By REYNALD MAGALLON
Barangay Ginebra channeled its never-say-die attitude once again to author to another huge come-from-behind win over bitter rival Magnolia – reminiscent of the good, old days of the team during the era of Sonny Jaworski according to head coach Tim Cone.
The splendid performance of Scottie Thompson, spearheading a huge fourth quarter uprising after scoring nine of his 14 points before Justin Brownlee took over in the waning minutes actually reminded Cone of how Jaworski carried Ginebra to improbable comebacks in his heyday.
“I grew up watching Sonny Jaworski and the old Toyota days and early Ginebra days and I tell you, I’d never seen someone bring back a team like Sonny Jaworski did except tonight when Scotty brought us back. I mean that was really, that was really Jaworski like tonight,” said Cone during the post-game presser of Ginebra’s 103-97 triumph over Magnolia during the Commissioner’s Cup edition of the Manila Clasico.
“That was what I’m thinking the whole game. I felt like I was watching Sonny Jaworski with the barreling drives, rebounds. It was really a tribute to Sonny tonight,” he added.
Thompson, whose Kings trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half, pumped some life to Ginebra’s cause with timely baskets and emphatic rebounds as the Kings’ faithfuls in the good-size MOA Arena came alive with their iconic Ginebra chants during the searing rally.
Tied 97-all, Ginebra then leaned on the cold-blooded baskets from Brownlee who nailed a tough step-back jumper to put the Kings for good before icing the game with four consecutive free throws.
“I thought we came out a little tight today. We were trying to do a little bit of new things and we came out a little tight, a little frustrated but just needed that one big run. Justin in the third quarter and then scottie took over in the fourth and then it was our typical never-say-die ginebra days in the 90’s in my opinion,” said Cone.
“I remember being on the other side of those things losing to those things so it was great to be on this side,” the multi-titled coach added.
With the win, Ginebra emerged as the league’s current streak busters after putting a stop to Magnolia’s previously perfect run, just a week after it also handed PBA guest team Bay Area its first taste of defeat ever since setting foot in the country.
“It’s good to win, I mean when I left San Mig Coffee and I went to Ginebra, I think we beat them like 9 of 10 straight times. And we really felt like we had their number. And then they just completely turn the tables on us. And then they’ve been beating us ever since and it’s been frustrating.”
