Nards Pinto felt that Ginebra was bound to get over the hump after getting their fair share of heartbreaks from losing in Game 7s in recent PBA conferences.
That’s why the veteran playmaker couldn’t be any happier that the Kings did just that toward reclaiming Commissioner’s Cup glory by ousting TNT in their winner-take-all affair, in the process ending a three-year championship drought.
“In-interview ako nung pagtapos ng Game Six … Sabi ko lang, siguro this time ready kami—kailangan namin i-overcome ‘to kasi ilang Game Seven na eh,” he said shortly after their 88-76 victory at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The crowd darlings have conquered all-or-nothing bouts in the past, but last season proved to be a rough one, as they lost in Game 7 twice in a row.
First was in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals, where Coach Tim Cone and his men fell to the Tropang 5G of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson by way of an 87-83 overtime decision in the decider–that, after owning a 3-2 lead in the series.
It was actually the long-time rivals’ second straight Finals duel in Season 49, and they seemed bound for a trilogy, but the Barangay got booted out in the Philippine Cup semis by no less than eventual champions San Miguel Beer.
“Kahit hindi TNT. Kahit nung San Miguel; Game Seven, sobrang sakit lagi para sa amin,” reflected Pinto of those painful losses they suffered.
But those turned out to be valuable lessons, and Ginebra put all that into good use after the traditional contenders finally solved the Game 7 riddle at the expense of a team that beat them in their last three Finals face-offs.
“Siguro natuto kami, at ‘yung mga talo namin sa Game Seven, hinubog kami para ma-overcome namin ‘tong Game Seven,” said the 35-year-old.
And Pinto himself helped out in the triumph, knocking down a pair of crucial three-pointers in the payoff period to keep them in control after Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee led the third-quarter reversal.
His second and last triple off a Stephen Holt assist proved so important, as it triggered the Kings’ 11-2 rally to end the game and clinch the crown.
Easily Cone’s ‘magic bunot,’ Pinto finished with six points and two rebounds, gamely stepping up to ensure that he and the locals provide ‘JB’ the support he badly needed after carrying the team on his back in Games 5 and 6.
“Grabe ‘yung challenge,” he said. “Kasi ‘yun talaga ang binibigay din ng TNT, eh, na parang pinapagod nila si Justin. Kina-cancel out nila kaming mga locals.
“So ayun, buti naman ngayon nag-step up ‘yung mga locals, at natulungan namin si Justin,” said the 12-year pro out of Arellano University.
Now, Pinto can call himself a three-time league champion, and his latest title should be his sweetest one, given how crucial his role was in getting it.
“Sobrang blessed,” he reflected. “Sa totoo lang, nung halftime, sobrang down namin, kaming lahat, papasok sa dugout. Inano lang namin, keep on fighting. Dapat hindi kami mag-quit. Ayun, sobrang sarap sa feeling.
“Ang tagal na nung last championship namin,” added the Davao City-native, as he and the PBA’s most popular team last tasted gold back in the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup.
“Ang sarap maramdaman ulit nitong ganitong feeling.”
