BREAKING THE ICE
Inspired? Motivated? For Barangay Ginebra coach Frankie Lim, the team nabbing its first win in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup is just one step over the hump for the retooling Gin Kings.
“I’m just happy to have our first win,” he said, as Ginebra gutted out a 105-98 win over Kia Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Still without Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar, the squad had to weather the challenge of facing a motivated Carnival team which flanked 7-foot Hamady N’Diaye up front.
“Mahirap pag wala kang malaki, especially when we have teams that have tall imports. Nagsa-struggle kami. We’re just finding ways to hold our own inside on defense,” he said. “Good win for us. We lost a 10 point lead in an instant, but we recovered.”
Lim was happy to see the team’s collective effort, as he feels the victory was a long time coming for them. And it certainly helps that it comes at the expense of Kia, which had playing-coach Manny Pacquiao in attendance in the tiff.
“We’re just after our first win, regardless kung sino ang kalaban namin. The feeling of making ourselves feel good because these guys are working so hard in our practices and I just want them to be rewarded with the win,” he said.
Lim continued, “We’re just finding ways to get a win. Kahit wala kaming malaki, nakikita mo naman yung efforts ng players namin. They gave their all. Hindi mo matawaran. I’m very happy with the kind of effort they’re giving.”
But more than anything, Lim and the rest of the Kings are just dedicating this breakthrough win for the memory of the late Rep. Henry Cojuangco, who passed away last Monday.
“We want to give this win kasi alam naming favorite team ni Boss Henry ang Ginebra,” he said. “In some ways, we want to offer the game to him also.” (RL)
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