IF you were alive and basketball crazy in the ’80s and ’90s, as I was, you’re gonna travel back in time today. Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Chito Salud announced over the weekend that PBA legends will play in the 2012 All-Star Weekend. And this early, former PBA superstars who ruled the hard courts in those halcyon years said they were excited and looking forward to the day.
To cite an InterAKTV report, Allan Caidic said that he is definitely looking forward to the possibility of playing alongside his colleagues of yesteryears. To date, Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa, Vergel Meneses and Ronnie Magsanoc have signified their intentions to play. The list still has to be finalized, so who knows? Maybe more stars like Samboy Lim, Bong Alvarez, Benjie Paras, etc., could get in the mix.
It would be great to see how the knees and lung power of the PBA legends would hold out against the current breed that is more powerfully built, more athletic and faster. Logic says the old vets would probably huff and puff, be several steps behind and maybe wield less of their sensational shooting touch. But how many of today’s young basketball fans have actually seen these former PBA greats in action and living color on the PBA hard court? If I were a kid playing with action figures, I’d be sure to get myself mini statuettes of these guys who’ll see action in the 2012 All-Star.
Alvin Patrimonio—who is still called The Captain to this day—was a gee-whiz power forward. He dominated the post, could will both a basket and his team to win, and made mincemeat of triple teams thrown at him by the opponent. Also called Captain Lionheart, his best asset, apart from his basketball skills, was his will to win. No wonder that he is the only other PBA player who has been awarded with four Most Valuable Player distinctions (the other is Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez), the only other player apart from Bogs Adornado to win back-to-back MVP Awards (1993 and 1994), the only other player (besides Vergel Meneses) to win three Best Player of the Conference awards, and the only other player (besides Allan Caidic) to play in four Asian Games—the most number played in the Games by PBA players.
Jerry Codiñera was called The Defense Minister in his heyday, and still carries the monicker today. He and Alvin Patrimonio were like Starsky and Hutch during their active years together. No one, but absolutely no one, could trespass into their territory under the basket with success. Humiliation was the name of their game. He was both tireless and relentless. Defense-wise, there seemed to be a force field around Jerry Codiñera that many found frustrating. He had a good put-back, too. And the ladies loved his looks.
As for Johnny Abarrientos, they called him The Flying A. And in very recent days, you may probably have caught a glimpse of him on the Far Eastern University bench as part of the Tamaraws coaching staff. And with his trusty coach Tim Cone on B-Meg’s long seat. But when Johnny Abarrientos was still actively playing, he was a joy to watch. He was fast and wily. Rugged and fearless. He had a benevolent face that hid the really tough guy underneath. Somewhat like the Baby Face Nelson of the PBA. One of the league’s truly unstoppable guards, he had a deadly, very focused look that seared through his opponent. Maybe Tamaraws have the same basketball blood flowing in their veins. Johnny now mentors Llamado Mark Barroca—whose playing style closely resembles Abarrientos’s, although the latter had more fire, more vroom-vroom to his game.
Jojo Lastimosa’s clutch jumper was the most feared in crunchtime situations. He could take his game above the rim to outside the perimeter, according to Wikipedia. First making his mark in Manila via Mama’s Love’s in the then PABL (Philippine Amateur Basketball League) alongside The Skywalker Samboy Lim, Jojo’s fame streaked across the PBA, first with Purefoods, then with the Alaska Aces where his worth and contributions were fully recognized. During his active player days, Jolas was known as a quiet, unassuming hitman who got the job done at both ends of the court. He was famous among many PBA fans for his good looks and his “Jolas Legs”—big and strong and powerful that really proved to be sturdy and hardworking as well.
If you need a voyage out of this planet, call Vergel Meneses, the Aerial Voyager. He was an exciting and explosive player during his playing days in the PBA. This former JRU Bomber brought a lot of hoopla to Naismith’s game with his turnaround shots and fancy moves around the paint. He had a mean shooting arm, too, and could perform last-second miracles that always brought the house down. Some say he is the most exciting player to ever play in the PBA (more exciting than Mr. Excitement, Paul Alvarez?). No wonder they all wanted him. He played for Presto, Sta. Lucia, Swift, Ginebra, FedEx, Red Bull and Talk ’N Text.
Ronnie Magsanoc was not called The Point Laureate for nothing. He was court generalship personified. Quick to spot the open man, adept at creating opportunities, he also had a consistent long tom and near flawless foul shooting that carried first, the UP Fighting Maroons, then Philip’s Sardines, then the YCO Painters, and Shell to assorted victories. He was high on leadership and mixed weaponry. Known as a cerebral point guard who played his basketball almost like a science, he was also well known for his coolness and seeming nonchalance despite extremely physical defense or the opponent’s booing. Despite his long absence from the game, watch out. Like Allan Caidic, this man’s guns are cocked and raring for a shootout come the 2012 All-Star Game.
Ang tagal pa!
