SINCE the late 1980s to 1990, when Alaska acquired the services of the then most exciting rookie in the draft, the current Aces were obsessed with flying.
In fact, they called themselves The Alaska Air Force. When they came out of the dugouts the Alaska band played “Wild Blue Yonder,” the American Air Force Song. Why? Because they had on their squadron Paul Alvarez, dubbed Mr. Excitement, acquired in what was then described as the richest draft in PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) history.
Mr. Excitement gave substance to the Air Force monicker. He elevated, he flew, he soared to the basket. But Mr. Excitement was eventually traded to Sta. Lucia Realty in 1993 for Bong Hawkins. And Alaska wasn’t that much airborne anymore.
Then came The Jet. Known for his explosive speed when in action on the court, Jeffrey Cariaso became the new face of Alaska and remained so for a long time. He also gave the franchise some of its most memorable moments. The Jet, who was drafted sixth overall by Alaska in 1995, also won Rookie of the Year that year. The following year, both Cariaso and his team rose to stratospheric heights. That was the year of the Alaska Grand Slam. (Only the third in PBA history) And this is how it went:
The game goes into overtime in Game Five, with Purefoods leading Alaska, 92-191, 10.3 seconds left. Alaska inbounds and Cariaso catches the ball. While trying to do an alley-oop, he is fouled by Bong Ravena who tried to block the shot. Cariaso goes to the foul line. With 0.6 seconds left, The Jet coolly sinks his free throws, giving Alaska the lead, 93-92. The buzzer sounds. The series is over. And that was how the Alaska Grand Slam was won.
Cariaso stayed with Alaska till 1997, when he was traded to Mobiline (now Talk N’ Text. From there The Jet took a roundabout route, finding new homes in Tanduay, Coca-Cola, then back to Alaska in 2004-2005 where he stayed another six years as team captain. Then he retired in 2010 after playing 15 seasons in the PBA. And when he surfaced anew, he had a new persona: a PBA coach—but of another team. The highly popular Barangay Ginebra, where he became head coach for two conferences.
But just last weekend The Jet made an unexpected but very welcome landing. He was introduced as the new Basketball Director of the Alaska Basketball Powercamp and Jr. NBA (National Basketball Association) coach in the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 presented by Alaska at British School Manila. His new mission: to help aspiring young players achieve their true potential via basketball skills and the learning of the Jr. NBA STAR values: Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect.
Alaska President and Chief Executive Officer Wilfred Steven Uytengsu was most happy to welcome back his private Jet into the Alaska organization. And The Jet was ecstatic to be back in his familiar hangar.
“This feels like a homecoming for me because I’ve always been proud to be part of Alaska. My job right now is to find the best basketball players for boys and girls around the country and help them develop to their full potential not just as players but also as persons and productive members of the community,” said Cariaso.
“It feels like I never really left, though,” he countered. “This is my home, and I’m glad to be home. I’m proud to be part of this organization. I never lost the connection.”
For the next three months (January to April) Cariaso, together with other Alaska Power Camp coaches Topex Robinson, John Ramirez, Eric de la Cuesta and Rodney Santos (who is also making a comeback in Alaska), will go around the country for the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program. Together with Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Head Coach and Camp Director Chris Sumner, the Alaska bunch will fly or motor to Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, Biñan, Iloilo, Baguio, Davao and back to Manila for regional selection camps that will select the best young players (boys and girls aged 10-14) who will form part of the National Training Camp in April. The best performers in that training camp—10 boys and five girls—will be this years Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA All-Stars who will be rewarded with an authentic NBA experience and the chance to play abroad with counterpart Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA teams. This is the eighth consecutive Jr. NBA Philippines program.
The Jet has some good advice to share with kids who like to play basketball. One, join the program, which is absolutely free at all stages. Two, absorb everything that you will learn and experience in the camps. Three, believe in yourself.
“If you buy into that, and if you discover that basketball is really for you, you will learn not just to be a good player, but also a good individual,” says The Jet.
But first, you have to come out and play. And maybe in the future, fly.