The Final Score: The insanity of Mac Cardona

Jared Dillinger says Mac Cardona is unorthodox. Mac Cardona knows what happened in the Philippine Cup playoffs: the rise of Paul Lee, Alex Cabagnot’s big shot, Powerade’s magical run, Talk ‘N Text’s latest championship. He doesn’t know details. He just understands the bare essentials. He knows he wasn’t part of it. He knows that he hated every minute of it. Coach Franz Pumaren says Cardona is intense. I sat beside Cardona during a media event in February. We both shared a table with Powerade’s Gary David. Cardona used to be Mr. Post-Season around here. Fans learned to love and hate Cardona, not in the early stages of a tournament, but deep into the playoffs. In a media function designed to promote PBA stars, David basked in the glow of newfound fame. Cardona, on the other hand, was noticeably low-key. I asked Cardona, “Ano pakiramdam na sila (I looked in David’s direction) ang naglaro sa playoffs, hindi kayo?” Cardona replied, “Nakaka-inggit nga eh. Kaya excited na excited ako maglaro ulit.” Here he is, back in the hunt. Cardona doesn’t follow grand plans. He doesn’t strike me as a strategist. He relies on instincts. Instinct tells him a post-season without him isn’t worth following. Instinct tells him he has to be part of the mad rush. There is no step one, two and three. Basta, he finds a way. Whatever way works. There is no meticulous approach. He’s either in or out. You’re either for him or against him. It’s either win or lose.   Ali Peek says Cardona is instinctive. Cardona plays through a torrent of boos. He loves it. It is music to his ears. Although he admits, and this might disappoint his most passionate critics, he doesn’t hear it all the time. Like most talented players, he locks into a moment and tunes everything else out. He goes to work. He makes crazy shots. He wins the game. His reputation grows. Ironically, the end result is often more boos. Yet unlike most talented players, he can also unlock from that moment and suddenly become the center of distraction. Some PBA stars inspire. Cardona seems committed to irritate. He makes faces. He plays with the crowd. He pulls down his shorts in front of the opposing bench. Irritant. Insolent. Inexplicably good. Don Allado says Cardona is a scorer. Meralco heads into a gauntlet of must-win games. People say it’s impossible for Cardona and just-as-volatile teammate Sol Mercado to co-exist (see FTW video below). People say Cardona is too cocky. People say Gary David is destined to reach the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs while Cardona is destined to watch another post-season from the sidelines. Cardona will laugh it off while there are games to play. He’ll shoot threes. He’ll score teardrops. And you will want to rip the smirk off his face. Ren-Ren Ritualo says Cardona is misunderstood. The more you boo, the better he plays. The more you doubt, the harder he’ll try. It’s Cardona’s uncontrollable urge. It’s instinct. It’s insanity. To infuriate is to inspire. - GMA News