Spurs tatapusin na ang Heat payback time!

SAN ANTONIO--Nakita na ng San Antonio Spurs ang lahat-lahat bilang isa sa pinaka-naiiba at mahu­say na prangkisa sa mo­dernong kasaysayan ng pa­lakasan.

Mula sa ilang nakadi­dismayang kampanya sa playoffs hanggang sa pagkopo sa apat na NBA championships at sa pagkulapso sa Game 6 ng nakaraang NBA Finals.

Ngunit hindi ito iniinda ng Spurs.

Nananatili silang ma­tatag lalo na sa pagresbak sa Miami Heat na tumalo sa kanila noong nakaraang NBA Finals.

Hangad ng San Antonio ang kanilang pang-limang NBA title.

“We’ve been on our last run for the last five or six years from how everyone wants to put it,” sabi ni Tim Duncan. “We show up every year, and we try to put together the best teams and the best runs possible because what people say doesn’t matter to us.”

Nang talakayin ng 38-anyos na si Duncan ang kanyang plano, hindi siya nagbigay ng prediksyon kung kailan siya magreretiro.

“I don’t have any plans on doing anything,” ani Duncan. “I’m going to figure it out when it comes. I’m not saying I’m retiring. I’m not saying I’m not retiring. I’m not saying anything. I’m going to figure it out as it goes. I’ve always said if I feel like I’m effective, if I feel like I can contribute, I’ll continue to play. Right now I feel that way, so we’ll see what happens.”

Nauna nang sinabi ni Spurs coach Gregg Popovich na kapag huminto na si Duncan sa paglalaro ay titigil na rin siya sa pagko-coach.

Ngunit ngayon ay iba na ang pahayag ni Popo­vich na sinimulang hawa­kan ang Spurs noong 19­96.

“I don’t feel tired of coaching,” sabi ni Popo­vich. “I mean, I’m tired today, but I mean in general. I’d like to continue to coach beyond this year.”

Aminado naman si Tony Parker na hindi na sila bumabata.

“I totally understand; we’re getting older every year, but we always come back and just keep pushing the limits, I guess,” wika ni Parker.

Hindi naman naniniwala si Manu Ginobili na magkasabay na magreretiro sina Duncan at Popovich.

“You have no data to support that,” sabi ng 36-anyos na si Ginobili. “You haven’t talked to any of us to support that. It’s just irrelevant at this point. We are focused on the next game.”