White Men Can Jump Too - The PBA's Non-African American Imports

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has given jobs to more than six hundred imports over its 45-year existence. The description is normally common: African-Americans, played in the NBA, CBA or other minor leagues, do-it-all players who can score, pass, rebound, block shots, and can adapt in the local environment.

There have been exceptions, of course. In the mid 2010's, the PBA introduced a novel concept of bringing in Asian imports to reinforce the teams in an effort to foster relationships with its Asian counterparts in the FIBA. Some have come from different continents like Australia, Africa, Europe and Central America. On the other hand, there have been 35 caucasian (white) imports who have played in the PBA, or roughly around 5% of the total import population.

There are some notables, others we won't even remember probably because they have been replaced in the early stages of the elimination round. Let's list down the more memorable ones mixed with some oddities and trivia:

1.  Pete Crotty 

The 6'9 import of the Crispa Redmanizers was actually the first of two imports hired by the team in the maiden season, the other being the 6'6 Johnny Burks. What made Crotty crack this list is that the former Notre Dame standout remains to be the first and only caucasian import to win a PBA title - the 1975 All Philippine Championships. Crotty was an average import, not outstanding, but scrappy and willing to do the dirty work inside the paint. Burks was the more athletic, prolific import but at Crispa, imports don't need to score heavily.

Pete Crotty, defending against Tanduay's John Terry

2.  Trivia #1: 

The most number of white imports to play in one conference was 5 - and they all played in the 1975 Open Conference. Who were they? Crotty of Crispa, Lee Haven of U/Tex, Ron Wrigley of Presto, Steve Brooks of 7/Up and Steve Smith of Royal Tru Orange. Not bad considering there were 17 imports total who played in that tournament. Speaking of Haven, did you know that he's the first rehired white import in the PBA? He was hired for the 1975 season and came back the year after.

Lee Haven donning the U/Tex Weavers jersey in the 1975 and 1976 seasons

3.  Bill Bozeat and Tim Hirten

Tanduay uncannily hired the services of two white imports to reinforce their team in the 1976 Open Conference. The then Distillers secured the services of 6'11 Bill Bozeat of Texas Christian University and the 6'4 Tim Hirten of Steubenville College.  The two were the very first pair of white imports to play simultaneously for one team in the PBA. Hirten, by the way, is now a priest, and has a fond recollection of his former Tanduay coach, the late Caloy Loyzaga.

The 6'11 Bozeat at left and the 6'4 Hirten at right for the Tanduay Distillers

4.  Steve Stroud - 7/Up

There have been a handful of seven footers (around 15 of them only) who have played in the PBA. The more prominent ones would include Chris Alexander of Ginebra and Earl Barron of Red Bull and Meralco. While Stroud may not be categorized as one of the best seven footers of all time, he would make it to the record books as the first seven foot caucasian import to play in the league. Stroud teamed up with Chris MacMurray in the 1977 Open Conference, but deferred to the offensive genius named Danny Florencio who scored a scintillating 32.3 ppg for the season, the highest average of a local player in league history. The former Arkansas Razorback, though slow and gangling, helped Florencio accomplish this record by getting the boards and allowing Daredevil Danny to score off transition.

5.  Frank Gugliotta - Royal Tru Orange

The Royal Tru Orange franchise had a penchant for hiring caucasian imports. Aside from Smith in the 1975 season, they also took in Mike Rozenski in 1977. And in 1978, Frank Gugliotta was hired to partner with Larry Williams for the Orangemen. If you find his surname familiar, he just happens to be the elder brother of NBA star, Tom, then the star player of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He had common traits with his younger brother - upper body strength and medium range jumpers. Unfortunately, they came up short and failed to make it to the Top 5 of the first 2 conferences to miss the Invitational tournament.

RTO's Frank Gugliotta (#13, partly hidden) attempting to stop U/Tex's Snake Jones' lay-in

6.  Norm Kelly and Tom Snyder - Honda

What Tanduay did three years back, Honda replicated in the 1979 season. Curiously, the Coseteng franchise, then under Coach Jun Celis, brought in Norm Kelly and Tom Snyder who happened to play for the same school in college - Saint Mary's. While having two caucasian imports playing together for the same team was a rarity, it didn't help the Wildcats to get past the elimination round and into the playoffs in the Open Conference. This, despite Kelly's 32.25 ppg and Snyder's 31.25 ppg conference averages as the pair struggled to get ample local support. As such, plus Honda's so-so performance in the All Filipino, the Wildcats were not eligible to play in the 3rd Conference - the Invitationals.

A photo of Tom Snyder while playing in Europe

7.  Jim Zoet and Michael Carter - Finance, Inc.

Three pertinent details about Jim Zoet. First, he is the second caucasian import to be listed beyond seven feet tall - he was actually 7'1. Second, Zoet first played in the Philippines as part of the Canadian national team that placed sixth overall in the FIBA World Championships. Canada actually played two exhibition games prior to the FIBA WC - one game each versus Crispa and Toyota. They won against the Redmanizers and lost to the Tamaraws. And third, Zoet's collaboration with Michael Carter with the Finance Funders in the 1981 season made them the third caucasian import combo in the league. Alas, both players had to be replaced midway in the tournament - with Carter going out after only 4 games and his slot was given to James Woods while Zoet stayed a bit longer for 9 games before being replaced by B.B. Davis.

