Never say die: How Ginebra became PBA’s most loved team

Jumar Mendoza is no ordinary basketball fan. By any standard, the devotion is extreme: Jumar attends his team’s practice sessions, receives holiday greetings from the coach, and as a teacher, he asks his students to pray for the team’s victory. His collection of memorabilia is more like a museum; he even rents out a small apartment to store and display the goods.

His team? Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, or the Gin Kings. Jumar’s commitment may be extraordinary, but he is one of millions of Filipinos who consider themselves part of “Barangay Ginebra,” the community of fans that has made Ginebra the most loved team in the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) since the 1980s.



The Ginebra legacy

“Actually kung titingnan mo ‘yung record [ng Ginebra], hindi naman ganoong karami ‘yung napanalong championships nila,” sports analyst Noel Zarate tells GMA News TV’s “Brigada”. “Pero sila ‘yung pinakamalakas humatak ng crowd.”


Players, coaches and fans trace the legacy of “never say die” to a 1985 semifinal against Northern Consolidated Cement. Point guard Robert Jaworski took an elbow to the mouth and was taken out of the game for treatment. The future “living legend” made a surprise return just minutes later, and with a taped lip, led Ginebra to victory.

The appeal of the “never say die” attitude is related to what Filipino basketball fans call “puso”. In an article for “The Manila Review,” sportswriter Job de Leon suggests that Filipinos are drawn to narratives of character: Filipinos attribute our players’ wins to their big hearts.

Pinoy pop culture expert Vim Nadera adds, “Palagi tayong palaban, at ‘yun ‘yung nakikita ng tao sa Ginebra. Kahit talo, kahit papaano, mas nahihilig ang mga Pinoy sa sports.”

‘Ayokong maglaro sa ibang team’

February 12, 2014. Ginebra failed to advance to the Finals of the Philippine Cup, losing to the San Miguel Coffee Mixers — but not before breaking the record for crowd attendance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.


A whopping 24,883 fans flooded the bleachers for Game Seven of PBA’s Manila Clasico semifinals (‘Manila Clasico’ now the term attached to Ginebra-San Mig Coffee games, a play on soccer’s Real Madrid versus FC Barcelona battles, known as ‘El Clasico’), and it’s undeniable that the majority were Ginebra fans. Shouts of “Gi-neb-ra! Gi-neb-ra!” filled the stadium.

For Ginebra power forward Japeth Aguilar, it’s this die-hard support from fans that keeps him going. “Hindi ko in-expect na ganun pala siya nung naging Ginebra player ako,” he says. “Nakaka-pressure kasi you don’t want to disappoint the millions of fans.”


In a way, Japeth’s career is a symbol of the Barangay Ginebra legacy. Japeth’s inspiration is his father, Peter Aguilar, who once donned a Ginebra jersey himself. “’Yung ibang staff na nasa Ginebra ngayon, naabutan pa nila dad ko eh,” he says. “’Yung mga stories tungkol sa dad ko, kinukuwento nila sa akin.”

Japeth has made his own “never say die” commitment to the team. His dream? To grow old with Barangay Ginebra.

“With God’s will, sa Ginebra na ako magre-retire. Kasi for me, ayoko na rin maglaro pa sa ibang team. Gusto ko mag-retire as a Ginebra player,” he says. “Marami na akong na-experience na team, pero kuntento na ako sa team na ito.”

‘Ginebra pa rin’

Among Jumar’s prized possessions are a signed jersey by Jaworski, the shoes of Mark Caguioa and JJ Helterbrand, and a basketball that has been signed by all players since 2009. Jumar himself compiled the signatures, and continues to add to his collection.


“Yung laro nila, talagang buwis-buhay. Ang sarap talaga nilang panoorin, lalu na sa Araneta. Sa mga [Facebook] status ko nga eh, ang gamit ko [na wording ay] ‘Ginebra ko’ parang inaangkin ko, parang ako na may-ari,” says Jumar. [WATCH: Die-hard Ginebra Fan, ibinahagi ang kanyang mga memorabilia]

“Ang laki ng epekto sa akin ng pagkatalo o pagkapanalo ng Ginebra. Nararamdaman ko ‘yung laro nila,” he adds. “Kahit ilang taon pa ang hihintayin namin para makuha ‘yung tropeyo o championship, nandito pa rin kami. ‘Never Say Die.’ Ginebra pa rin.”

As for the players, Barangay Ginebra can rest assured that their heroes will continue to fight and live the  “never say die” spirit. “This coming season, talagang we will give our best to win the championship,” says Japeth. “Please continue to support [the team] and also, thank you. Thank you very much.”
—Cristina Tantengco/CM, GMA News