In today’s episode of PBA @ 50, we will be focusing on one of the popular “fairytale” journeys of a particular PBA team. Coming from the bottom, all the way to the top.
During the 2011 Philippine Cup, there was once a team that showed a promise of becoming an average team, but the progress seemed too far ahead, and they are lightyears away from becoming at least a playoff team. Until “miracles” occurred.
I present to you, the Powerade Tigers.
1. Origins: Go Get Them Tiger!
Having their original franchise, the Coca-Cola Tigers, the team needed to be rebranded in order to have a fresh new start. That being said, one franchise bought the team, which is the energy drink Powerade, and made their PBA debut as the “Powerade Tigers”.
One of the first moves Powerade did after rebranding was to draft the high-flying Sean Anthony in the 2010 PBA draft. Even though throughout the PBA 2010-11 season they missed the playoffs in all of the conferences and only had a record of 9 wins but losing 22 games, it gave them a chance to draft solid young players and trade for decent players.
The team drafted Marcio Lassiter and Jvee Casio in the 2011 PBA draft and added a solid big Doug Kramer, via trade to strengthen their starting lineup. While maintaining their 2nd year man, Sean Anthon,y and retaining one of the original members from the Coca-Cola team, Gary David.
The Tigers had decent bench players like PBA veteran Rudy Lingganay, Rommel Adducul, and Alex Crisano. As well as having Wil Antonio, Josh Vanlandingham, and Celino Cruz. The team was also coached by a veteran coach, Bo Perasol.
2. “No Chance in Hell” – Magoo Marjon
Powerade Tigers had a decent 6 wins and 8 loss record, good enough to be the #8 seed and make their way to the Playoffs where they’ll face not only the #1 seeded team, B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados, but that team led by James Yap were title favorites.
Nobody gave this team a chance to win, not even the well-known PBA Commentator, Magoo Marjon. In their show back then, he said the famous line, “No chance in hell against B-Meg”.
The Tigers were facing a twice-to-win disadvantage, there are only a few teams in PBA history to survive that challenge. Everyone counted this team out. Until the actual playoff game happened.
Gary David caught fire and scored 32 big points where the team overall drained 12 three-pointers, and the Powerade Tigers stole game one. Still, even with this accomplishment, people doubted that this team could win one more game against the Coach Tim Cone-led squad.
In Game 2, B-Meg really looked like they could win it all as they were up as big as 17 points. But everything changed in the 4th and final quarter.
Despite being in foul trouble, Gary David was the one who led the charge as he shot three’s after three’s after three’s. This is when the iconic “Nagliliyab ang mga kamay ni Gary David!” (The hands of Gary David are scorching hot!) was called during the broadcast.
Even Gary himself couldn’t believe his shooting as he looked at his hands, mimicking that his hands were on fire.
Powerade survived in hell as they knocked out top-seeded B-Meg, and David finished with 37 points, knocking down 8 triples at the end of the game in a 132-123 overtime thriller.
They then faced Rain or Shine in the semifinals and took them to Game 7, where ultimately, the Tigers proved that miracles can happen as they reach the PBA Finals.
An 8th-seeded team going to do-or-die games in the entire playoffs and making their way to the Finals is not an everyday basketball thing.
3. The Fairytale Ending
Despite how Cinderella-esque the story of the Tigers was, they had an unfortunate ending.
Facing the Talk N’ Text in the Finals proved too much for the team as multiple do-or-die games had taken a toll on their body, and just the sheer talent factor was definitely unmatched.
The Texters won the Finals in 5 games. Completing one of the most exciting playoff runs in the entire PBA history. The Powerade Tigers really encapsulate the meaning of an “underdog” team as they gave their all up until the end.
David’s heroics earned him the Best Player of the Conference award as well as giving him the nickname “El Granada”.
For an even better understanding of how great this run was, here’s a YouTube video coming from Sir Ize Flores in his Hoops Highlights channel entitled “The Rise and Fall of Powerade Tigers”.