Jim Zoet in practice for the Canadian national team

8.  John Kazmer - U/Tex

Here's an opportunity to correct a history error. Several websites have erroneously referred to John Kazmer as the first white import to play in the PBA. As you can see from the fourteen (14) listed names above, that statement was incorrect. As a matter of fact, there have been 15 white players prior to Kazmer who have played in the PBA, the one not mentioned was Tanduay's Kevin Cluess, who played in 1980. What is fact is that Kazmer is the first caucasian import to play in the Reinforced Conference - a tournament innovation introduced by Commissioner Leo Prieto in 1981 when the teams were allowed to be reinforced by one import each no taller than 6'5. Kazmer was U/Tex's handpick but was eventually replaced by Leroy Jackson, who powered the Wranglers to a runner-up finish against the Al Green-led Crispa Redmanizers quintet.

U/tex's John Kazmer, faking off then rookie Joey Marquez of Presto

9.  Trivia #2

PBA fans would claim that the glorious decade of the league was in the 80's featuring the greatest imports (Bates, Fields, Hackett, Thirdkill, Black, Parks, Chambers, Redfield, Young, etc) and the fiercest rivalries (Ginebra-Purefoods, Ginebra-Tanduay, Jaworski-Fernandez, Royal Brothers vs. Bruise Brothers, corporate rivals Purefoods and Swift, etc.). On the other hand, the 90's saw the biggest stars - from the pioneers Jaworski and Fernandez to the young superstars then like Patrimonio, Paras, Lastimosa, etc. to the entry of the Fil-Foreigners (the Seigle Brothers, Menk, Taulava, etc.). But did you also know that from 1982 until 2000, no white import was hired during this 19-season period? Not one, not even a replacement. Whether or not this was deliberate, it begs the question: why? Wasn't the movie, "White Men Can' Jump," released in 1992? Or that there were caucasians dominating the NBA in the 80's and 90's - Larry Bird, John Stockton, Kevin McHale, Bill Walton, Chris Mullin, the Paxson brothers, Mark Price, even the hated Bill Laimbeer - that would have inspired teams to hire their services? Apparently not. We can only wonder why.

Photo of White Men Can't Jump actors Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson

10. Ryan Fletcher - Ginebra and Sta. Lucia

When Coach Ron Jacobs became the consultant for the two SMC teams in the PBA in 2000, he brought in a young and raw Ryan Fletcher from the Cincinnati Bearcats to help newly-arrived big man, Jun Limpot, at Ginebra. Fletcher, a bruising 6'8 who loved to mix it up inside, was the perfect description of a blue collar worker. He didn't score much, but he was a bruising monster off the boards. While the team ended up only 8th in the Commissioner's Cup, Fletcher proved that he was worthy of a second crack as Sta. Lucia signed him up for 14 games in the 2004-05 Fiesta Conference, replacing Raheim Brown. The team made it to the wildcard playoffs but eventually finished 7th overall. Fletcher may not have the best form or the most consistent jumper for an import but his work ethic remains to be a meterstick for many imports to follow, making him the first white import to play for two different PBA teams.

Ryan Fletcher in overseas action

11. Richie Frahm and Damian Cantrell - Talk 'N Text

No, they didn't play together for one conference for the Phone Pals. Both, though, had uncanny similarity in their style of play. Both are deadshot bombers from the outside, can run the transition well and played shooting guard positions. Both also played for different foreign coaches - Frahm for Bill Bayno and Cantrell for Paul Woolpert. Until Royal Tru Orange snagged Rozenski in 1977 and Gugliotta in 1978, no team has hired white imports in back-to-back seasons. The MVP franchise broke that spell 25 years after when they got the former San Francisco Don in 2003, a year after Frahm. While Cantrell was the more versatile of the two as he normally can post up and run the break, Frahm helped the Phone Pals to a runner-up finish against Red Bull in the 2002 Commissioner's Cup. Cantrell went on to become the second white import to return to the PBA for the same team.

A storied 5-year NBA career for Richie Frahm of TNT

Damian Cantrell leading the transition for his team overseas

12. Chris Clay - Sta. Lucia

For awhile, many thought Chris Clay would actually get to play in the PBA as a local. Efforts by the FedEx Express to have his papers cleared by the PBA to join the 2002 draft went for naught, forcing the former Laguna Laker (same owners of FedEx) standout to go back to the MBA to play for the Pangasinan Waves. Clay was so impressive that he made a positive impression on then Realtors' coach, Norman Black, as recommended by his consultant, Alfrancis Chua, a good friend of Clay, allowing Clay to serve as SLR's import in the 2002 Commissioner's Cup.  Clay was taken in to replace the ineffective Willie Farley, in tandem with former SMB import, Stephen Howard. The Realtors did well in the eliminations, placing 2nd overall with a 7-3 record, tying Red Bull at the top. Unfortunately, they faced the surging Talk 'N Text Phone Pals led by imports Jerald Honeycutt and Frahm in the quarterfinal round, and got booted out in two games. Clay's numbers may not have been as impressive as his 29 and 12 averages with the Lakers in the MBA, but he was decent enough to finish the tournament.

