PRO league and Ginebra great Robert “Sonny” Jaworski must have been smiling hugely wherever he was last Sunday night.
Down big but not out, the Kings summoned their famed never-say-die spirit — which the former senator inculcated in the team — in a furious fightback against archnemesis Magnolia in their “Manila Clasico” duel.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone likened the grit displayed by reigning MVP Scottie Thompson, who played a big role in their comeback from a 15-point third quarter deficit, to Jaworki’s.
“I grew up watching Sonny Jaworski in the old Toyota days and early Ginebra days and I tell you, I’ve never seen someone bring back a team like Sonny Jaworski did except tonight when Scottie brought us back,” Cone said.
“That was really Jaworski-like, like I was watching all over with Jaworski with his barreling drive, the rebounds… was really a tribute to Sonny tonight,” he added.
Cone spoke after the Kings pulled off a dramatic 103-97 victory over the erstwhile unbeaten Hotshots in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Before a wild and roaring crowd of 12,087 at the Mall of Asia Arena, import Justin Brownlee scattered a game-high 26 points, on top of eight rebounds, and 12 assists for Ginebra, while Jamie Malonzo notched a double-double of 18 markers and 14 boards.
Thompson wound up with 14 points, four caroms, and six dimes, while Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar also had 14 and 13 markers, respectively, for the Kings, who rebounded from a 93-101 loss to Phoenix 11 days ago and improved to 3-2 in a tie with Converge for fourth.
Magnolia saw its five-game winning streak, including a 109-91 thumping of NorthPort nine days ago, come to a screeching halt and fell to 5-1 for second.
Cone was simply elated his charges finally got one over the Hotshots after three years.
“It’s good to win. I mean, you know, when I left San Mig Coffee, and I went to Ginebra, I think we beat them nine or 10 times and we really felt like we had their number, and they just completely turned the tables on us, and they’ve been beating us ever since,” Cone said.
“We talked about it yesterday during our pre-game prep. I thought we came out a little tight today. We were trying out a few new things. We came out tight and a little frustrated, but we just needed that one big run.”
Brownlee and Thompson’s efforts in the second half righted the ship for Ginebra, according to Cone.
“Justin had a big third quarter then Scottie took over in the fourth. Again, it was a typical never-say-die Ginebra game in the 1990s in my opinion,” he said. “I remember those. I remember being on the other side of those teams when I was losing to those teams. So, it’s great to be on this side.”
Paul Lee carried the fight for Magnolia with 22 points and three rebounds, while reinforcement Nick Rakocevic added 21 markers, 17 boards, and six feeds.
Ian Sangalang, Jio Jalalon, and Jerrick Ahanmisi also got 13, 11, and 11 points, respectively for the Hotshots.
