Granted Wish: A fangirl's take on her team's grand slam feat
It was 0:26 in 4th Quarter when Rain or Shine PG Paul Lee's crucial and unguarded three pointer did not make it through the basket -- and that's when I knew that the championship was perhaps not meant to be theirs.But I could not be so much confident about winning as I watch Lee's three pointer rattled in and out of the ring. If my team is doing everything for them not to lose their dream history, the other team's just as desperate to stop them as well.
Timeouts were called, fouls were (forcibly) given, and seconds ticked by. My team was missing its crucial free throws. Although we were up by three points, I can never be so sure.
And then the other team's import fired his make-or-break three-point attempt -- a shot that will either delay our grand slam by forcing an overtime, or kill their hopes of stopping our grand slam. Glued on my seat, I could only hold my breath. I was silently wishing for him to miss it.
And he missed it.
The crowd in blue and white roared and went wild as the balloons fell down on them. The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers is not only the 2014 Governor's Cup Champions, but also the 2014 Grand Slam Champions, after dominating three conferences in the whole season.
FALLING (AND STAYING) IN LOVE
I was nine when I first became interested on what my Daddy was watching every other night. Men were throwing balls in baskets, -- I thought it was just about that. But with my father explaining to me how this and that happens (and should happen), I began to understand that basketball is more than just the ball and hoops. There is magic in basketball.
The very first team that I liked in PBA was Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs. That was way back in 2004, the same year that marked the start of the James Yap era.
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| (c) PBA Images |
I remember not being able to watch basketball on a regular basis, unlike my father, because I was such a busy grade schooler, then, but I do remember also that I have never liked any other team aside from Purefoods. Their staff and players come and go, and even their names changed as conferences and seasons passed by, but nothing has changed my fondness of the said team.
Fast forward to when I was in junior high school, when the team was renamed as B-Meg. It was also when Tim Cone entered as their head coach, thus, he implemented his triangle offense technique to boost B-Meg's potentials of bagging championships. I saw how much Marc Pingris improved on his free throw-shooting and defense, and I witnessed many of the downfalls of James Yap, and how he rose each and every time he fails.
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| (c) thellamados.blogspot.com |
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| (c) purefoodsbasketball.com |
One of the most dramatic scenes I have ever witnessed is during the 2012 Commissioner's Cup Finals Game 7 against Talk n Text (my father's favorite team), when B-Meg was down by two, 74-76 in the dying 1.2 seconds of the last quarter. As people thought the game was over, it was revealed that Kelly Williams fouled on B-Meg's import Denzel Bowles with 1.7 seconds left, forcing the latter to take two shots from the free throw line. And as if the Heavens heard the wish of every B-Meg fan across the country, Bowles made his two crucial free throws, sending the team in tears of joy and relief and the game into overtime -- an overtime that was dominated by B-Meg.
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| (c) Photos from AKTV |
And that was when I realized that my love and admiration for this team has grown so much deeper.
But the odds weren't always in our favor, though. Despite being one of teams to beat in the league, the team had its own fair share of games that were almost theirs. Sometimes it hurts -- yes, it hurts a lot -- but this is basketball. The ball is round, and everything is possible. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.
THE COFFEE ERA (2012-present)
It was in 2012 when B-Meg Llamados became the San Mig Coffee Mixers. Little did everyone know that it is under this name that they will have the glory that they have worked so much for.
The 2012-2013 Philippine Cup was an almost there for the team, losing during the semi-finals to Rain or Shine, who eventually lost the championship to Talk n Text. The 2013 Commissioner's Cup was a not quite also, after failing to qualify to the finals, where Alaska won against Ginebra.
After the almosts and the not quites, the Mixers finally won their 10th championship -- the 2013 PBA Governor's Cup --after defeating Petron Blaze Boosters. Marc Pingris emerged as the Finals MVP, Marqus Blakely was hailed as the Best Import of the Conference and Coach Tim Cone had his 13th championship, tying him with his idol Baby Dalupan for the most number of PBA titles.
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| 2013 PBA Governor's Cup Champions (c) Photo from: pba-online.net |
And perhaps because of their 10th championship in the league, the San Mig Coffee Mixers was renamed as the San Mig SUPER Coffee Mixers -- the name that eventually owned the 2013-2014 PBA Season.