Chris Clay in MBA action with the Laguna Lakers

13. Alex Compton - Welcoat

Compton became a household name when he played for the Manila Metrostars and later, the Batangas Blades, in the MBA. An American who was born in Makati City, he joined the Metrostars in the MBA's debut season in 1998, became league MVP in 1999, then went to the PBL to play for the Welcoat Dragons. When he was tapped as assistant coach to Leo Austria in the PBA for the same Terry Que / Raymond Yu-owned expansion franchise, he was also enlisted as the team's second import in seasons 2007 and 2008. It was unfortunate though that Compton was already 33 years old by the time he got to play in the PBA as many were hoping he'd be given a special pass to play as a local. Compton helped the team in tandem with Charles Clark and the next year, Jason Keep, but it was the weak local lineup that made them perennial cellar dwellers. He will be in the record books though as the league's first white playing assistant coach. Compton eventually became a head coach of the Alaska Aces.

Alex Compton heading for a layup as import for the Welcoat Dragons

14. Adam Parada - Red Bull and Alaska

A couple of interesting trivia on Adam Parada. First, he is the first Mexican import to ever play in the PBA. Second, he is the third seven foot white import, after Stroud and Zoet. And third, he is the second white import to play for two different franchises - the first one with Red Bull in 2008 and later hired by Alaska in 2012. A dominant player inside, Parada did well for Red Bull at the start, carrying the franchise to an 11-7 record at the end of the eliminations placing just behind the AIR21 Express, which ended at first with a 12-6 card. The two teams were automatically seeded in the Best of 7 semifinals against different rivals. Unfortunately, the Thunder went up against eventual champions, Barangay Ginebra, led by another seven footer, Chris Alexander, to sweep Parada and Yeng's wards, 4-0. He later came back to suit up for the Aces and led the team to a 6-6 card, only to lose to Barako Bulls, 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Parada's stint with Red Bull in 2008 was obviously the more impressive performance, although they were unfortunate to face a peaking Ginebra team entering the playoffs.

Alaska's Adam Parada, attempting to swat Powerade's Gary David's layup

15.  Bruno Sundov - Rain or Shine

One of those rare moments to see Coach Yeng Guiao actually hire a caucasian import. He did that with Parada, but what made this more interesting is that he brought in a Croatian import who happens to be in the league record books as the tallest import, along with PJ Ramos of KIA, to play in the PBA at 7'3. Sundov was an ideal choice for ROS in the 2013 Commissioner's Cup as he was a stretch 5, a big man who can shoot from outside - the kind of player that Yeng wants. And true enough, the Elasto Painters did well, ending the elims with a 9-5 card, just behind eventual champions, Alaska, which carded an 11-3 record. Luck of the draw saw ROS facing a dangerous Ginebra team led by import Vernon Macklin, and true enough, despite needing to win twice in the QF round, the Kings upended Sundov and the E-Painters, 90-83 and 81-79. The second game didn't turn out well for the Croatian giant as he only talled 12 points and 6 boards, while his counterpart, Macklin, sizzled with 24, 16 and 6.

ROS' Bruno Sundov off BGK's Vernon Macklin

16. Trivia #3

The PBA Bobby Parks Best Import Award started in the 1981 season with Andrew Fields of Toyota as the first recipient. The late Parks has won the most with seven (7). Curiously, no caucasian import has yet to win the award. Yes, not once, and no one even came close...

17. Trivia #4 

Here's a complete list of the names of the white imports and the year/s they played here:

1975: Pete Crotty (Crispa), Lee Haven (U/Tex), Ron Wrigley (Presto), Steve Brooks (7/Up), Steve Smith (Royal Tru Orange)

1976: Bill Bozeat (Tanduay), Timmy Hirten (Tanduay), Lee Haven (U/Tex)

1977: Mike Rozenski (Royal Tru Orange), Steve Stroud (7/Up)

1978: Frank Gugliotta (Royal Tru Orange)

1979: Norm Kelly (Honda), Tom Snyder (Honda)

1980: Kevin Cluess (Tanduay)

1981: Jim Zoet (Finance), Michael Carter (Finance), John Kazmer (U/Tex)

2001: Ryan Fletcher (Ginebra), David Wood (Purefoods)

2002: Richie Frahm (Talk 'N Text), Chris Clay (Sta. Lucia), Derek Grimm (Shell)

2003: Damien Cantrell (Talk 'N Text)

2004-05: Marek Ondera (Shell), Chris Burgess (San Miguel), Ryan Fletcher (Sta. Lucia), Joe Zaletel (Purefoods)

2005-06: Damien Cantrell (Talk 'N Text)

2006-07: Alex Compton (Welcoat)

2007-08: Alex Compton (Welcoat), Jason Keep (Welcoat), Adam Parada (Red Bull)

2011-12: Adam Parada (Alaska), Jackson Vroman (Ginebra), Nick Fazekas (San Miguel)

2012-13: Bruno Sundov (Rain or Shine); Matt Rogers (San Mig Coffee)

2013-14: Brian Butch (Meralco)

2016-17: Lou Amundson (Talk 'N Text)

2018-19: Kyle Barone (Columbian Dyip)

Kevin Cluess of Tanduay getting undercut by Gilbey's Bing Del Rosario as Larry McNeil and Ely Capacio look on

Photo collage of David Wood, once Purefoods import

The Post Toyota Era: These Players became even bigger Stars

  Last Saturday, I posted an article featuring the seven (7) Crispa Floro Redmanizers (http://sportingpage.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-post-crispa-era-these-players.html) who did well after the franchise disbanded at the end of the 1984 season. It’s not a surprise, therefore, that we’ll have a Toyota version this time, as the league was all about these two teams for its first decade (although Toyota lasted 9 seasons from 1975 to 1983).

