The Powerade Tigers walked onto the Araneta Coliseum floor against the B-Meg Llamados with a
striking look on their faces – focused, determined, and hungry - eerily similar to Sylvester
Stallone’s Rocky when he went up against a supposedly stronger, faster, better champion in Apollo
Creed.
What Rocky felt he lacked in skill, he made up for with unbreakable will and an unwavering faith in
himself, believing against all odds that he could go the distance with the champion of the world.
The Powerade Tigers were pegged underdogs in their titanic matchup with the Mighty B-Meg Llamados,
and that was all the motivation in the world they needed to come out and upset their talented foes.
Their strength came from their faith in themselves, that together, they can take on any team in the
league.
“Nandito na ako, nandito na kami. Hindi ko na palalagpasin ang pagkakataon,” recalled Gary
David, as he braced himself for war.
It probably wouldn’t surprise people at all if Gary David admitted to blasting “Eye of the
Tiger” on his music player on the way to the Araneta Coliseum, because the performance he and the
Powerade Tigers put on was Rocky-esque – strong and defiant against a supposedly more superior
force – going the distance against a powerhouse B-Meg Llamados squad to become only the third 8th
seeded team to topple the 1st seed in the PBA quarterfinals.
“I just have to give it to the guys and the glory to God because I was really praying hard in the
middle of the game when I was having doubts if we could win this one,” said Powerade head coach Bo
Perasol during the postgame press conference.
More than the back-breaking triples and defensive plays than stymied B-Meg’s attempt to come back
and steal the game, it was faith - in themselves and each other – that allowed them to stand
strong
THE DUEL
While the team’s victory remained his ultimate goal, David entered the quarters with a huge chip
on his shoulder – the longstanding notion about him being nothing but a scorer:
“Minsan di mo maiwasan na sumama ang loob pag nakakabasa ako ng ganoon. Yung kailangan ko pa raw
talunin si James Yap para makilala, mairespeto. May mga nagsasabi ring marami nga akong nagagawang
score, pero talo naman ang team. May nagsabing ‘No chance in hell’ daw kami para manalo. Ginamit
kong challenge lahat iyon para sa sarili ko to lead my team,” said the 33-year-old deadshot from
Dinalupihan, Bataan.
David’s first duel with Yap saw him erupt for 32 points to King James’ 21, and then a whopping
37 points versus Yap’s 23 for the series clincher. David would score and win his matchup with Yap
in spectacular fashion, scoring 23 of his 37 in the last 17 minutes of the game, each shot fuelled
by his competitive fire, like knockout blows punishing the Llamados’ defense again and again.
“I can’t deny na masarap yung pakiramdam na I led my team to victory,” said David. Sana I
earned the respect of the fans pagkatapos ng matchup namin ng isa sa pinakamagaling na player sa
liga.”
While “El Granada” is still a 30 or 40-pt night waiting to happen, he also recognizes the need
to let his teammates shine when they catch fire, like marksmen JVee Casio and Marcio Lassiter, who
scored 22 and 19 points, respectively, in a torrid 4th quarter and overtime run that broke the
spirit of the Llamados.
“We just kept pounding and pounding until we got a chance to close the gap,” said the 2011 PBA
No. 1 Draft pick, who has suddenly found his deadly form after struggling in his first few games as
a pro.
NO FEAR
Casio has been a winner in all levels of Philippine basketball. From his high school days as
superstar scorer of San Beda, to his clutch shooting escapades as a De La Salle Green Archer and
Smart Gilas-Pilipinas standout, Casio knows what it takes to win.
“It’s heart. You practice those situations in your head as a kid, having the ball in your hands
with the game on the line. You train yourself to be ready, to be without fear,” Casio says.
When Casio struggled mightily as he groped for form early in the season, he never let doubt get in
his head. “I really don’t think about the pressure na porke number 1 pick ako I have to deliver
agad,” he recalls reminding himself.
Instead of worrying, Casio worked – harder than anyone else – to get back to the level of
basketball that made him the Philippines’ most feared gunner in the Gilas National team. And
against B-Meg’s formidable guard corps of Roger Yap, Peter June Simon, and Gilas teammate Mark
Barroca, Casio and the Tigers would show no fear.
“If you saw us during timeouts, you could see it in our eyes – from the players, the coaches,
management, we knew we can compete,” said Casio.
NO DOUBT
Big Doug Kramer has one purpose in life for the Powerade Tigers: protect the paint. The former
Ateneo Blue Eagle and Norman Black protege has built a career on being the team’s workforce
inside, setting bone-crunching picks to set the guards loose, challenging shots in the lane, scoring
when he has to, and rebounding the basketball.
But at 6-5 Doug seems overmatched by the taller frontline of 6-7 scoring machine Kerby Raymundo, 6-8
shot-blocker Rafi Reavis, and 6-5 hustle man Marc Pingris. But for Kramer and the rest of the
Powerade big men, like Charles Barkley before them, protecting the paint is all about desire.
“No, we were not at all intimidated. We’re not at a tall lineup, but we compensate for it with
our hard work and heart,” said Kramer.
So when Kramer got his hard earned 10 points and 10 rebounds (his 12th game with 10 rebounds or
more, and 11th game with a double-double) along with a win, it could not be sweeter. “We're
definitely ready to face any team that will be put in front of us. We’re riding on a high wave
right now and as long as we continue to play with the same passion and heart the following games,
then we’re still going a long way.”
It may not have been on the statline, but Kramer had a hand in David, Casio, and Lassiter’s
scoring rampage. He set them free with his picks, rolled to the basket for drop passes, and
rebounded the basketball so he could get them the ball.
During David’s torrid shooting exhibition, even Kramer couldn’t believe his eyes. “My whole
mindset was to rebound the ball and get Gary the ball because he was just on fire! I ended up not
rebounding that much because he made 99% of his shots! Haha!”
FAITH
“Kami-kami mismo nagsasabihan sa huddle, kaya natin to, basta push lang. Kita ko sa mata naming
lahat na gagawin naming lahat para manalo,” recounts David of their epic come-from-behind victory.
While he starred in the numbers with 37 points against riveting rival James Yap, David points out
the bond of his team as the driving force of their triumph.
“Sa larong iyon, never kaming bumitaw. It never crossed our minds na bumitaw,” David said.
In years past, David would go on searing scoring binges but wound up short of the win, but this
time, able hands like Casio and Lassiter, inside enforcers like Kramer, Rommel Adducul, and Alex
Crisano, and reliables like Will Antonio, Celino Cruz, Sean Anthony, and Josh Vanlandingham are
ready and able to give David all the help he needs. Like underdog Rocky Balboa, the Powerade Tigers
knocked out the mighty B-Meg Llamados with their indomitable spirit.
As the Powerade Tigers whooped it up at centercourt, David recalled his favorite quote from his
basketball inspiration, Michael Jordan: I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that
is why I succeed.
“Natutunan ko sa game na iyon na lahat ng pinagdaanan kong failure in the past, nakatulong sa
development ko ngayon. Itong tindi ng gutom namin na manalo, galing sa sakit na naramdaman naming sa
pagkatalo. Andito na kami. Di na namin palalagpasin ang pagkakataon,” the determined leader of the
Powerade pack said.
“Lalaban kami hanggang sa huli” (JVelasquez)
Jumper From The Write Corner
