A record 53,643 fans trooped to the Philippine Arena on Wednesday night for Game Six of the 2017 Governors’ Cup Finals. And the majority of that number came into the massive venue to support the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, thinking that lightning would strike twice for their beloved team.
But the 50,000-plus Ginebra faithful went home straight from Bocaue, Bulacan disappointed.
“We disappointed 50,000 fans,” lamented Gin Kings star point guard LA Tenorio, as he and the crowd darlings failed to repeat as Governors’ Cup champions and close out the Meralco Bolts in six games, suffering a 98-91 loss.
It can be remembered that last year’s championship run — which had ended the Barangay’s title drought that lasted eight long years — needed six games to get done. But this time around though, no Game Six magic occurred.
The defending champions even trailed by as much as 20 in the second frame. They were still able to show their never-say-die spirit as they closed within four, 90-86, late in the match, but the Orangemen were more composed in the end-game.
“We started flat. I think that’s the game,” said Tenorio, who finished with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block in 42 minutes.
“Sa start pa lang, they were on point sa lahat against us. That’s the key.”
But aside from the bad start, Tenorio also rued one major factor in the loss: the crowd’s involvement.
“From the start pa lang, Meralco wanted to silence the crowd… They did it from start to finish,” he said. “We have to involve them kasi part sa amin yun. We have to take advantage of that.
“Kasama sa amin yan eh, nagpapabuhay sa amin.”
And now, as the series boils down to a sudden death match, Tenorio shared that those things he mentioned could not take place again on Friday, or else their hopes of securing their second Governor’s Cup title would be in shambles.
“We cannot do that on Game Seven sa do-or-die game. We have to be prepared again to be the more aggressive team going to Game Seven,” he said. “Wala na masyado sa X and Os yan eh. It’s whoever wants to win the basketball game.
“It’s not about the schemes, doing this, doing that. It boils down to who wants it more.”
