SOME members of the Magnolia Hotshots had a horrific experience moments after tallying a 112-108 win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings that sent them to the Finals of the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Buzzer Beater learned from a player who spoke on condition of anonymity that there was like a rally outside the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Friday evening with some angry Kings fans banging the Hotshots players’ cars.
“Galit na galit talaga iyong mga (Ginebra) fans. Hinahampas nila iyong sasakyan naming, then iyong side mirror tinutupi, pinapalo,” said the player. “Hindi lang sasakyan ko, pati na din noong iba kong kakampi.”
“Siyempre kung nasa loob ka ng sasakyan matatakot ka talaga kasi parang kinukuyog ka ng mga fans ng Ginebra e. Iyong eksena talaga parang iyong mga kinakalampag sa rally,” said the player.
“Mabuti na lang talaga may mga tao pa din na umawat. Sabagay hindi naman lahat ng fans ng Ginebra ay ganoon. May iilan lang siguro. Hindi rin naman namin sila masisisi kung mahal nila iyong team nila pero sana huwag naman ganoon,” the player added.
It was an emotional win for the Hotshots, which were hoping to end their four-year championship drought. It was the second time this season that the team entered the Finals after placing second to San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Cup.
The Chito Victolero-mentored squad awaits the winner of the Alaska Aces-Meralco Bolts series to be their opponent in the best-of-five Final round. The league has yet to announce the schedule of the finale.
GAVINA IN RAIN OR SHINE
After cutting short his stint as a head coach of the Columbian Dyip franchise earlier this year, Chris Gavina will return to the PBA next season after getting hired as assistant coach for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Gavina formalized his entry as one of the assistant coaches of head coach Carlos Garcia for the next PBA season after a meeting with Rain or Shine team governor Mamerto Mondragon last Friday.
“I am extremely honored and grateful for the trust and from Coach Caloy Garcia, Boss Raymond (Yu and) Boss Terry (Que) and Attorney Mamerto for this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to joining the Rain or Shine next season,” said Gavina.
“Chris (Gavina) will be a good fit with the team,” Garcia said in an online interview. “He really works hard, knows the game, and he brings a lot to the table. We’ll be happy to work with him.”
Gavina stepped down from the Dyip – then known as Kia Picanto – two games into this season’s Philippine Cup. He was then tapped as mentor of the Valenzuela squad in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League but also stepped down recently.
The 39-year-old was best remembered for steering the Columbian Autocar Corp. franchise to their first and still only quarterfinal appearance during the 2016 Governors’ Cup.
The Elasto Painters hope to bounce back from a dismal showing in the Governors’ Cup where they missed the playoffs after posting a 3-8 win-loss record./PN
