag #BANGONGINEBRA.

Ginebra’s less-heralded guard Robert Labagala said the fans' support has served as added motivation for the team in its bid to pull off a comeback from 0-2 down - a feat last achieved 23 years ago by a Baby Dalupan-coached Purefoods in the 1990 Third Conference, interestingly against Alaska.

“Talagang hindi na namin iniisip na mag-champion para lang sa sarili namin. Magsisikap kami talaga na mag champion para sa kanila (fans),” said Labagala, one of the remnants of the Ginebra team that lost in the 2011 Commissioner’s Cup Finals to Talk 'N Text.

A group of Ginebra fans has even launched an online campaign calling on 'kabarangays' to stand by the team until the trophy presentation, if the series ends on Sunday.

“Sana po sa mga diehard na manonod ng live … Wag sana nating iwan yung team… Sana mag stay till tawagin yung team and (let’s all) shout the Gi-ne-bra, Gi-ne-bra chant,” said diehard Karlo Mari Gamboa in an online message that has gone viral on Ginebra fan sites.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @snowbadua

Source: SpinPH