After all, fans have been used to seeing Dillinger as their public enemy number one for almost two years now.
Fresh off a tough quarterfinals loss to the TNT KaTropa back in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Dillinger sent this tweet.
That one was tough. Hats off to TNT for sticking it out. Beat Ginebra. I can’t stand those guys.
— Jared Dillinger (@JDHawaii20) June 9, 2017
The tweet then went viral.
Six-hundred and sixty days after sending that tweet, Dillinger – who has figured in two finals series against Ginebra – has become a Gin King.
Tim Cone, Sol Mercado, and Joe Devance have some conditions for him once he arrives in their practice facility in Ortigas.
“Either Coach Kirk’s Cheesesteaks or pizza, maybe both. That’s our punishment,” said Cone.
“I said pizza, but then Art Dela Cruz was like he should bring – or he should just treat everybody to HEAT,” wished Devance.
“If he could do that, that would be better.”
“Maybe two buffets at Heat and one at Spiral,” quipped Mercado, upping the ante.
Moreover, Mercado wants a public apology from him.
Kidding aside, Dillinger’s signing comes as a shock for Devance and Cone, as he has always been in the wishlist of the decorated coach.
“We were all surprised when we heard about it. We’re like, when was it? It was right after practice when we heard about it,” recalled Devance.
“It was shocking.“
“They asked me, would you like to have JD? And I went, duh, of course,” gushed Cone.
Though 35 years old, all three believe that Dillinger will bring plenty to the table, especially when it comes to versality. And Cone is already salivating over the opportunity of possibly fielding Devance, Dillinger, Dela Cruz, and Scottie Thompson.
However, Dillinger has to heal up first from his quad injury.
“He got to get healthy, but the tools he can bring. Offensively and defensively, he can definitely help us,” said Dillinger’s draft batchmate Mercado.
“I’m sure he’ll come in and have the Never Say Die spirit. That’s his game – he plays hard, he plays with heart,” added Devance.
Besides this, his two friends are confident that his competitive spirit will endear him to the Ginebra fans immediately.
“He never really… He never hated Ginebra,” shared Devance. “It was all for good fun and trying to hype up the crowd. It was all in good fun and competition.
“He never hated Ginebra, I just want to let the fans know.”
“Honestly, I think when he said that, it was just out of competitiveness. It’s hard to like a team that beats you,” opined Mercado. “Not any hard feelings but he just wants us to lose. Just like how everyone wants to see Golden State lose. In this league, they want to see San Miguel lose.
“It’s not any different to wanting to beat the team that beat your team. It’s not any different.”
But Dillinger has to treat the crew to a buffet first.
