Hey, did you notice that the PBA games in the Governor’s Cup conference have become more exciting and thrilling as big, sizable crowds of basketball fanatics were already allowed to watch in droves in accordance with the Alert Level 1 policy?
Notice too how players are energized by the shouting, cheering and even the boisterous booing of the audience. They give their all, unmindful if they suffer some physical pain in chasing loose balls, defending against bigger opponents and showing off what they can dish out, aerial acrobatics and whatever.
The truth is that the participation of foreign cagers whose quality of play is NBA-like has given the league the much needed shot in the arm. The two-year “plan-demic” has woefully created a negative atmosphere because the ball clubs had to compensate their players whether they are on vacation (force majeure) or in competition.
Fans deserve to get their money’s worth.
Particular matches I cheered watching on the boob tube were the two consecutive wins of Northport over the league leading Magnolia and Meralco.
Playing catch-up for 48 minutes, coach Pido Jarencio ably steered his underhanded squad (sans start Robert Bolick and Greg Slaughter) to a come from behind victory.
With KJ McDaniel imposing his all-around influence (shooting, rebounding and passing), NLEX, mentored by the enigmatic Yeng Guiao, carved out an 8-3 record, next to Magnolia with 9-2. Both will enjoy a twice to beat advantage and are expected to figure in the semis along with two other survivors of the quarterfinals.
San Miguel has slowly recovered its winning form with Shabazz Muhammad replacing Orlando Johnson. Remarkable performance in just two games. He could lift the Beermen to the championship, barring injuries.
However, sister ballclub Ginebra is groping.
The Gins cowered in a sorry loss to the Road Warriors, folding up in the fourth quarter. In their next outing however, the heroics of Scottie Thompson and the timely sniping of a resurrected Jeff Chan saved the day for coach Tim Cone’s platoon who nearly tumbled against a hard fighting Rain or Shine (115-110) as the preliminaries closed out last week-end.
The monotony and boredom brought about by the two-year lockdowns have been broken.
Live sports games and the fanaticism of fans can greatly help in resuscitating the broken spirits of our countrymen. Cheers! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