            Not too many would realize that the league would go on and reach even bigger heights after the two rivals disbanded on back-to-back years. Those were unsettling times, and it took the leadership of Commissioner Mariano Yenko and his able deputy, Tommy Manotoc, to steer the PBA ship back to its course, establishing league parity by distributing the Crispa stars to different teams. Later, Commissioner Rudy Salud brought it to heights far beyond the imagination and expectation of fans as the youth brigade came in and sensational imports reinforced the squads.

            As such, allow me to share Toyota’s list of seven players who have made an even bigger name of themselves after 1983.

Robert Jaworski (4x PBA champion as player and coach, 1x Mythical First Team – 1986, 2x Mythical Second Team – 1985 and 1988, 1x PBA All-Defensive Team – 1985)

 Many would probably question how the Big J, Robert Jaworski, Sr., http://sportingpage.blogspot.com/2011/10/robert-jaworski-legend.html would make the list when we know his greatest years were with Toyota – 1978 MVP, 5x Mythical First Team, 9x champion. Had there been a Finals MVP award back then, the Big J would easily have picked up at least 3 from those 9 championships. He was the undisputed leader of the franchise until an internal turmoil sparked that reared its ugly head in the 1983 season – their last, yet worst, season ever. When the Silverio franchise disbanded, the Big J was already 37 years old. So why is he included when all his accomplishments in the past seem to outweigh those after Toyota?

            Easy. Jaworski transcended from being one of the league’s brightest superstar to becoming the face and ambassador of the PBA. He was the first playing coach to ever win a PBA title, putting up impressive numbers as a player in 3 of the 4 titles he won. In 1986, he played all 58 minutes in Game 4 of the Ginebra-Manila Beer Finals series, setting a league record for most number of minutes played by a local while quarterbacking the team to a 145-135 victory. In 1988, he and Joey Loyzaga topscored for Añejo Rum in Game 4 of the All Filipino Finals against Purefoods to win the game, 135-124, and the championship. And in the 1991 First Conference Finals versus Shell, he was named player of the game for scoring 13 points, grabbing 7 boards and issuing 6 dimes in the classic Game 7 win, 104-102 for the title. He was named head coach of the first all-pro national team assembled for the 1990 Beijing Asian Games. He and former teammate Ramon Fernandez brought the league to unexpected popularity when it was about to collapse by coming up with a personal rivalry that somehow replaced the Crispa-Toyota competition. And of course, he made Ginebra San Miguel the most popular team in PBA history by owning the never-say-die mantle that endeared them to millions of Filipinos.

The immortal barreling drive of the Big J a age 41

Ramon Fernandez (10x PBA champion, 3x MVP – 1984, 1986, 1988, 6x Mythical First Team – 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 3x Mythical Second Team – 1985, 1987 and 1990)

            Unlike Jaworski, Fernandez’s numbers were dominant in the post-Toyota era. Having been appointed as the franchise player of Beer Hausen after it bought the Toyota franchise, Don Ramon quickly established himself as the greatest player of the league, averaging 27 points, 15 rebounds and 9.9 assists for the entire 1984 season and earning for himself his second MVP award, the first outside Toyota, in unanimous fashion. He later won 2 more awards in 1986 with Tanduay and in 1988 – playing for two conferences with Purefoods and one with San Miguel Beer. He would have easily won his 5^th in 1989 as he ended up second overall in the stats race and was the overwhelming favorite to win because his SMB team won the grandslam, but eventually lost out in the voting to rookie Benjie Paras. He was also the scourge of all young, big men of his time - whether it was Dondon Ampalayo and Terry Saldaña of Ginebra, Jerry Codiñera and Alvin Patrimonio of Purefoods, Rey Lazaro of Shell and Alaska, Abet Guidaben of Tanduay and SMB, Philip Cezar of Shell and Great Taste, Manny Victorino of Shell and Great Taste, and Abe King of Gold Eagle and Great Taste - Fernandez almost always had the upperhand in their matchups.

            The bitter rivalry of Fernandez and Jaworski spilled over to the court and was lapped upon by the fans. The Toyota fans then were split up – half cheered for Beer Hausen while the other half pledged allegiance to Gilbey’s Gin (later Ginebra). But by 1986, the two most popular teams in the league were Jaworski’s Ginebra and Fernandez’s Tanduay. While league parity was achieved, the most coveted sideshow then was the feud between the two superstars. The most memorable All-Star game in league history happened in 1989 and the two were the major stars of the show – Jaworski inbounding a pass to Fernandez for the buzzer-beating layup to seal the win for the Veterans against a hungry Rookie / Sophomore quintet, 132-130. Of greater interest to the fans was the post-game shaking of hands of the two, prodded upon by their Veterans coach, Baby Dalupan. While Fernandez may have been involved in two major controversial trades with Abet Guidaben in 1985 and 1988, his sensational performance after Toyota where he won 10 more championships is the primary reason why many to date, consider him as the PBA’s greatest player of all time (GOAT).

Reed-thin he may be, but Fernandez's screen can be painful

Abe King (6x PBA champion, 1x Mythical Second Team – 1985, 1x PBA All-Defensive Team – 1985)

Check out Abe King's player profile here: http://sportingpage.blogspot.com/2018/07/abe-king-putting-power-in-power-forward.html

            Not too many fans would know this but Abe King is actually the first Franchise Player of the PBA. Fernandez may have claimed the tag because Beer Hausen declared their intent of having him as the focal point of the team. But corporate rival, Gold Eagle Beer, a few weeks before Toyota was sold, had already acquired King’s services and their intent was to surround him with players and make King as their main man. While King had his bright moments with Toyota, once scoring 60 points in a 1979 game versus Crispa, and became one of the most feared defenders in the league, Toyota was still a Jawo-Fernandez-Arnaiz team, with King and Arnie Tuadles competing one of the greatest first fives in league history.

