Ginebra's ready to fire a golden arrow again

Ginebra is aiming at the championship target once more after missing the finals last season. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Ginebra is back in the PBA Finals after missing the cut in the two conferences played last season.

This surely sounds good news to its ever loyal legion of fans from all across the 7,641 "islang pantropiko".

With Justin Brownlee back at the helm after serving his anti-doping ban, the team looks more well-oiled than ever and more than ready to shoot a golden arrow at TNT and reclaim the Governors' Cup championship from them after losing it in 2023.

Na na na-Ginebra, dre?

The Gin Kings clinched a spot in the finals after eliminating the San Miguel Beermen in a hotly-contested semifinal series that lasted the full seven games.

Justin Brownlee's clutch magic was at it again, burying the dagger triple in the rubber match that helped seal Ginebra's place in the finals.

Probably the Ginebra fans, out of taunting, asked SMB fans, "Na-Brownlee, dre?"

This time, though, Brownlee has more help at the backcourt in Maverick Ahanmisi, who actually led Ginebra in scoring in Game 7, and RJ Abarrientos.

Also, 37-year-old center Japeth Aguilar is turning back time with vintage performances during the playoffs which could even sway the media and players to vote for him over frontrunner June Mar Fajardo in the Best Player of the Conference race.

So maybe it's time to rather ask "Na-Ginebra, dre?" than "Na-Brownlee, dre?" because Ginebra is more stacked now.

Oh wait! Because we are using Bini songs as inspirations for this, I'mma rephrase it: "Na na na-Ginebra, dre?"

Ginebra: Ang koponang pantropiko

There is no question that the Gin Kings are the perennial crowd darlings of the PBA, so we can safely assume that they are the "koponang pantropiko".

Even if the team was placed in the first game of the playoff doubleheaders, their games were well-received by the paying patrons.

With Game 1 coming up against TNT on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, expect a majority of Ginebra fans to fill up the arena as if it is a home game for the Gin Kings had the PBA shift into a home-and-away format.

And yes, the fans will have a role too in helping the victims of severe tropical storm "Kristine" as all the proceeds of Game 1 will be given to Alagang Kapatid Foundation's relief operations.

Justin Brownlee's 'cherry on top'?

Justin Brownlee is having a spectacular conference so far. PBA Images

There is no question too that Brownlee is now listed among the greatest imports in the PBA.

Since arriving in the league in 2016, he has given Ginebra all but one championship in the finals appearances the team has been in.

This conference alone is a testament to the legacy Brownlee built in the PBA.

He scorched for 51 points in one game against San Miguel in the group stages, which set a new PBA career-high, and during Game 1 of their best-of-seven semifinals, he dropped five four-pointers, a new league single-game record from outside the new perimeter arc.

However, Brownlee admitted to Dugout Philippines that this explosive conference he is having right now caught him by surprise.

"To be honest, I didn't expect it. I didn't think I could even do that. I mean, shooting the ball, I think, yeah, I can still, I feel like I'm very confident in that. Maybe scoring every point was a surprise to me, but I just had it going and my teammates were looking for me and getting me open. And I was able to knock down shots and make plays. I guess that's things like that can give you confidence," Brownlee said.

Another title with the Gin Kings could be that "cherry on top" of Brownlee's legacy dessert that would make him the GOAT of PBA imports.

However, the team player that he is, Brownlee is more excited at what the PBA Governors' Cup title would mean to their young players, especially those gunning for their first championship.

"I'm very excited for the young guys who get this opportunity. They haven't been in the finals, guys who came to the team and they've been working their butt off to get to this point. I'm really excited for those guys and to just go out there and play their games and have fun," Brownlee said.

Is RJ Abarrientos born to win?

RJ Abarrientos' quest to be a champion like Tito Johnny or even Steph Curry begins now. PBA Images

One of the players gunning for title number one in the PBA is Abarrientos, who has surely become a prime candidate for Rookie of the Year this early in the season.

Although a freshman by PBA standards, his overseas experience surely made the second generation point guard feel like he is already a veteran in the game as evident by his career-high 28 points against SMB in the semis.

The question now is if RJ is born to win like his Tito Johnny, who was part of Tim Cone's 1996 grand slam team with Alaska.

The younger Abarrientos admitted that his uncle has become a father figure for him in his basketball career.

"Hindi siya ganun ka-vocal mag-advise sa akin, but pag nag-usap kami, parang chill lang talaga na 'Kamusta ka, anak?' kasi siya na rin parang father figure ko na tumatayo sa basketball career ko," RJ said.

"For me, sobrang blessed ako na meron akong tito like hindi lang tito kundi isa sa GOATs sa PBA and sa larangan ng maraming championships."

However, even opposing players like TNT's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is giving praises to the younger Abarrientos.

"I was in Korea when he was there. It was his first year as a pro, so I was watching him, and I love his game. I used to call home [in the United States] and be like, 'Yo! This dude plays like an Asian Steph Curry. He does fancy dribbles, he's pulling up from deep,'" Hollis-Jefferson, who played for the Busan Egis in the KBL, shared his experience playing against Abarrientos when he was still with the Ulsan Mobis Phoebus.

We all know Curry is born to win, leading the Golden State Warriors to four championships, but will that be the case too for Abarrientos? We'll just need to find out.

Pit a pat my heart is saying... Ginebra's gonna make it rain

Ginebra is entering the PBA Governors' Cup Finals as the number one team in three-point shooting with a 37.2 percent clip and number three in four-pointers made with 28.

Even Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes is impressed at how the Gin Kings have become more perimeter-oriented than ever even if everyone knows the triangle offense puts more premium on big men.

"Ginebra used to be the team that takes the fewest three-point shots of any team in the league, and now, they're the number one in the league in three-point and four-point shooting," Reyes said.

If ever the Gin Kings are gonna win the series, it would be because of their outside shots, but playing against no less than the number one team in defense in terms of points allowed would make this easier said than done.

Yeah, I know we are just fresh from a cyclone, but expect Ginebra to forge their own storm from the two perimeter arcs.

Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno