Philippine Basketball Association
Commissioner's Cup 2022-23
Do or Die Game 7
Like David of the bible slayed the giant, Ginebra San Miguel (GSM) downed the awesome Bay Area Dragons (BAD) on January 15, 2023.
Lesson
This is a lesson in humility and not to be over confident.
On paper, the Dragons are probably the best and the best coached team to become a guest team in the PBA -- the oldest existing professional league outside the NBA.
The Dragons are better financed, they are bigger, taller and have more consistent shooting. They have two imports and they have no height restrictions.
The league even bent over backwards and allowed the Dragons to chose which import to use in the Finals. This is the least the league can do for them because even though they agreed to come in and be a guest team, agree with the rules and the way the games are officiated, they will always be playing away games, even though there are a lot of crab mentality Filipinos backing them up and fighting with them and their cause.
And the shell shocking they suffered inside the Philippine Arena playing infront of 55k fans was something they have no idea how to prepare for.
The good thing, no more excuses, no more looking for public sympathy, especially in the media and social media and finally being able to be gracious in defeat. Losing Game 7, the win or go home, win or die, final game is and will be a big win because of the valuable lessons they will bring home with them.
All the best Bay Area Dragons and to your bandwagon Filipino fans.
The Philipines has been playing basketball for over 100 years and still sits among the best teams in Asia, no matter how bad they have been in recent years and depending on who's handling and coaching their national teams.
The Filipino fans only hope is if we cannot get a quality coach like that of the Dragons (Goorjian), or former coaches such as Coach Vucinic, Baldwin, or Toroman, at least let Coach Reyes be just the Basketball Director and let Coach Cone, coach of GSM be the head coach of Gilas in the World Cup in Manila.
Live By The 3, Die By The 3
The Dragons have been Golden State Warrior like, especially with their three point shooting. But like Ginebra died by not making their three point shots in the 4th quarter of Game 6, the Dragons should realize they will live and die with the three point shot.
And over confidence and under estimating your opponents is not a good look. Stop complaining, prepare, adjust and play the game.
This is especially written for the arrogant guests/members of Bay Area Dragons (you know who you are), and the Filipino bandwagoners of Bay Area Dragons.