            Hence, when King moved to Gold Eagle, he was chalking up huge numbers as well, including a couple of triple doubles, as he led a relatively youthful brigade made up of Marte Saldaña, Joey Loyzaga, Dante Gonzalgo, Etok Lobo, Tony Dasalla, Jerry Samlani and Noli Banate. Manny Paner was the oldest player in that team at 35 years old but has considerably slowed down. King’s stint with the SMC franchise didn’t last, and he later moved to Great Taste in 1985 and stayed with the Gokongwei franchise until its disbandment in 1992. King won 4 titles for the Coffee Makers as he served as one of the leaders of the team, forming an imposing defensive collaboration with Philip Cezar that was nicknamed the Royal Brothers (for Prince Philiip and Abe King). He was later taken in by Purefoods in 1993 when 1991 MVP, Alvin Patrimonio, by then the best player in the league, sought for King to avoid having him as a defender. Because of King’s veteran leadership, he helped the young Purefoods / Coney Island squad coached by a young Chot Reyes to two more titles. He retired at the end of the 1994 season, cementing his legacy and a sure slot in the next list of 50 PBA Greatest Players by 2025, while proving that there’s life after Toyota.

The PBA's first franchise player suiting up for Gold Eagle Beer in 1984

Chito Loyzaga (7x PBA champion, 1x Mythical Second Team – 1986, 8x PBA All-Defensive Team – 1985 to 1992)

            Loyzaga was already a seasoned 23-year old when he joined the pros in 1981 for YCO/Tanduay. He was part of several national teams, and was a key member of San Beda’s twin NCAA titles in 1977 and 1978. He was also vital cog for the YCO Painters in the MICAA. It became a surprise therefore that Loyzaga played only one game for the Esquires as he migrated to Australia. He came back in 1983 after signing up with the Toyota Silver Coronas and served as an understudy to Jaworski.

            Loyzaga’s one season stint with Toyota would make him an easy choice in this list. But what makes Dynamite (coined by Pinggoy Pengson) a worthy inclusion is that he ended up becoming one of the best players of all time, earning for himself a slot in the PBA 40 Greatest Players list. He was known for his bulwark defense, which made him become a member of the All-Defensive team for 8 straight seasons. He also was part of 7 different champion teams, including the 4-straight of Great Taste from 1984 and 1985. But he became a household name when he joined Ginebra in 1986 – not only was he a fan favorite but he was also Jaworski’s most trusted player, particularly in the closing stretch. It was no surprise therefore that Chito was named in the 1990 all-pro national team and proved himself with his memorable defense against the 7’8 Ri Myung Hun (Michael Ri) of North Korea. Loyzaga eventually became Ginebra’s assistant team manager after his retirement in 1993.

The 6'2 Loyzaga was fearless, even if it meant going up against the 7'8 Ri

Ricky Relosa (1x PBA champion, 1x 1986 Most Improved Player, 1x Mythical Second Team 1987, 3x PBA All-Defensive Team – 1986, 1987, 1988)

            Another young, yet, seasoned player who joined Toyota in the 1982 season was Ricky Relosa. After honing his skills in the MICAA starting 1976 with Toyota’s farm team, Frigidaire / MAN Diesel, Relosa became part of the original NCC Training Team of Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. He joined the team that won the 1981 William Jones Cup in Taiwan, and later, was selected to be part of the gold medal-winning national team in the 1981 Manila SEA Games. By the time he joined Toyota in 1982 along with other top rooks Ed Cordero, Terry Saldaña and Tim Coloso, many already knew Relosa was ripe for the pros. He proved them right and gave the then Super Corollas an even more imposing post presence, backstopping Fernandez and King.

            But Relosa continued to grow as a player. He joined Fernandez at Beer Hausen as part of the Toyota sale, but went to Jaworski at Ginebra the season after when the Big J became head coach. It was his eventual transfer to expansion team Alaska that earned for him his first two individual awards – the 1986 Most Improved Player Award and inclusion in the All-Defensive Team. When Manila Beer disbanded prior to the start of the 1987 season, Yoyoy Villamin was taken in by the Uytengsu franchise and formed a menacing frontline with Relosa called The Bruise Brothers (the name coming from the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs in the early 80’s). It didn’t come as a surprise that the two would be included once more in the 1987 All-Defensive Team as Hills Bros suddenly became a championship contender because of them. Relosa’s reliable perimeter jumper was a given but he stood out on the defensive side, particularly in the post as he was assigned to guard the top imports back then (Bates, Black, Young, Wise, Parks, Chambers, etc.). While he won two titles with Toyota, he finally collared one championship with Formula Shell in the 1992 First Conference when they demolished the San Miguel Beermen, 4-1. He ended his PBA stint with Shell, retiring at the end of the 1993 season.

