Chris Pacana

My memory is still clear of the last games of the eliminations last conference. Game 1 then was between the Red Bull Barakos (RB) and the Sta. Lucia Realtors (SLR). Before that game began, Barangay Ginebra Kings (BGK) still has the chance to make it to the outright semis spot. But, SLR was tooooooo lazy to catch for their win. They could have won the game, tsk tsk tsk. Then there's karma, ha ha ha. I bet you know what happened to SLR last conference. The following match was BGK against the Alaska Aces. The winner of the game would clinch the Quarter Finals berth while the other team would have to make it to the wild card phase. And yes, BGK won! They landed the 3rd spot after the double round eliminations.

It was dejavu! History repeats itself. Game 1 was between Talk N' Text Tropang Texters (TNT) and Air21 Express. The 2nd slot for the outright semis is still open. Not until TNT grabbed the win with just a hairstrand. Come Game 2, BGK vs Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (RoS), a BGK win would let them grab the quarter finals berth. And a loss for them would mean a chance for RoS to battle TNT for the outright semis berth. But, as what others are mentioning, BGK might have a depleted line up, but BGK has the biggest heart of all. It is very evident how the crowd can make things happen, most especially if it is a crucial game. Thus, just like last conference, BGK landed the 3rd spot after the double round eliminatinos.

What's more amazing for BGK was, they repeated not only landing the 3rd spot, but they repeated starting at the cellar, ha ha. Yes, probably, most of the non-BGK fans are laughing their hearts out at the start of the conference, since BGK find it real hard to make it to the upper half of the standings. They even mentioned that there'll be no more Chris Alexander to help the team have the 13 win streak. But hey, BGK fans are now laughing their hearts out, ha ha. There might be no Alexander this time, but we have Billy Mamaril (slamming against Arwind Santos' face), Jun Jun Cabatu (raining 3s), Raffy Reavis (blocking Santos), Macky Escalona (shooter), Junthy Valenzuela (the moves), JayJay Helterbrand (raining 3s as well), Paul Artadi (energy inducer), Chris Pacana (intelligent defender), Willie Wilson (Dennis Rodman, Philippine version), Eric Menk (the MVP), Alex Crisano (the crowd favorite), Ronald Tubid (defense & offense guy), and Sunday Salvacion (the 3-pt warrior). Feels great to be a BGK fanatic.

Everything's said:

San Miguel vs. Ginebra
Batangas City
82 - 87











Thanks to Nica for the pictures

My friends kept on asking me to come with them at Barangay Ginebra Kings (BGK) practice, but I kept on resisting. Aside from being busy at work, I just felt awkward seeing Chris Pacana in their practice. But this time, they were able to convince me. So, I had my early out from my office. Me and my friends brought cakes for Chris, an advance birthday gift for him.

Unfortunately, we were not able to catch him at the practice. All of them, actually. But, with Chris' good heart, we were able to meet him somewhere. Our purpose then was just to give him the cakes, that's all.

Chris in his car

Chris and Me

Chris with my friends

These pictures are taken after BGK's game against TNT.

Chris Pacana with his Mom & Dad visiting from California

Finally, after a month of waiting, Chris Pacana is back and is ready to play. This is another out of town game for the Barangay Ginebra Kings (BGK) against the Alaska Aces. In their last out of town game, in Lucena City, they won against the Coca Cola Tigers and Chris had been creditted for stepping up.

BGK had a great start. Their defense is working against the Aces and their offense is on their side, especially Paul Artadi whose perimeter shots are working, making it 8-0 (BGK) after 3 minutes of playing time. Well, Artadi owned the 1st Quarter, he scored 7 pts with one (1) 3 pointer and a great pass to Eric Menk in the 5 minute mark of the Quarter. Howerver, Aces had patiently made their offense work as they grab the lead 24-18 at the end of the Quarter.

In the 2nd Quarter, it was Pacana's perimeter shot that made the scored tied at 26 all. But the Aces was just so great that they keep on leading the game. When Menk was blocked by Sonny Thoss, I reminisced their first encounter when BGK has all the chances to win but that block of Thoss just extended the game to 5 more minutes. And yes, BGK lost the game that night. There was a little chaos in this quarter where Jeffrey Cariaso committed a flagrant foul penalty 1 against Artadi. While Menk and Coach Tim Cone were called for a technical foul each for verbal altercation. But with Sunday Salvacion's back-to-back 3 point shots, they ended the quarter 40-36 (Aces).

In the first minutes of the 3rd Quarter, Aces just kept on nailing BGK down as Willie Miller's 3 pointer in the 8 minute mark makes the lead into 10 big points (51-41). But, with the never say die attitude of BGK, this is not yet a time to give up. And I stood up from my feet when Pacana had his ringless 3-pt shot. Vince 'The Prince' Hizon, who was the commentator for this ballgame commented that Pacana can actually do that. He even mentioned that he played with Pacana even before he joined PBA, and that he advised Pacana to work with his jumpshots, and he is really working with it. And another 3-pt shot of JayJay Helterbrand makes the lead down to a single point. It was really a great team whenever Helterbrand and Pacana were in the floor at the same time. Until finally, BGK grab the lead courtesy of Menk, muscling out 3 opponents plus a foul (65-61). Menk had been the focal offense for BGK at this quarter.

