KEMARK Carino is savoring his first-ever semifinal stint in the PBA as he finally achieved the goal that slipped away from his grip while still with Terrafirma two years ago.
Although yet to play in Barangay Ginebra’s semifinals series against Rain or Shine, the lanky big man nonetheless feels grateful for the opportunity to be in the big stage especially alongside former Dyip teammates Stephen Holt and Isaac Go, like Carino now also with the Kings.
“Sobrang happy na nagkasama-sama kaming tatlo. Until now, sobrang close pa rin kami,” said Carino of his kinship with both Go and Holt.
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The three formed part of the Terrafirma core along with Javi Gomez De Liano, Andreas Cahilig, and Juami Tiongson which came a win away from reaching the semifinals for the first time in franchise history during the PBA Season 48 Governors Cup.
The eight-seeded Dyip forced the No. 1 seeded San Miguel Beermen to a do-or-die match for a berth in the Final Four, but lost out, 110-91.
That Dyip core was later broken up.
Holt and Go found their way to Ginebra in a trade for Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle, Tiongson and Cahilig went to San Miguel for the duo of Vic Manuel and Terrence Romero, while De Liano initially took his act to the Korean Basketball League before his signing rights were traded to Magnolia for Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Carino was the one left out at Terrafirma as he recovered from an ACL injury. But the 6-foot-9 center out of San Beda soon found himself on the go, too.
Despite not yet totally fully healed from his injury, the Dyip also sent Carino to the Kings in exchange for fellow big Ben Adamos.
“Kami yung batch na nag-quarterfinals before. But after nun, unti-unti nawala,” he recalled. “Sana kung ano yung goal namin sa Terrafirma before, mas malagpasan pa namin."
Although thrilled to reunite with Holt and Go, the transfer didn’t initially sink in for Carino.
“Nagulat ako kasi hindi ko ini-expect,” he admitted. “Yung time na nag-release sila about sa trade, nasa labas kami ng daughter ko, gumagala lang kami. Nagulat na lang ako nag-message sa akin yung PT namin (sa Terrafirma). Yun nga may trade na nangyari between me and Ben (Adamos)."
While he’s always been a Ginebra fan before, the 28-year-old Carino said he didn’t see himself one day donning the Kings’ jersey.
“Hindi ko nakita (na mapunta sa Ginebra), pero goal ko siyempre na maglaro sa Ginebra. Hindi ko na-expect na malilipat ako sa team na ito. So thankful lang din ako na nailipat ako dito,” he added.
Ginebra currently leads its best-of-seven semis series against Rain or Shine, 2-1.
Game 4 is set Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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