1/2 of the Bruise Brothers in this 1988 action versus Añejo's Bobby Parks

Terry Saldaña (4x PBA champion, 1x Most Improved Player – 1983, 2x Mythical Second Team – 1984 and 1986)

            Terry Saldaña was part of Toyota’s Batch ’82 rookies and churned out what could have been the most impressive season for a freshman. He was on his way to winning the Rookie of the Year award but then he figured in a brawl against the visiting South Korean team in the Asian Invitationals that disqualified him from winning the plum. To the surprise of many, Saldaña left Toyota after one season to reunite with his former APCOR and Asian Youth coach, Turing Valenzona, at Gilbey’s Gin. With Saldaña starting for the Gins, the team nearly won the 1983 All Filipino crown, ending up runners-up to Crispa. Terry romped away with the very first official Most Improved Player award that year.

            He continued his fine performance with the Palanca franchise, copping Mythical Second Team honors in 1984 and 1986, while playing a major role in Ginebra’s first ever franchise title in the 1986 Open Conference Unfortunately, Saldaña suffered a major injury in 1987 that sidelined him for the entire season. Because of the nature of his injury, as seen on national television, no one expected Saldaña to recover physically and mentally. He joined Alaska in the middle of 1988 but lost his roster spot when the team chose several young talents in the 1989 rookie draft. He came back in 1990 when Yeng Guiao took him as a free agent for expansion team, Pop Cola. He stayed relevant, at times starting out for the team and at times, coming off the bench. In 1992, he finally won another title after 6 seasons, and still soaking in those minutes despite playing backup to Nelson Asaytono and Yoyoy Villamin at the #4 spot. He moved to Shell in 1994 and played 3 seasons before reuniting with Sonny Jaworski at Gordon’s Gin in 1997. It was his Game 3 performance in the Finals against Alaska that earned him raves, collaring 12 boards in a splendid relief performance as import Chris King was down with an injury. At age 42 and without a team in 1999, Guiao comes back and salvages Saldaña’s career once more, getting him for the expansion team, Red Bull, as a free agent before finally retiring at the end of the season.

Tenacious action for the loose ball as Saldaña battles three Shell players

Arnie Tuadles (5x PBA champion, 1x Mythical Second Team 1987)

Check out the late Arnie Tuadles' player profile here:  http://sportingpage.blogspot.com/2011/10/arnulfo-arnie-tuadles-jr.html 

            Just how good Arnie Tuadles was? For one, he’s the first rookie in PBA history to crack the Mythical First Team in 1979. His offensive versatility is a marvel to watch – whether playing in the perimeter and beyond the arc or posting up. His contra-tiempo (counter-timing) moves was an enigma to any defensive specialist of his time. He had a certain flare that is a cross of "making basketball look so simple" and a level of flamboyance imitated by up and coming players.

            And yet, he was physical and a veteran presence as he can be. In 1990, Tuadles hard foul resulted to Leo Isaac’s arm injury that forced the Añejo guard in the sidelines and out of the Finals against Tuadles’ Shell team. Without Isaac, there was no primary defender against Ronnie Magsanoc, who went berserk (unarguably one of the finest Finals performance ever), catapulting Shell to the First Conference championship. In the second conference of the same season, he moved to Presto entering the semifinal round and lifted the Ice Cream Makers to the championship, the first ever player in league history to win back-to-back conference crowns in the same season while playing for different teams. Tuadles turned out to be the hero of Game 7 in the Finals against Purefoods, torching the Hotdogs with 33 markers while ably replacing Allan Caidic who got injured in Game 6. He was also a key member of that Presto team that won the 1987 All Filipino title against Hills Bros. People will question how Tuadles became part of this list when he had an exceptional career wearing the Toyota colors. But when someone continues to display his all-around brilliance at age 34 when Presto won the 1990 All Filipino conference, served as one of Caidic’s mentors during his early years, and understanding every trick of the trade to make himself relevant, Tuadles’ name will always stand out – whether or not in a #11 Toyota jersey.

Arnie Tuadles' post game was off the charts as Bay Cristobal tries to deny him possession.

The Post Crispa Era: These Players became even bigger Stars

            

The famous Crispa logo

       For the first decade of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Crispa Redmanizers ruled the roost, garnering 13 out of the 29 titles at stake. This, apart from collaring practically half of the Filipino basketball fan base because of their success and the popularity of their players.

            Yet, despite the instant rise to fame just by wearing the Crispa colors, there were still players who became even larger than life personalities after the franchise disbanded at the end of the 1984 season. We enumerate seven names who made the list:

           

Abet Guidaben (2x PBA champion, 1x MVP - 1987, 3x Mythical First Team - 1985, 1987, 1988)

            If there’s one player who would make it to the top of the list among latebloomers, Abet Guidaben would definitely be a primary candidate. A league pioneer, Guidaben lived under the shadows of his more illustrious teammates, Bogs Adornado, Atoy Co, Philip Cezar and Freddie Hubalde. Despite being regarded as the second-best center in the league from 1975 to 1982, his breakout performance only happened in the 1983 season when he won MVP honors during Crispa’s grandslam run.

            Noteworthy though that when Guidaben finally won his first MVP, he actually won a second, similar award in 1987 as the lead man for the then young San Miguel Beermen. He was also cited as the league’s best center, being part of the Mythical First Team, in 1985 with Tanduay before being traded to Manila Beer for Mon Fernandez and in 1988 with SMB before being traded to Purefoods for Fernandez again. Guidaben was actually on track to win his third MVP award in 1988 but got derailed due to the trade as Purefoods languished in the cellar in the 3^rd conference. That trade also didn’t work well for the Camiguin native although he did have his third most prolific season with Pepsi in 1990 wih 20.4 ppg. Unfortunately, the teams he played for didn’t figure in the championships, his career finally ending with Shell at the end of the 1995 season.