But the Major Pain ain't finish yet. As Menk gains another difficult basket to open the 4th Quarter. Artadi's jumpshots ain't finish yet as well as he scored a 3 pointer in the 6 minute mark of the quarter. And when it is a tight ballgame, defense is the key to win. So, here's Ronald Tubid to save the day. He caused Miller to commit a travelling violation with his outstanding defense. As the game approached its last 2 minutes, Reynel Hugnatan had his basket making the score 81-80 (BGK). With only 41 seconds remaining in the pay off period, LA Tenorio committed an offensive foul, nullifying Miller's shot. It was a pulsating ball game, Aces on top, 82-81. When suddenly the time stopped when Tubid jammed the ball between the backboard and the rim, forcing a jump ball. Luckily, with Helterbrand's hussle, he got the jump ball, but unfortunately, he missed the lay up. But the Major Pain is there to save the day. It was 83-82 in favor of BGK with only 24 seconds left in the last quarter. And since defense is badly needed in the next play, Coach Jong Uichico called for Pacana's service. Less than 10 seconds remaining, Aces ball, 84-82 (BGK). Aces has the chance to tie or win the game. But, BGK has the defensive stoppers in the floor, Tubid, Pacana, and Reavis. The ball can't go to Miller's hands due to Tubid's tight defense forcing the in bound to be given to Tenorio. But Reavis long arms intercepted the ball and Helterbrand completed the steal.

BGK won the game. And this was just Menk's sweet revenge from their sorry loss in their first encounter. He got 17 pts and 11 rebounds.

The scores:

Barangay Ginebra 84 – Menk 17, Artadi 16, Tubid 10, Helterbrand 9, Mamaril 9, Pacana 8, Salvacion 7, Reavis 6, Wilson 2, Cabatu 0, Escalona 0, Crisano 0.

Alaska 82 – Miller 20, Hugnatan 14, Thoss 14, Cariaso 11, Tenorio 11, Devance 9, Fonacier 3, Sotto 0, Dela Cruz 0, Ferriols 0.

Quarterscores: 18-24; 36-40; 67-66; 84-82.

November 23 is my birthday. One month and one day shy of Chris' birthday. Yes, we're born on same year, year of the Rooster. A month before my birthday, I had planned everything. Fate's on my side that time.

The Plan
Me and my online friends will be watching PBA game at the Araneta Coliseum on November 21. The scheduled game were Game 1: Coca-Cola Tigers vs Purefoods TJ Giants and Game 2: Barangay Ginebra Kings vs Sta. Lucia Realtors. It was perfect, for me at least. Two of my favorite teams would be playing, PF and BGK. Months ago, it was planned. Me, Thania, AM, and Hanna would be watching the game live. It would be special to have Hanna seated beside me. We have lot of things in common. We both love PF and BGK.

My Wish
As a fan, I had this wonderful wish, that Chris Pacana be hailed as the game's Best Player of the Game that night, that he may have double-double figures, 22 big points, 10 big rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists, and 1 block shot. There, that'll be great. And it would be greater if Kerby Raymundo will be the BPG of Game 1. And definitely, after the game, I won't let the moment to pass me by without having a picture with Chris, with me wearing a shirt with his jersey number on.

The Reality
Too good to be true. Aside from the initial friends that would be beside me watching the game, Mark, Gwen, and Josephine will also be around. As early as Tuesday, we bought tickets, seven (7) tickets. But to my dismay, PBA just changed schedule. BGK's game was move on November 22 to be held at San Juan Arena. *sigh* I hate PBA. So we had to return the tickets and exchange it for November 22 game instead. Goodbye watching PF live. Well, it was not really a bad news since it allowed me to take a rest from my 8AM-8AM (Thursday - Friday) work. November 22. The date was nice. It was Chris' jersey number. But something went wrong. Hanna and Josephine won't be coming. I felt so sad. I even mentioned to Hanna that it won't be the same without her. And a sudden idea come to me, a worse one -- Chris, nursing an injury, might not show at all tonight's ballgame. And now I can be a fortune teller, there was really no CP#22 on November 22. It's not the usual me. The game was intense, someone from the SLR had been out of the playing court for a flagrant and a technical foul called on him. But I remained silent. I just can't cheer. All I can say was 'Nasaan si Chris?'. Everyone's cheering their hearts out. I had witnessed two (2) buzzer beaters. One was on the 2nd Quarter where JayJay Helterbrand chipped in a 3 pointer at the nick of time. The other one was Willie Wilson's basket, beating the buzzer on the 3rd Quarter. And yes, it was Sunday Salvacion's night. His 3 pointers kept the lead of BGK. SLR just can't get things right. The rebound always ends up to the hands of Billy Mamaril, Eric Menk, or Wilson. The team's great. Never say die attitude, that is. But am I happy? As the seconds are winding down on the pay-off period, I was still hoping that Chris might be there somewhere watching the game. But, no, there won't be CP#22 that night. Oh, sad birthday for me. Well, at least I got the consolation from Chris' teammates, ha ha. They won the ballgame.

The scores:

Ginebra 93 – Salvacion 22, Artadi 18, Tubid 17, Helterbrand 13, Wilson 8, Cabatu 7, Menk 4, Mamaril 2, Crisano 2, Escalona 0, Holper 0, Valenzuela 0.

Sta. Lucia 81 – Espino 19, Miranda 10, Yeo 9, Omolon 9, Williams 8, Gonzales 8, Aquino 7, Gregorio 5, Coronel 3, Mendoza 3.

Quarterscores: 24-15, 56-39, 74-65, 93-81