The Ginebra mystique

MANILA, Philippines - They’re bringing in the winningest coach to handle the most popular team in the PBA – Tim Cone and Ginebra.

After seven seasons in the dumps, after their last title run in 2007- 08, the Kings are calling on the man with 18 championships to his name hopefully to bring back the glory years.

Cone and the Kings. A partnership made in heaven, a surefire formula for success, a potent mix of the best and the lovable beast? Will they reign in moments ashining? Or take a royal beating?

It’s a bold decision, coming in as the seventh coach to end a seven-year title drought.

“There will be pressure on Cone,” said a long-time league watcher.

But it’s a measure of the man’s respect and passion for the game to put everything on the line, including a year-old second grand slam, to be able to find ways for the Kings to win again and relive some of the old Ginebra mystique.

No other team in the PBA could keep generation of fans through the years and take pride for being the darling of the crowd.

Perhaps it may help Tim and his able lieutenants to go back to the team’s roots and try to fathom or unravel the character of the Kings and unlock the mysteries of the Ginebra of yore.

Go back to the Robert Jaworski era. That’s where it all started. This never-say-die spirit when a bunch of blue-collar workers like Dante Gonzalgo, Chito Loyzaga, Dondon Ampalayo, Rey Cuenco, Leo Isaac and the rugged Rudy Distrito would wage a war and steal a win in the clutches of defeat.

They were the odd men among league superstars, the everyday heroes with unwavering work ethic coming out of their “barangay”.

Those were comebacks to die for, some etched in memory that even SMB coach Leo Austria alluded to one contest when the Kings came back from 1-3 and won over Shell in the 1991 first conference playoff.

Austria remained uncomfortable despite the talented personnel in his team led by the gentle giant Junemar Fajardo, as he recalled the decisive Ginebra surge, thinking of an Alaska fightback when the Beermen were on the threshold of a sweep in the recent Governors Cup.

That was some Ginebra team.

It brought to the hardcourt an aura of awe, respect and instilled some fear and sense of panic on the enemy.

And when they brought it on, there’s chill and thrill in the air as the drama began to unfold with the Kings methodically chipping away at the other team’s lead.

 That’s when their “Sixth Man” would rise and rock and roar “G-I-N-E-B-R-A! G-I-N-E-B-R-A!