Never Say Die! | Ginebra’s 8 Greatest Moments in the PBA
Oct 12, 2016 • Jimbo Gulle
May 19, 1991: Sweet revenge over Shell
Via wikipedia
Known as Ginebra once again, the Kings completed an improbable comeback in the First Conference finals when Rudy Distrito’s bank shot over Benjie Paras and Jojo Martin sealed their 104-102 Game 7 triumph. They were the first PBA team to rally from a 1-3 series deficit (like the Cavs did in the NBA this summer), and it was payback for losing the same tournament – controversially – to Shell in 1990.
September 7, 1997: Six-year drought ends
Renamed as the Gordon’s Gin Boars and with the star trio of Marlou Aquino, Noli Locsin and Bal David, the franchise nips sister team San Miguel Beer in overtime in a playoff for the second Commissioner’s Cup finals berth. Import Chris King then leads Gordon’s past Alaska for the title, coach Jaworski’s last in the PBA.
May 12, 1999: David haunts Mobiline
In the quarterfinals of the All-Filipino Cup, the Gin Kings were down 81-80 to Mobiline with two seconds to play. But Bal David banks in a shot over 6-foot-9 Asi Taulava, making Ginebra the first eighth-seeded team to beat a No. 1 seed in the PBA playoffs. They would eventually finish third — beating No. 2 Alaska.
2004-05: “Fast and Furious” win back-to-back
Via Rappler Photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler
Now starring scoring machine Mark Caguioa, speedy Jayjay Helterbrand and MVP Eric Menk, Ginebra won the transitional Fiesta Conference in 2004 over Red Bull. The franchise then won successive PBA titles for the first time when it claimed the Philippine Cup at the expense of Taulava – again – and Talk ‘N Text.
What were your favorite Ginebra moments in the PBA? Tell us about your list below!
