On Twitter last night, I wrote that Ginebra’s win over Smart Gilas last night to advance to the finals followed the template of Gary Granada’s (and Bayang Barrios’) original song about the team, “Pag Nananalo Ang Ginebra”. The team trailed in the first half as their fans slowly fell into the grips of despair:

Ngunit ang aga nilang nagkalat,
bawat diskarte nasisisilat
Nagkasundo kaming magkakampi
na ang labo kasi ng referee
Ang barangay parang napeste,
natambakan agad kami ng bente
Parang bansa'y nagkaleche-leche,
at nareelect ang president

Thankfully for the Ginebra faithful, the team rallied back last night in the second half, and it happened just like in the song. The characters in the story may have changed – Caguioa and Tubid lobbed three-point bombs last night instead of Hizon and Jarencio – but the spirit remained the same.



I’m not a Ginebra fan, but I love the Ginebra songs, with how they capture so fully and so perfectly the very best aspect of PBA fandom: how it’s just a small indulgence, really, a balm to soothe a heart weary of everyday life, a fact that doesn’t stop the singer from living and dying with every shot. There’s a certain unique pleasure about knowing how silly it is to invest so much of yourself to a team named after a brand of gin or milk or hotdog – and then going ahead and doing it anyway. There is something to be said about loving something so… irrationally, and the songs capture that.

My favorite of the series was “Ginebrang Ginebra” which came out in 1999, after Jaworski had left the team. Gary Granada punches his Barangay Ginebra membership card as he wistfully goes through the team’s memories of yesteryears: the walkout at the ULTRA, Rudy Distrito’s miracle shot over Benjie Paras, and of course, the joy seeing benchwarmer Ed Ducut check into the game. He writes, with bemusement rather than awe, about Jawo’s political career – almost like he couldn’t believe it himself. Then he makes the connection between basketball and our electoral system:

Ganyan ang buhay sa ating bayan
Ang basketbol at tulad din ng halalan
Pag nananalo ay mapayapa
Pag natatalo ay nadadaya

All of the Ginebra songs are available for free download at Gary Granada’s website. But while you’re there, do yourself a favor and check out his other songs. My personal favorites are “Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin” and “Kapag Sinabi Ko Sa ‘Yo”.