Déjà vu - is the experience of feeling sure that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously (an individual feels as though an event has already happened or has happened in the near past), although the exact circumstances of the previous encounter are uncertain.
That's what other says about the current run of Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings, the most popular basketball club in the PBA. It was just last season wherein they became eventual champions of the PBA Fiesta Conference, still being aired in ABC5/TV5 (which indeed had a better way of broadcasting the league compared to CS9).
But before that, they started 0-5 in the team standings; doesn't had a really great import; and it seems everything they'd done were wrong. Not until they got a very dominant import which was Chris Alexander. From a team that's right down the cellar, they became a championship contender.
So, how can we tell that what's happening right now is a Déjà vu from last season's Fiesta Conference? In some ways, it really looks like a Déjà vu, since Ginebra did start poorly this conference. But again, let's just compare the ones last year from this year:
1.) "Import"
Last Year: First they had Rahshon Turner, who was really not that tall and explosive during their games. During that time, it was Caguioa who seems to be the import because he led the team in scoring.
Next was Ernest Brown, and unlike Turner, he was really very tall. But I guess he only had the height, but doesn't had a very great game.
And lastly, Chris Alexander, the answer to Ginebra's prayers. He was very dominant, especially in rebounding, and led Ginebra to an automatic Quarterfinals seed. Ginebra even won 13 games straight; including the latter part of the eliminations, and a sweep in the Quarter and Semifinals.
They'd won the crown after a decisive game 7 in the Finals. Alexander also won the Best Import of the Conference that season.
This Year: First they brought back Rod Nealy, a very aggresive and scoring import that brought Ginebra straight in the quarterfinals in 2007. But this year was really different from their run during that time.
With a lot of new players in the team, teamwork and consistency can't be found in the Gin Kings. After winning the first game, they'd lost 5 straight games in the conference.Because of all the misfortunes, they decided to change their import. They tapped a former NBA player and US-NCAA Slam Dunk Champion - David Noel. From their, Ginebra just lost 1 game with him, and they got an automatic SEMIS stint.
2.) "Team Roster"
Last Year: They acquired Paul "Kid Lightning" Artadi (from Purefoods), Cris Pacana (Free Agent), Willy Wilson (from Coca-Cola), Alex Crisano (Free Agent), Vic Pablo (Free Agent), Macky Escalona and JR Aquino (ROOKIES), and Junthy "Hitman" Valenzuela (from Red Bull). Almost everyone from above contributed to Ginebra's winning run last season.
Artadi leveled up his game by adding 3-point shooting in his arsenal. Pacana and Crisano had very great performances specially during the playoffs. And the addition of Valenzuela really made Ginebra's guard rotation deeper.
This Year: At the start of the Season, they acquired Junjun Cabatu from the Free Agents List. The next conference, they first acquired JC "The Rocket" Intal and Doug Kramer (from Air21), and Chico Lañete (from Purefoods). They traded Crisano to Red Bull for future draft rights.
Afterwards, they got Cyrus "Skyrus" Baguio and Homer Se (from Burger King). Because of this acquisitions, they now had a very deep bench; and the absence of Caguioa and Valenzuela, due to injuries, didn't hurt the team very much.
3.) "The Team's Run"
They only lost 1 game in the second round of eliminations; gained an automatic quarterfinals seed; swept their game with Sta. Lucia and Red Bull in the quarters and semis, respectively.
Alexander had a vital role during the finals, especially in Game 6 wherein they had a come-from-behind win against the Air21 Express.
And they won the crown after a thrilling Game 7, despite of Helterbrand's absence (due to injury); and the injuries from Caguioa, Valenzuela and Artadi.
Helterbrand won Best Player of the Conference, while Menk and Tubid won Co-Finals MVP.
They got their chance of going straight to the semis easily, not until they were defeated by Alaska. They almost got a come-from-behind win that game; but instead, they had to battle Rain or Shine once more for the last automatic semis stint. Luckily, they won that game and now they're waiting for the best of seven semis.
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"LAST WORDS"
Well, we can't call it an exact Déjà vu of last season, since Ginebra still didn't win the championship this conference. But until Ginebra's still in the run, calling this conference a Déjà vu isn't over.
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