JUST months ago, Jeff Chan's career appeared to be in the doldrums.
Now he's a champion once again.
Thanks to a June 19 trade that sent him from Phoenix to Ginebra for a first-round draft pick, the veteran gunner found himself celebrating at midcourt on Wednesday night at the end of the Kings' 4-2 win over San Miguel in the 2018 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Sarap syempre,” said Chan as he soaked in the feeling after the Kings' dugout celebration. “First of all, parang ilang conference din na early exit ako. Ngayon lang ulit ako nakaabot ng finals so sobrang saya tapos nag-champion pa.”
The championship was the third of the 35-year old's career - and first since Rain or Shine's victory in the 2016 Commissioner's Cup under Yeng Guiao.
Chan was shipped to Phoenix in a trade soon after and only found his way to Ginebra as Tim Cone came searching for a gunner than can space up the floor for frontline behemoths Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar.
He got the job done.
In Game Six, Chan came off the bench to contribute 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal. More importantly, he hit two timely three-pointers in the first quarter that kept Ginebra afloat when SMB tried to deliver the knockout blow early.
“Kailangan ko lang talaga ng... ‘yung unang tira ko lang talaga kailangan talagang pumasok para magkaroon ng kumpiyansa," he said. "Iba ‘yung laro ko dito compared doon sa ibang teams na nilaro ko.”
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