Guidaben, donning the #5 Crispa jersey and the #32 SMB jersey

Yoyoy Villamin (4x PBA champion, 1x Mythical First Team – 1987, 3x Mythical Second Team – 1988, 1990, 1991, 7x PBA All-Defensive Team – 1985 to 1990 and 1995, 1x Most Improved Player – 1987, 1x Comeback Player of the Year – 1995)

            The second most distinguished and accomplished Redmanizer in the post-Crispa era, Yoyoy Villamin blossomed when he didn’t have to share minutes with the other Crispa big men. Yoyoy became so good that in 1987, he was classified by then Commissioner Rudy Salud as part of the Protected 4 list – along with Fernandez, Cezar, Guidaben – where these 4 were not allowed to play together in one team. Villamin was already the best slotman in the MICAA for the APCOR Financiers prior to turning pro in 1981, and proved this when Crispa disbanded.

            Villamin joined Manila Beer in 1985 and played alongside Fernandez and later, Guidaben, in the interior for the Brewmasters, helping the Lucio Tan franchise to a runner-up finish in the 1986 Open. Upon joining Hills Bros in 1987, the Bicolano Superman became an MVP contender, as well as winning the Most Improved Player Award, placing runner-up behind Guidaben in the race. He and Ricky Relosa made up the formidable Bruise Brothers duo of the Coffee Kings, putting up an imposing frontline feared by most teams. A many-time member of the All-Defensive Team, Villamin remained one of the best big men in the PBA when he joined Diet Sarsi in 1991, despite being slowed down by an assortment of injuries. In 1995, he won the Comeback Player of the Year award in recognition for his fine performance at 37 years old for Sunkist after coming back from injury. He went on to suit up for Pepsi and ended his career with San Miguel in 1998.

Yoyoy Villamin, donning the #12 Crispa jersey and the #13 Alaska jersey

Rudy Distrito (5x PBA champion, 1x Mythical Second Team – 1990)

            Not many will remember Distrito being part of the star-studded Crispa team in 1981 and 1982. He was one of the most prolific amateur studs in the MICAA, playing for the Redmanizers’ farm team and was part of the victorious 1978 UAAP titlists, the UE Red Warriors. Distrito though couldn’t get his bearings as he was normally fielded as the 11^th man off the bench, playing behind guards Co, Fabiosa, Cristobal, Cruz, plus imports Al Green and Glenn Hagan. He moved to the Sanyu Group franchise in 1983 and finally proved his worth, being one of the leading scorers for the cellar-dwelling team. He merited attention from Gold Eagle Beer who took him in the latter part of the 1984 season. But when SMC took a leave of absence at the start of the 1986 season, he was part of a group of Beermen who joined expansion team, Alaska.

            It was with Ginebra though that he became a venerable household name. Playing for 5 seasons under Jaworski, Distrito was one the Gins’ primary offensive options, with his patented “hop, skip and jump” that allowed the Destroyer to be free from his defenders. In 1991, Distrito became the hero in Game 7 of the Finals between Ginebra and Shell when he dropped a difficult, body-contoured, shot over the outstretched arms of Benjie Paras to give the Gins the lead and the championship for good, 104-102, with 1 second left. He finally landed a lucrative deal with Swift via the offer sheet, forcing the Gins to trade him for Pido Jarencio. He played for the Mighty Meaty Hotdogs for 3 seasons, winning three championships, before his license was revoked by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB).

Distrito warming the bench at Crispa and at full speed with Ginebra

Romy Mamaril (3x PBA champion)

            The 6’6 beanpole from the Mapua Cardinals joined Crispa with high expectations in the 1980 season for being the tallest player in the league. His exposure with the national team, as well as a solid performance with the Imperial Textile Mills (ITM) in the MICAA, served as his ticket to prominence. He was a Redmanizer from 1980-83 but languished at the bench most of the time. When Coach Tommy Manotoc rehired Jimmy Javier and plucked Willie Pearson from the amateur ranks, the team had no roster space for him, forcing the big man to sign up with Gilbey’s Gin in the 1984 season.

            True enough, Mamaril finally got to show his wares with the floor burn given to him by Coaches Turing Valenzona and Jaworski. Still the tallest player in the league, “Mama” also became one of its top swatters, compensating his lack of bulk with his length and impeccable timing. He was already valuable that Tanduay was able to get his services in the 1987 season to serve as backup to Fernandez. But when the Elizalde franchise disbanded, Mamaril went back to Ginebra / Añejo and was one of several heroes in the franchise’s first All Filipino title conquest against Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, the team that didn’t take him when Tanduay disbanded. He continued to serve as starting center for the franchise until Shell acquired his services for the 1991 season, his last year in the PBA. While Mamaril didn’t win any individual awards in his 12 years, the big man will always be remembered fondly by the franchise’s faithful for manning the middle and being the hero in the sudden-death KO game between Añejo Rhum 65 and San Miguel, sinking the go-ahead, buzzer-beating lay-in from a Joey Loyzaga feed to catapult the 65ers to the Finals against Purefoods.

