The flamboyant official has made awesome things happen.
PBA teams under the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) have been lording over the league for quite a while now. That, of course, includes the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
It’s not surprising at all considering the squad’s stacked lineup, headlined by studs such as Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, and Jamie Malonzo, who would all probably win if they ran for barangay captain. To make it seemingly more unfair, they are coached by the great Tim Cone.
But winning championships left and right doesn’t stop with the coaches and players. For that to happen, the franchise must have a top-tier team manager. Well, Barangay Ginebra has exactly that in Alfrancis Chua. Overall, Chua has 15 PBA titles as the SMC sports director, including seven with Team NSD.
Recently, Philippine basketball’s most famous barangay paid tribute to Chua by putting his face on an actual Ginebra San Miguel bottle, as shown by veteran sports analyst Quinito Henson on a Facebook post.
Imagine the reactions of gin bulag lovers across the land while downing a bottle or two with Chua’s exquisite headshot.
“Alay kay Alfrancis,” they’ll probably say.
If Thompson has a signature perfume, Chua has a signature bote ng Ginebra.
The important question in all this is: Does Chua deserve to have his mug placed on a Ginebra bottle?
Based on the numbers, it’s a big YES. Non-Barangay Ginebra fans can hate on Chua all they want but it’s hard to argue against positive results. A few weeks back, in his first time as team manager of Gilas Pilipinas, Chua put his Midas touch on the national team to end a 61-year gold medal drought in the Asian Games.
Coming into the PBA Commissioner's Cup, expect Chua to help Barangay Ginebra defend its crown despite the looming absence of Justin Brownlee.
And maybe down a shot of gin or two.
(PM)