Gins’ ‘Main Man’ works double time in search of elusive ring

The velvet ring case remains empty up until this time, 10 years after Jun Limpot entered the league as an amateur hotshot with loads of promise.

And in smoky grills where basketball is the favorite beer topic, talks of the fellowship of professional hoop stars with no ring to show off usually centers on the 6-4 forward out of the prestigious La Salle basketball program.

"Alam ko naman ‘yun," said Limpot.

Also, Limpot is aware that the sands of time are slowly floating away from his battle-scarred 31-year-old body, thus the need to work double time.

And that seems to be just what he’s doing.

Prior to this season, Limpot bore a lot of titles, none of them the basketball kind. He is probably the best player not included in the list of the league’s 25 greatest. He is the best player to not have won a Most Valuable Player trophy just yet. But the most nagging title of all is that being the best player never to have won a championship so far.

But a week into the Samsung Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino Cup, the Surigao native has punched in MVP-type numbers and has led the country’s national home team to a pair of statement victories that hint of a celebration at the end of the conference.

Numbers that bring to mind the tag that has become an integral part of the country’s cage lexicon: Main Man.

Against Purefoods, Limpot scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as he spearheaded a third quarter drive where the Kings completely wiped out a 21-point lead early in the first half en route to an 84-76 win.

Then, in an out-of-town game in the frosty, pine-dotted city of Baguio, Limpot obliterated a fatigued Sta. Lucia frontline and scattered 27 points aside from grabbing 12 rebounds in an 89-82 win over the Realtors.

His averages for the week are simply phenomenal: 28.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. He shot 11-of-19 in both games for a .579 clip squeezed into 39 minutes per game.

His is the most scintillating of the double-double averages submitted by several players this week: John Arigo averaged 12.0 points and 10.5 assists in leading Alaska to a 2-0 record in the span of February 23 to March 2. Purefoods hotshot Kerby Raymundo ended the week averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds an outing to lead his team to a 1-1 card. Kenneth Duremdes averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds as Sta. Lucia came off the week with a 0-2 record.

And because of that, Limpot was named Samsung Player of the Week.

But more than an individual accolade, Limpot’s driving motivation this year is to end his reign as King of the Ringless.

"Lahat naman ng player, gusto makatikim ng championship. Siyempre, challenge sa akin yun," said Limpot. "Hangga’t may buhay, may pag-asa, sabi nga nila."

But that chance is hinged on a ticking clock. So don’t blame Limpot if he romps through the conference like a flashy blur, as if he were a man with little time to spare.

Some titles can’t wait forever.