The BIG J Wishlist - Jaworski would have wanted these players for Ginebra

Unlike the Ginebra of the present, the team under Coach Robert Jaworski from 1985 to 1998 was made up mostly of unglamorous, blue-collar players who worked their tail off in proving to the Big J they deserved their floor burn. During that time, salary was always an issue among the players as Ginebra, despite being owned by the Carlos Palanca Group and, later, San Miguel Corporation, had perhaps the lowest payroll in the league.

Coach Robert Jaworski in action with assistant Rino Salazar

It was both a source of inspiration and frustration for the legion of Ginebra followers. Having "average" players perform beyond their capabilities from the prodding of their coach, and eventually win championships can only make a fan prouder for cheering for this team. On the other hand, it was not uncommon for Ginebra fans to constantly have heartbreaks - runner-up losses to Tanduay in the 1986 AFC, to San Miguel Beer in the 1989 Reinforced, missing the Finals of the Reinforced from 1985 to 1988 and 1987 Open by a whisker, and so on.

More discerning fans felt the team needed a quality player or two for them to win more championships. This was even more evident in the doldrum years of 1992 to 1995 when Ginebra looked like the New York Knicks today when it seemed no one wanted to play for them. It didn't help when they had a couple of rookie draftees who didn't want to play for them because of pay issues, or free agent players who wanted to leave for "greener pastures."

Jaworski has always said that he won't force anyone to play for him if they don't want to, making it more difficult to get marquee players from other teams. The team never soaked themselves in the free agent market, unlike up and coming teams like Swift and Pepsi who tendered juicy offers to free agents like Alvin Patrimonio, Nelson Asaytono, Al Solis, Alvin Teng, Jun Limpot, among many others.

But the Big J also had his favorites. These were players that he yearned for. And while Jaworski never admitted anything to the public regarding his personal preferences, you sense this when he coaches All Star games, or how he treats the players on and off the court. There were players he got in their twilight years who Jaworski would have wanted to get much earlier. Names like Freddie Hubalde and Philip Cezar of arch rivals, Crispa, Manny Victorino and Bong Solomon (who had a detached eye retina when Ginebra got him that led to his early retirement) were the most notables. Ex-Toyota teammates, Chito Loyzaga, Ricky Relosa, Terry Saldaña and Arnie Tuadles got a chance to suit up for Ginebra with Jaworski as head coach.

This list may not be 100% accurate, as this is based on conjecture and educated opinion.  But Jaworski followers who have followed his playing and coaching career would most likely agree with me on this one. Here's a roster of players that the Big J would have wanted to coach at Ginebra but never got to do so:

1.  Yoyoy Villamin

Yoyoy Villamin guarding Jaworski

Villamin joined the PBA midseason of 1981, suiting up for the Crispa Redmanizers. He was already a celebrated amateur player by then, terrorizing the opponents by dominating the paint as a player for Solid Mills, APCOR and several national teams. His performance peaked in 1987 when he became an MVP runner-up to Abet Guidaben while playing for Hills Bros. Jawo's fondness of Villamin was apparent when the two teamed up in the 1989 All-Star game, as well as serving as playing coach of the 1990 Veterans team in the All Star game.

Villamin remained a valuable contributor after his Hills Bros stint, serving as one of Yeng Guiao's most trusted veterans at Swift. It was probably during this period when the Big J wanted to get Villamin's services as Ginebra lost key big man, Rey Cuenco, to Shell via a trade. The Bicolano Superman would have been the post presence the Gins needed during that slump period. Too bad Guiao equally valued Villamin's worth, becoming an All-Star and a Mythical Second Team member in 1991. Villamin would have essayed what Terry Saldaña and Dondon Ampalayo did at Ginebra - a phenomenal one-on-one post player who's equally vicious off the offensive boards.

2.  Abe King

Abe King guarding Carlos "Red" Briggs

Not a surprise choice. In an exclusive interview on An Eternity of Basketball hosted by ESPN5's Sid Ventura, Noel Zarate and Charlie Cuna, King admitted that Ginebra was offering a roster spot with the team in the 1994 season. That offer would have probably been made much earlier except that King was well-entrenched with Great Taste after the Gokongwei franchise secured his services in 1985 and has become the team's resident leader and veteran.

King, who joined the league in 1977, nearly became the Rookie of the Year winner, losing by a a vote or two against Tanduay's Jimmy Taguines. But oldtimers felt King deserved the award more - not only did he come in much later in the season compared to Taguines, King had to put in his numbers as part of a vaunted Toyota unit that had multiple superstars.

