NANAY Maria Elena Lukasan, 64, doesn't mind traveling solo from her home in Bustos, Bulacan each time to either cheer for her favorite team, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, in games or even just watch the team in practice.
On Tuesday, she traveled all the way to the Smart Araneta Coliseum all by herself just to show her support for the Gin Kings in Game One of the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals against Meralco.
Why doesn't she tire of doing it?
Because the most storied fandom of the big league has become her home away from home for a good 50 years and counting.
“Basta kaya ko, lahat ng activities nila, sumasama ako, lahat, mapa-practice, mapa-laro,” she shared with SPIN Life. “Second family ko na ang Ginebra. Marami akong naging kaibigan at naging pamilya sa kanila.”
She continued: “’Pag may pamasahe ako papuntang Maynila, talagang pumupunta ako pati sa practice. Kaya ko pa naman umakyat ng mga hagdan. Tapos, uupo ako sa malapit kapag may pera."
Nanay Maria revealed that she was already a PBA fan since age 14, and has been a solid Ginebra supporter since the days of Robert Jaworski, who, according to her, knew her well enough to call her by her first name.
“Maria Elena, ‘yan ang kilala sa akin ni Jawo,” she said. “Nakakausap ko ‘yung mga players, very approachable sila, magaling maglaro, at marunong makisalamuha sa tao.”
When asked what she gains from all these, Nanay Maria quickly took her phone out of her pocket and showed her wallpaper, a photo with LA Tenorio, before she scans the rest of her saved photos with the Gin Kings in her gallery.
“Okay na ako sa ‘salamat’ mula sa kanila, proud to be a Ginebra fan ako kasi mababait lahat ang mga players ng Ginebra, lahat sila favorite ko,” she said.
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