Ginebra conquers Meralco, champion again after 8 years
After 8 agonizingly long years and a slew of disappointments, the Gin Kings clinch the franchise’s 9th title
CHAMPIONS AGAIN. Justin Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra have won the 2016 Governors’ Cup championship. Photo by PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – The 8-year dry spell is broken at last.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the league’s most popular ballclub, is back on top of the mountain as champion of the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup after withstanding a valiant stand by the Meralco Bolts, 91-88, in Game 6 on Wednesday, October 19 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After 8 agonizingly long years and a slew of disappointments, the Gin Kings clinched the franchise’s 9th title, a delayed follow-up to their 2008 Fiesta Conference championship.
After a back and forth and cerebral chess match down the stretch, coach Tim Cone had the final laugh. With the game tied at 88 with just 5.5 seconds remaining, he drew a play for import Justin Brownlee, who took the game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key to secure the victory
Ginebra, in its 22nd finals appearance, won the best-of-7 series in 6 grueling, tightly-contested games and on the combined strength of its young guns and veterans.
Two-time Grand Slam coach Tim Cone, who was appointed head coach of the Gin Kings just before this season, steered Ginebra to victory with the Living Legend Robert “Sonny” Jaworski in attendance.
It is Cone’s 19th PBA title overall and his 93rd finals triumph. Cone coincidentally achieved the feat on the 93rd birthday of his coaching idol, the late great Baby Dalupan. – Rappler.com
