Manila Clasico Running Diary

6:20 PM - First thing in the running diary and I'm putting Renaldo Balkman's tattoo in the eyelids in it. What the hell is wrong with me???? Also, we are witnessing Petronovela Season 2 Episode 2 in the midst of this San Mig Coffee and Barangay Ginebra rivalry match. What the hell is wrong with everyone????

6:28 - This one is awfully taking too long... makes me think who else put tattoos in their eyelids. WHO ELSE PUT TATTOOS IN THEIR EYELIDS.

6:31 - Funny tweet: wushuuu... kung talagang bati na nga kayo..... KISS NGA!!! #balkman #santos

6:33 - Finally! We're getting started. Makes me remember my former birthday wish of having this match with both teams winless. Darn!

6:36 - First basket belongs to Ginebra with an LA-Ellis alley-oop. Lob city Philippines?

6:38 - Back to back baskets from James Yap. Meanwhile...

6:39 - Mark Caguioa being BOOED??? Wow. That's a first. Another first is Billy Mamaril going 3/3 in the field to start his game. Streak shooting.

6:42 - First timeout called and finally the crowd stopped screaming. Are we watching an Ateneo-La Salle game?

6:48 - Kerby Raymundo is now in the game. GOOD GOD KERBY RAYMUNDO IS IN THE GAME! Did I mention that Kerby Raymundo is now in the game?

6:51 - After starting 2/2, James missed his next four in the field. So much for a good start.

6:55 - 24-17 after one in favor of Ginebra. 84% of Ginebra fans are wishing upon a star that some volcano rise up the floor of Araneta Coliseum so that the game would stop and give Ginebra their second win.

7:00 - It's time to play a game called "What is Alfrancis Chua Thinking?" This one, guess what coach Alfrancis Chua is thinking in matching up 5'5" Rob Labagala to 6'3" Alex Mallari. Winners will get a free 8 hours of sleep due to confusion.

7:06 - Coach Tim Cone was pretty generous enough to send in Mark Barroca to match up with Rob Labagala. Yes... that's what I think.

7:10 - Billy Mamaril is making a living out of that mid-range shot. He's now 5/5 and get this lead up to 10. GINEBRA UP BY 10... MY GOD!!! Please spare us global warming.

7:13 - Ellis completing a chase down block and Bowles blowing a point blank shot and Ginebra running like hopeless thieves. Looks like a switch of brand drinks happened during pre-game.

7:18 - End of second quarter. This is the score. Hold on folks. 48-35 in favor of Ginebra. 48-35 IN FAVOR OF GINEBRA. MY GOODNESS!!!

7:26 - It's time to open that bag of chicharon!!!! CRRRRUUUUNNNCCCCHHHH!

7:36 - Second half time with Ginebra executing a pick and roll. Fact: no matter who the coach is, Ginebra executes the most lethal pick and roll play.

7:39 - Jolas after a Tenorio miss: minsan kinakalawang talaga kamay mo pag matagal kang hindi tumitira. THANK YOU!

7:39 - James with a three from Farmer's Plaza. Maybe SMC needs broken half court plays in order to score instead of executing. Now they're down by 10...

7:41 - ...and now down by 8. If this goes down to 6, uh oh...

7:44 - SMC down by 12 after a Mamaril midrange, which makes him 6/6. Imagine if Billy didn't make five of those, then we have a ballgame. So if Ginebra wins... MY GOODNESS BILLY MAMARIL WAS THE DIFFERENCE!!!

7:50 - An evidence the basketball gods are favoring Ginebra: four SMC and Macklin in the paint. Everyone goes up after the missed shot. Guess who got the basketball.

7:54 - 67-58 for Ginebra after the third. Every Ginebra fan is wishing that the game stops now!

7:57 - 67-60 with 11:12 remaining. Again, EVERY Ginebra fan is wishing the game stops now.

7:59 - Usual Alfrancis Chua Ginebra problem: LA started a fastbreak but no one ran with him.  I thought they were run and gun?

8:02 - BREAKING NEWS: There was no GSM Blue found inside the cooler of Ginebra, thus that electrifying fastbreak by the kings.

8:05 - 75-62 for Ginebra with 6:35 left in the game. Tim Cone was giving Barroca a mouthful as it fades to commercial. He should've screamed at their goal instead for rolling their shots out.

8:12 - SMC managed a 10-5 run with under four minutes in the game. One last push for SMC and one more plead to their ring to stop puking the ball out of their goal.

8:14 - By the way, where is James Yap????

8:17 - LAST TWOOOOOOO MINUTES!!!! 82-72 Ginebra. Ginebra fans are really praying hard right now.

8:18 - Oh, there was James Yap. And-one! Five point ball game... uh oh...

8:20 - Mark Caguioa with a three! I am loving his consistency in scoring after winning that MVP. While we're at it, special mention to Gary David.

8:22 - A trio of events... Mark Caguioa's happened to be the biggest. He has now 25. He and Gary David averages more points than Justin Williams.

8:26 - SMC still fighting for dear life. If only those threes were getting in instead of getting out, then it won't lead to Ginebra fans still feeling tense as of this moment (cut to Ginebra fans sweating in prayers).

8:29 - Buzzer sounds. Ginebra wins. Fans can now breathe.

8:30 - LA posting assists numbers like he is Rajon Rondo. But he is gunshy as... as... as... LA Tenorio?