With Vic Pablo declining the offer from Ginebra and the latter forcing to trade him for Manny Victorino, King would've been perfect for the team as he reunites with Jaworski and Chito Loyzaga. Opposing teams' prolific bigs would have a handful figuring out how to score with King and Loyzaga patrolling the paint, while typifying the gritty defensive lockdown that Ginebra was known for in the late 80's and early 90's. King, in a Ginebra uniform, may have also given the Chairman of the Boards the rightful recognition the richly deserves as one of he league's greatest players of all time.

3.  Romy Dela Rosa

Romy Dela Rosa and Rey Cuenco battling for the rebound

In 1989, Añejo Rhum 65 shocked fans when they drafted little known Cebuano, Romy Dela Rosa for the fifth overall pick. While there was no denying Ginebra was looking for a big man to shore up its interior, no one thought of DL Rosa. They were still able to acquire the 6'5 Peter Aguilar in the second round but they did miss out on talented guards like Boy Cabahug, Ato Agustin and Dindo Pumaren in getting the 6'2 Visayan cager.

But Dela Rosa turned out to be a well-scouted and intelligent pick for Ginebra. Shell was also interested in getting him but they obviously won't pass up on Benjie Paras as the top pick. They didn't have a second round pick so perhaps, they were hoping to snag him in the third round (13th overall). Jaworski's fondness for prolific, yet tough, defensive post up power forwards came to fore when they drafted Dela Rosa. It was unfortunate that the two parties didn't agree, leading to his trade to Shell for Rey Cuenco. He would have been an ideal fit, and Ginebra fans turned their ire on him for turning down Jaworski. Dela Rosa proved to be as mentally tough as he was advertised, and became a pivotal member of that successful Shell team from 1989 until 1992.

4.  Benjie Paras

Benjie Paras and Jaworski jockeying for position

Perhaps the biggest what-if in Jaworski's coaching career. Not only did the Big J wanted to have a great center for the first time, he could have gotten the country's best center at that, and arguably, the best PBA player that time. Odds became much better when Paras openly expressed being traded to Ginebra after his contract with Shell ended at the end of the 1992 season, heightening talks of a possible trade.

Previous to that, Paras unleashed his true value as a player when he powered the 1990 national team in the Beijing Asian Games to a silver medal finish. Jaworski, who was coach of that team, gave extensive exposure to Paras and the big guy delivered. Ginebra tried to work out a deal when they offered multiple future trade picks, or any two players in their roster, or a combination of both. When Shell didn't reciprocate, Paras sat out for one conference in the 1993 season, dabbled into show business, before finally affixing his signature to a new max contract with the Oilers prior to the start of the 2nd conference. If there's one player perhaps that Jaworski would have loved to coach, that would be the Tower of Power - the one man who would fulfill his needs at the slot, and the one person who he can focus his offense on. Even the Big J would have wanted to play longer with Paras around just to make these plays come to fruition.

5.  Ronnie Magsanoc

Ronnie Magsanoc, guarded by Jaworski

Just how good Ronnie Magsanoc was? In the tumultuous 1990 First Conference Finals between Shell and Añejo Rum, won by the former, Magsanoc was phenomenal and a total beast. He scorched the nets, sinking treys from all angles. All these, despite the roughhousing done to him by Ginebra enforcers Rudy Distrito, Dante Gonzalgo and Mike Advani. Magsanoc even got socked by a Distrito punch but just shook it off, earning further respect not only from Distrito but Jaworski himself.

It was not a surprise therefore to see Magsanoc play longer than Hector Calma in the 1990 national team. Understanding Magsanoc's three-point shooting as a critical weapon in international competition, Jaworski started Calma but played Magsanoc longer, particularly in the all-important games. If the Point Laureate can accept all the physical beating he received from his Ginebra wards, the Big J understood how mentally strong Magsanoc was - an important trait from all Jaworski guards. Add to this his impressive accuracy from the three point line, he would have made Ginebra a strong contender every year. But then, Shell, just like in the Paras issue, was smart enough not to give him up for any team during his peak playing years.

6.  Samboy Lim

Jaworski guarding Samboy Lim

Which coach would not want to have a Samboy Lim in his roster? Yup, no one. And Jaworski had a special fondness for Lim. Jaworski is always known for his physicality on defense, but somehow, just like how he defended against Marte Saldaña, the Big J never really went after Lim as hard as he was with other guys like Willie Generalao, Jojo Lastimosa, Totoy Marquez, Boy Cabahug or Al Solis. It was clear that Jaworski respected Lim's game and while he remained physical at him, Lim appeared "safe" from the Big J's defense.

