BARANGAY Ginebra and Phoenix Super LPG are in a bind entering Sunday’s Game Three as they look to extend their PBA 48th Season Commissioner’s Cup campaign.
Both the Gin Kings and the Fuel Masters will be trying to overcome 0-2 deficits in their best-of-five semifinals series against San Miguel and Magnolia respectively. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against them.
However, we found two teams, ironically both involved in the ongoing semifinal series, which battled back from 0-2 down in a best-of-five affair in PBA history. One coach, however, was on the losing end of that comeback.
2009-10 Philippine Cup
The last team that came back from a 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series is actually Barangay Ginebra when it overcame Talk ‘N Text in the quarterfinals of the 2009-10 Philippine Cup. The Gin Kings beat the Tropang Texters, 113-100, in Game Five on February 7, 2010.
The series, however, was marred by controversy.
After Talk ‘N Text took the first two games, Ginebra kept its conference alive with a 102-97 win in Game Three. However, the Gin Kings tied the series via forfeiture after the Tropang Texters walked out of the game in the first quarter and their team trailing, 27-20. The team was later fined over P1 million for the walkout.
Incidentally, one of the members of the Gin Kings during that 2010 comeback was Willie Wilson, who is now the assistant coach of Phoenix Super LPG, so he knows a thing or two about a 0-2 comebacks.
One member of that TNT side is Barangay Ginebra veteran Jared Dillinger.
1990 PBA Third Conference Finals
If there is a team which knows that a comeback from 0-2 down is achievable, it’s Magnolia.
Thirty-four years ago, Purefoods, the forerunner of the Magnolia franchise, defeated Alaska, 99-98, on December 20, 1990 in a Game Five of the Third Conference Finals to complete its fightback from a 0-2 deficit.
Al Solis drained a three to give the Hotdogs a 99-95 cushion in the final moments, enough to beat the Milkmen, who won the first two games of their maiden finals appearance.
Interestingly, the coach of the Milkmen was a young Tim Cone, then in the first finals stint of his PBA career. Of course, Cone would later became the most successful coach in PBA history.
Also on that Milkmen side was Biboy Ravanes, who is now an assistant coach at San Miguel.
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