Embracing Roles: Helping the Gin Kings Stay Ahead in the PBA Finals

  • Dec 03, 2020
  • BASKETBALL
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When you're playing for a team that is coached by the winningest coach in the history of the league, you will have a specific role.

On Wednesday's Game Two of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings beat the undermanned TNT Tropang Giga, 92-90 and they did it not because of Stanley Pringle's 34-point performance. 

It's because players knew their roles and they embraced it.  

With Japeth Aguilar taking a backseat in the offense and with LA Tenorio scoreless in the first three quarters, the Gin Kings managed to stay within striking distance and even erased a 15-point lead to come within two points entering the final 12 minutes. In that decisive third quarter, Jared Dillinger, Aljon Mariano, and Jeff Chan worked together with Pringle. Mariano had 10 of his 20 points in the third quarter. Dillinger hit one three-pointer in that third-quarter run while Chan added another three. Dillinger and Chan finished with eight and six points respectively. Being the experienced shooters from the three-point line, Dillinger and Chan delivered did what is expected from them.

Mariano's 20-point performance is also proof of him embracing that role of being the one who will pick up the slack for Aguilar and company. More than the numbers he put up, Mariano was lauded by Coach Tim Cone for his toughness. "Aljon took over the game for us because we needed toughness,"  Cone said after Game Two.

Tim Cone put both Scottie Thompson and LA Tenorio on the floor during the crucial moments even though they were scoreless prior to the final quarter. And they didn't disappoint either. Thompson buried another bombastic three-pointer with 30 seconds to go give Ginebra the lead. Tenorio made five three throws in the last 18 seconds of the game. They may have struggled but they also delivered when it mattered most. Leadership. 

If the Gin Kings can continue embracing the roles that are assigned to them, this championship series might be over by Sunday. 

Photo is from PBA