MANILA – It was a double celebration for Negrense 3-point gunner Jeffrei Chan of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings on Tuesday evening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Aside from his team reaching the 2018 Governors’ Cup semifinal round, the Bacolod City native also became the latest member of the elite 5,000-point club of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Entering Tuesday’s match against the NLEX Road Warriors, Chan needed just 3 points to become the 91st club member but he made more – tallying 12 points on top of three rebounds and five assists in their 111-75 victory.
“Malaking accomplishment ito kasi to be one of 90-plus players, ’di ba? Kahit paano, may accomplishments tayo,” said Chan, a three-time PBA champion, one-time Finals MVP and multiple All-Star.
“Masaya na makapasok sa 5k club pero most important ay nanalo kami at naka-advance sa semis,” he added. “Iyon naman ang importante. Bonus na lang iyong 5,000 points.”
But Chan knew his team’s title-retention bid will not be easy. They are set to face rival Magnolia Hotshots in a best-of-five semifinals series. Hotshots reached the next round by taking down Blackwater Elite 103-99.
“We will start our preparation agad (on Wednesday). Magfo-focus kami sa defense kasi high-scoring team iyan e,” Chan said. “’Pag pumutok iyan sa labas, mahihirapan kami. Basta ma-limit lang namin sila, we’re gonna be OK.”
“Personally I’m just happy lang na nasa winning team ako and nakakapag-contribute kahit paano,” he added. “Basta makatulong lang ako, OK na iyon. Maka-ambag ako nang kaunti, OK na iyon.”/PN
