Manila Clasico: Firsthand Experience

The Symptoms of A Die Hard

Manila Clasico. The most expected and the most dreaded match of every conference. I don't know how it evolved to the term "Manila Clasico". Maybe because of the classic rivalry between Añejo and Purefoods, which resonates with the different names both teams changed into. Ginebra is synonymous to Gilbeys, Añejo and Gordons Gin while Purefoods is to Coney Island, BMeg and San Mig Coffee. My indescribable fondness for Gilbeys, Añejo and Gordon Gins is, well, indescribable. I haven't had a single faint trace of footsteps in this world, of course, when these teams played so you could question the "fondness" I am talking about. I don't know. Maybe I am wired this way; maybe my mother gave birth to me while cheering for Añejo or shouting Jawo's name. I don't know honestly. And in line with this is "hatred" for Purefoods. (If you are a sports fan, you'll understand this kind of hate.) I know hate is all bad, but I feel it in my veins. Do you feel it too?

Fifth loss

Yes, this 5-game-losing-streak is painful. But you got to admit something; this one is five times more painful than any other eliminations loss. Who likes losing? Apparently nobody. What more if it is losing to your mortal enemy? Rival? Nemesis?

It was my first time to watch a Manila Clasico game live and boy, what an experience! It felt like a whole different world out there. It was like being inside a battlefield, like the Trojans versus the Greeks. You are all-out prepared to charge for a battle in which you think you know the ending. Call me unbelieving or anything, I am just being honest.

It started wild. With boos and claps outshining each other.

The collective boos every time James Yap handles the ball.

The collective boos every time Mark Caguioa handles the ball.

The collective chants of "U-wi-an na!" when people started to go out when there's still 7 minutes left in the ballgame. Heartbreaking.

The "Gi-ne-bra! Gi-ne-bra! Gi-ne-bra!" of Ginebra faithfuls in the dying minutes being overpowered by boos. Super heartbreaking.

Anything Goes

Kahit #EXPECTING mong matatalo, masakit pa rin. Mas masakit pa nga eh. Sobrang nakaka-badtrip. Nanuod ka na lang sana ng sine o binukas mo na lang sana yung TV para manuod ng GGV, nandun pa si Mario Maurer. Dito, nagbayad ka na nga tapos maba-badtrip ka lang.

Eh, wala. Yan ka. Mas masaya ka pa ring manuod ng laban ng paborito mong koponan, kahit madalas namang talunan. Mas masaya ka pa rin sa loob ng Araneta at nasasaksihang unti-unti kayong dinudurog ng kalaban. Mas masaya ka pa ring sumigaw ng Gi-ne-bra! Gi-ne-bra! Gi-ne-bra! kahit na tambak na kayo. Yan ka, Ginebra die hard ka. Isinumpa ka. Oh yeah, isinumpa tayo. Ito na yung pamana sa atin ni Jawo; ang curse kasama ng Never Say Die attitude.

Paanong hindi? Eh alam mo na yung feeling ng natatalo nang natatalo. Hindi naman sa panta-thrashtalk sa team natin ah, ganito lang talaga. Alam na natin 'yun.

Inisa-isa na nila lahat ng kamalian sa atin. Kesyo may mga hero ball daw. Everyone wants to shoot. Roles are undefined o baka hindi lang naman matanggap. Confused din daw. Hindi alam kung sino dito, sino doon. Banggaan madalas sa mga kakampi. Yung literal na banggaan. Kulang sa big man, mahina sa ilalim. 'Yung hinaing ng fans, ang coaching staff at sistema. Utang na loob. Ayoko nang magtanong ng "What is wrong?". Gusto kong itanong "So what will we do about it?"

Ano na? Hindi porke nalugmok tayo eh di na tayo makakabangon. Kaya pa yan. Huwag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Kung hindi na, eh may next confe at season pa. Sabi nga ni Ate Kaye Cabal, "Pakiusap, huwag kang bibitaw." Kapit lang sa lubid, parang pista ng Nazareno.

Kaya kapit lang Billy Mamaril, LA Tenorio, Rico Maierhofer, Mike Cortez, JJ Helterbrand, Allein Maliksi, Kerby Raymundo, Elmer Espiritu, Willy Wilson, Keith Jensen, Dylan Ababou, Chris Ellis, Mark Caguioa, Rudy Hatfield. At Coach Siot and the rest of the coaching staff. Taas noo pa din. Wag sanang mawawala yung puso sa paglalaro. Kasi kaming mga Ginebra fans, di kami mawawala sa tabi nyo. Wala mang kaming sweldo sa pag-cheer sa inyo, wala mang kapalit itong ginagawa namin para sa inyo. Hindi naman yun ang habol namin. Masaya na kaming sumigaw at pumalakpak kapag nakaka-shoot, nakakasupalpal o nananalo tayo. Masaya na kami kahit makapagpa-picture lang sa inyo. Kahit abot-langit pa ang thrashtalk na abutin namin sa mga fans ng Purefoods at ibang mga tao. Alam din naming maraming pagkatalo pa ang mararanasan natin. Syempre, alam din naming magcha-champion ulit tayo, sa tamang panahon. Nakakainip. Nakaka-badtrip. Masakit sa puso, oo.

Pero isinumpa kaming maging mga die hard fans ninyo, mananatili kaming ganito.