When Lim won the MVP award in the 1990 All Star game, the Jaworski-coached Veterans team walloped the Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors (RSJ) team, 146-118, led by Lim's 42 points. He earned MVP honors unanimously from the press corps with Jaworski practically feeding him in every play. The playing coach has always admired gutsy players who feared no one and gave everything inside the court - superstar or otherwise - and Lim personified all the characteristics that the playing coach wanted in a player. Of course, there was no way for Ginebra to get Lim during his prime because of his value to San Miguel Beer, but it won't be surprising if Ginebra would give an arm and a leg just to get someone like the Skywalker.

7.  Alvin Patrimonio

Jaworski consoling a dejected Alvin Patrimonio

There were rumors that Alvin Patrimonio wanted to be traded to another team, in particular, Añejo Rum 65, prior to the start of the 1990 season after Purefoods management, led by President Rene Buhain, allegedly ordered all Purefoods players to vote for Benjie Paras as MVP of the 1989 season to prevent Ramon Fernandez from winning the plum a 5th time. Unfortunately, Patrimonio was actually ahead in the statistical race by the end of the season and was himself, a candidate for the award. Feeling slighted for being shunned by his own team management, Patrimonio sought to move to another team.

Jaworski and Añejo would have been more than a willing trade partner. In the first place, who wouldn't want Captain Lionheart in your team? Secondly, Patrimonio was the complete embodiment of the power forward that Jaworski's teams were known for.  He had power, he had smarts, he was unstoppable one-on-one, one of the best clutch players of all time, and a no-nonsense defender himself. Simply put, Patrimonio would not just have been the franchise player of the Gins, he was also going to be the all-time second most popular player in league history next to his playing coach. During crucial situations and needing a basket, the Big J would normally go to the post and let guys like Ampalayo, Saldaña, Distrito, Joey Loyzaga, Leo Isaac, or even himself, post up and go one-on-one against their defender. You can only imagine the multiple number of games Alvin would have won in the final seconds for the franchise. It never happened though as The Face ended up staying with Purefoods until his retirement in 2004.

8.  Rey Lazaro

Jaworski looking to defy Rey Lazaro's defense

True-blue Ginebra fans would be surprised with this choice. Rey Lazaro was perhaps Ginebra's first public enemy number one - and we all remember how "Lazaro, Gago!" became the first vitriolic chant of the Ginebra faithful. This, of course, later morphed into any player's name (preferably 3 syllables), then "gago" - from "referee, gago!" to "Polistico, gago!" (okay, that's 4 syllables, but expect the fans to find a way to fit those in). It all came from a skirmish Lazaro had with Ginebra import, Terry Duerod. Everything else followed.

But only a few are aware that Lazaro nearly joined Toyota in 1981, only to be beaten to the draw by Freddie Webb and YCO/Tanduay. In 1985, when Lazaro's contract expired, Jaworski actually had a meeting with Lazaro and expressed interest in acquiring his services. The 6'2 stalwart nearly signed with Ginebra only to be convinced by Webb (again!) to join expansion team, Shell instead. Jaworski's near signing of the acrobatic player, considered one of the greatest one-on-one post up players in PBA history, proved his partiality towards bruising power forwards who can post up, go one-on-one, and and dominate the paint. He would have made a formidable troika of post players for the Gins in 1986 with Terry Saldaña and Dondon Ampalayo. Too bad Webb was quick to the draw...

9.  Bogs Adornado

Jaworski guarding Adornado was a common sight back in the 70's

The Big J and Adornado go a long way back. Jaworski's primary defensive role was against Adornado dating back in the MICAA. They were also teammates in several national teams, particularly the 1973 ABC and the 1974 World Championship. Heated rivals on the court, Bogs would score 20 points or more despite the tough defense employed by Jaworski.

Jaworski had an opportunity of grabbing Adornado in 1985 when he debuted as playing coach for Ginebra, but Shell beat him to the draw. There's no denying how much the Big J respected his game - Bogs had everything the Big J wanted from a player - the ability to create his shots, to draw fouls, to score from all over.  Perhaps the only drawback in Bogs' game was his defense, but that was something Jaworski can live without. There were more pluses in Bogs' game than his minuses, and, despite the fact that his game was slowing down by 1985, he remained one of the most prolific scorers in the league, averaging 34.5 points in the 4-game Finals against Great Taste Coffee in the All Filipino conference. I won't be surprised if Bogs' career went further beyond 1987 had he suited up for Ginebra instead.