I have no words on how the men behind this team performed and worked in order to achieve a rare grand slam feat in the league. In every game, they just work so hard. There will be times that they will lose a game, but I'd like to think that it's okay, because they function so much better when the pressure's on, and when they need to seal a series. Every win is glorious, starting from their success in the 2013 Governor's Cup, their unbelievable win in 2013-2014 Philippine Cup and their victory in 2014 Commissioner's Cup.
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| 2013-2014 PBA Philippine Cup Champions (c) Photo from: pba-online.net |
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| 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup Champs (3PEAT) (c) Photo from: philstar |
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| 2014 PBA Governor's Cup Champs (Grand Slam!) (c) Photo from: Solar |
But when the crowd in blue and white went wild as the balloons fell down at The Big Dome last night, it was 10x more glorious. All the painful losses and the stupid controversies were instantly gone. After so many years of wishing for this for my favorite team, it's finally theirs.
My wish is granted. Their wish is granted. The grand slam is ours.
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| (c) Photos from: Yahoo! PH |
Labels: basketball, Laban San Mig, PBA, San Mig Coffee Mixers
1175 (If Only)
I have been told that you're difficult.To be honest, I don't know what they actually mean by "difficult." As I watch your life in pictures, I find it hard to believe that with those gentle eyes and inviting smile, is someone who might be hard to deal with.
According to them, it is primarily the reason why girls find it hard to stay with you.
They did not see that you were just striving for perfection so hard in order to provide happiness to your mother. They just pointed out the bad things. And because of this, I want to believe that you are just misunderstood -- that you are not difficult -- since somehow, I find myself in you. I scowl, I frown and become so unhappy at times, just like you. But little did they know how childish I am -- we are, actually -- when we get to comfortable around people.
And maybe that is our problem. We tend to get too comfortable around people and give them our trust quickly, that's why it hurts a lot when they disappoint us.
And that is why we hold back. When we hold back and isolate ourselves, they would think that we are "difficult."
How I wish that you would be just near -- I mean, you don't even know me, but I am pretty much sure that if you do, then you would be having someone who understands how you feel. Because let me tell you this, it is hard to have no one near you who completely feels the same way. It feels sad.
And I don't want you to feel sad.
You make people happy. You make me happy. You don't know how many people crave to see your smile everyday just for them to be happy. If I have my way, I'd go there and show you how much you have to be appreciated and understood.
If only fate could just give me a chance to be with you. If only.
10 things I learned in China (aside from Mandarin)
- If they say 9:00, then 9:00 it is. 9:01 is never 9:00. The locals here are strict about the time. If it's 8:40 on your ticket, the train is leaving at exactly 8:40. Be late once, then better be prepared to hear "Ah! You're late!" instead of their usual warm, "Ni hao!"
- The art of bargaining. Chinese vendors tend to charge foreigners up to 70% more than the original price. However, they would eventually give in if you become too makulit in bargaining. Here's one tip though: if you are not satisfied with their final price, you can just walk away. Count two seconds and they will call you back to let you buy the item with the price that you wanted. ;)
- Snickers is a better choice than Oreo. Because they are sooo much cheaper there. A regular sized Snickers there costs around 2.80rmb, which is around 28php only. The regular sized Oreos are being sold in 7rmb (49php), almost the same price here in the Philippines.
- Drink hot water. Because it's safer. You can't just trust the glass of water they serve in restaurants because tap water in China's not that good, so they serve it hot, just to prove that the water they give you is safe.
- There isn't such thing as a standard way to hold chopsticks. It's all up to you. Each local has a different way to hold a pair of chopsticks. Whichever way you think will be the easiest for you -- well, use it.
- Initiate a conversation, even if you are the foreigner. Locals tend to be a bit shy, especially when they are not too good in speaking English, so if you want to make friends, you better start talking to them first -- politely.
- Taiwan is considered as a Chinese province. And even if they use Mandarin, their accent is very different from the people in Mainland. I didn't know this until our tour guide pointed at huge standee of Lin Chi-ling (Jerry Yan's ex-girlfriend...) and told us that she is from Taiwan -- a province of China just above the Philippines. And I was like, oh... *me so dumb*
- Dumplings are considered as staple food. Dumplings there do not mix with rice and noodles. They are too heavy to be paired with other staple food -- because these dumplings are also considered as staple food.
- Your student's ID will be your best buddy. It is the key to endless 50% discounts on tourist tickets and such. Make sure it is always with you.
- Pick the middle bunk bed when riding the train for more than 8 hours. You wouldn't be able to enjoy the view when you pick the topmost and the lowest bunk. Plus the hassle.
Labels: Beijing, Mandarin, summer, Xi'an