The tallest man in the PBA for several years with Crispa and Añejo

Bogs Adornado (3x PBA champion, 1x MVP – 1980, 4x Mythical First Team – 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1x Mythical Second Team – 1984)

            “Why was Bogs traded to U/Tex?” For several seasons, that was the gnawing question by PBA fans, considering that Adornado was the league’s best player in 1975 and part of 1976 prior to a knee injury. He was already playing again by late 1978 and there were occasions when he would even topscore for the Redmanizers, including becoming the hero in Game 5 of the 1979 All Filipino Finals championship against the Toyota Tamaraws where he played point guard for the first time in his career and scored 20 points, mostly against Francis Arnaiz, his primary defender, in a monumental matchup edge.

            As such, when Adornado was taken by the U/Tex Wranglers in the 1980 season, fans wondered if Crispa made a serious mistake or if Bogs was totally washed up already. In his very first conference with U/Tex, the sweet-shooting forward from UST averaged 17.67 ppg, almost tripling his 5.67 ppg average in his last 9 games with Crispa. Suddenly, Adornado was back at his lethal form with his self-confidence back and the amount of playing time given him by Coach Tommy Manotoc. He regained the league’s scoring title, won a championship with U/Tex in the 1980 Open Conference, and won MVP honors in 1981 in a scintillating comeback. It is for this reason why the league’s Comeback Player of the Year Award is named after Adornado. He scored 64, 54, and 50 points as U/Tex’s top gun from 1980-82. He played with the Wranglers until it disbanded in 1982, and was taken in by Great Taste to reunite with then consultant and later, head coach Baby Dalupan, winning two titles for the Coffeemakers in the 1984 season. When Crispa disbanded and Shell acquired its franchise rights, Adornado moved to the Bugbusters to team up with ex-Crispa teammates Philip Cezar, Jimmy Javier and Bernie Fabiosa, giving the new team a runner-up finish behind Great Taste in the All Filipino conference. Bogs would later end his career with Alaska, where he also became a head coach in 1988 and his #33 jersey retired by the team.

Bogs Adornado against Estoy Estrada and ex-teammate Abet Guidaben

Padim Israel (4x PBA champion, 1x Mythical Second Team – 1986, 1x PBA All-Defensive Team – 1986)

            Padim Israel was already quite popular when he was still in college, playing alongside the likes of Steve Watson, Joy Carpio, Fritz Gaston and Louie Rabat for the champion Ateneo Blue Eagles team in the 1975 and 1976 NCAA seasons. The 6’3 forward was considered one of the more cerebral players of his time, his basketball IQ more than making up for his lack of athleticism. He played for Crispa in the MICAA before joining APCOR in 1980, winning practically all amateur league titles at stake. When Crispa got him along with 3 other APCOR teammates – Villamin, Bay Cristobal and Mon Cruz – many fans wondered if Israel would be able to prove his worth in a deep roster as Crispa’s. He struggled initially, but got more playing time when Coach Tommy Manotoc took over in 1983, allowing him to display what eventually became his virtual calling card – individual defense.

            He joined Tanduay in 1985 under Coach Orly Castelo and became part of the team’s regular rotation alongside Crispa teammates Guidaben and Freddie Hubalde, transferees Willie Generalao and Vic Sanchez, Tony Torrente and mainstays Abet Gutierrez and JV Yango. But it was in 1986 when Israel shone brightly, as he was tasked upon by Turing Valenzona (who replaced Castelo midway in the 1985 season) to guard against the opposing teams’ imports. He succeeded, earning for himself a slot at the All-Defensive Team as well as being a member of the Mythical Second Team. He remained an important piece in Tanduay’s championship quests and was selected by Purefoods to be part of its debuting team in 1988. He then joined a veteran-laden Presto team in 1989 and proved to all that a cunning defensive player of his caliber will always have a space in the big league.

Padim Israel, donning jersey #9 for Crispa and #17 for Tanduay

Joy Carpio (6x PBA champion, 1x Mythical Second Team – 1987)

            Another vital cog of the champion Ateneo Blue Eagles in the 1975 and 1976 NCAA tournaments, Carpio was named NCAA MVP in 1977 after placing runner-up to rival, San Beda Red Lions. He suited up for Crispa 400’s in the MICAA until he was elevated into the pros by the mother team as a backup slotman for Abet Guidaben. At that time, the Redmanizers were continuously on the lookout for a top-tiered big man as arch rival Toyota’s Ramon Fernandez was slowly becoming dominant as the league’s best player. Due to lack of playing time, Carpio couldn’t put up the same dazzling numbers he posted as an amateur.

            Everything changed when he shifted allegiance to Great Taste Coffee starting the 1983 season. Despite the deep roster of the Coffeemakers that had the likes of Adornado, Ricky Brown, Manny Victorino, Joel Banal and Jimmy Manansala, Carpio was able to hold his own and became known as a monster off the offensive boards. The original “Scavenger” as aptly coined by the late Pinggoy Pengson, Carpio would do the dirty job inside, figuring in various physical scuffles, just to get the offensive board, the putback, plus an and one. Carpio’s free throw accuracy also helped as he was often fouled every game because of his physicality inside. His most glorious moment was in 1987 when he became part of the Mythical Second Team, a much-deserved recognition for all the hard work he put into the game. It was unfortunate though that Carpio had to retire at an early age of 34, playing his last two years for Pepsi, due to a brittle knee. But there’s no denying Carpio’s contribution to Great Taste’s 6 titles starting 1984 until 1990 – essaying to all that there’s life indeed after being a Redmanizer.

Joy Carpio riding the bench at Crispa but a vital cog for Great Taste