my basketball icons

i'm a fan of basketball since 1996. my influence was my relatives from caloocan, they like watching basketball not only because of the action and entertainment it brings but also because tumataya sila sa ending.. hehehe.. i remember kahit ako nataya at nanalo na din.. viado family was basically a purefoods-smb-ginebra fans.. basta kapag un ang mga games i saw them watching it.. most of them are purefoods though, kasi they were fans of alvin.. my cousin and sister were fans of jerry codiñera kc cute. hekhek.. una i was like that as well.. pero un, i thought i was able to appreciate basketball more than they did.. i was watching not only pf games but the whole pba itself from introduction before the game up to the closing.. i was watching everything that was related to pba like hotstuff, fastbreak and the like.. and before i like players because they were cute or kasi i heard na magaling but now, i have my own appreciation of their basketball skills as well..there are times during my highschool years i was playing basketball at the front of the house with all the other guys from the neighborhood.. and now i guess it's an addiction.. i can't live without it. here's my top 20 (coz marami talaga eh) reasons why i can't leave the game...

1. REY EVANGELISTA

Rey was not my first fave player.. and during 1996 he was like last on my first five... but that was when i don't know basketball yet.. i learn to appreciate defense more, hardwork and hustle.. and for me he is like the complete package.. he wasn't an offensive threat. he was okey making lay-ups, short jumpers when open but his forte was defense. and sa kanya ko natutunan un.. i never saw any other player as flexible in defense as he is.. i saw him defend point guards (the likes of bal david, abarrientos, cortez to name a few.. ), shooting guards (like ritualo, hontiveros) flexible guards (like meneses, fonacier), small forwards(like duremdes, cariaso, d.seigle), forwards (like belasco, locsin, espino,) and big guys ( like taulava, aquino, menk, ildefonso), and imports (most notably lamont strothers, larry robinson, todd bernard, david booth, james head, riley to name a few)..there is no stat listed for forcing an offensive foul but if there is, he may be the number one on it and not unlike other players na over acting when they forced players to commit turnovers, he was humble and quiet.. marami na ang napikon kay evangelista na hindi naman sa kanya pikon personally but because of his defense. and his hustle, it was natural.. he knows when to call a time out when out of bounds, he dives for loose ball and force jumpball, he knows how to throw a ball when falling out of bounds. those are just the few things i've noticed about rey.. he did it so consistenly unlike other players.. and you know the guy, he is sport.. on my 11 years of watching pf games i saw him called for a technical just once.. and that was sumigaw lang sya out of gulat sa isang tawag..i remember an import of gins before sa sobrang pikon sa kanya sinipa sya but well he just look at the guy and let pumaren do the fighting for him.. and then he was able to experience being a point guard as well during 2002 season, he was able to make 3pt shots pa..and as a person, well the space may not be enough for me to describe how great he is.. and i'm not just speaking for myself to that.. and for that hindi ako nanghihinayang sa mga times that i was tired just for watching a game, i enjoy and i learn too..i'm happy..

2. LARRY FONACIER

some people were surprise by this fact.. fonacier was not a purefoods player, he was just new to the pba pa.. i admit, i was able to like and know fonacier during his uaap days because his fave player that time was evangelista.. i learn that from a commercial and saw that on a magazine din.. i was like so proud for rey, feeling ko that time, unique ang may fave kay evangelista coz he is underrated.. i started watching ateneo games and i felt i saw evangelista's game on fonacier.. he was so focused na feeling ko there is no time for him to make those smiles during games.. he work hard on defense being so pesky (coz uaap play is different sa pba eh..), he's so smart for a shooting guard. for me he knows his team well that he knows how his teammates position on the court, it's like a point guard thing eh. and obviously he's not a point guard.. he's confident with his shooting that if your a coach, you can really trust him the ball and make the crucial shots.. i remember the pbl finals with fash and welcoat.. it was like a peter june simon-james yap-tangkay show.. but during the important game (game 4, the title clincher for fash), fonacier made those 3pt bombs that help fash won the game.. and with his stint with redbull,he was amazing.. coming from an injury of acl, i really thought he will play different. i have known a lot of guys (especially sa pf and pba) na nanggaling sa injury na un,and the performance level had really drop.. all i can think that time when he was injured was to pray that he will recover and hopefully i can still see him sa pba.. i was disappointed at one time kasi i've heard that he won't pursue his basketball career any longer..good thing that rumor was wrong.. and wow he'd definitely proven a lot.. with magnolia now, quite sad as i was always saying kasi magnolia's coach had a different system compared to redbull, now he don't have that much time and exposure.. which is for me nakakapanghinayang talaga.. as a person,he is awesome.. i don't know him that personal pero for me, he is worth to be appreciated..

3. CYRUS BAGUIO

cyrus baguio's story for me was not like different to fonacier.. i've known him because he was a player of UST tigers which is evangelista's team sa uaap.. quite biased, yes, pero i appreciate them more naman na not because that there is a relation to them and evangelista.. i know a lot of great sky leaper sa pba.. i was able to watch pa samboy lim, ato agustin, vergel meneses and they we're all great.. pero feeling ko noon hanggang dun lang un eh.. it's just on offense kaya hindi ko ganun naappreciate.. i felt that other players can do that.. pero after knowing and watching cyrus, it have been different.. i'm not saying that baguio was greater than those i've mentioned pero for me his style was more awesome.. maybe because si baguio, i was able to watch live and napapataas talaga ko ng kamay at napapatayo everytime he make those dunks and super dooper lay-ups.. with UST, i've noticed that he have that "angas" thing.. hehehe.. eh i like humble players kaya during uaap i just like him pero hindi ako ganun kausual magwatch.. but i guess he was humbled when he went to the pba.. he was not played immediately.. he was not given the time noong una.. but now he was showing his wares and yet wala na ung "angas" na nakikita ko dati.. he is simple for a guy that talented in making incredible shots..and for that he is on top of my list.. and yes, he is nice too..

4. JERRY CODINERA

he was my first fave player.. it was the influence of my sister and cousin, he is cute! hehehe.. pero of course there is more to just his cute dimples.. codiñera was not named "the defensive minister" for nothing.. and he had proven that with stats.. he was like among the top 5 all time list for most shotblocks.. he was 9 time defensive team member.. he holds the records for the most shotblocks on one game with a total of 11..but what i like about him most was the fact that he had humbly stay with purefoods and had humbly accepted his role as the "2nd" man of purefoods next only to the captain alvin patrimonio.. and when he was on the twilight of his pba career, still he was able to compete great with all other new, young and big players.. saw him defend asi, menk, even seigle (my 1st live pba game, saw jerry blocked d.seigle twice) and he was still solid on his defense eventhough he is "older".. when he was traded to mobilne (tnt now) and fed ex (air21 now), he have done and contributed big numbers and was even dubbed "the young turks".. well pba history had agreed to me.. he is one of the greatest pba player of all time..to his fans, he is equally kind and approachable.. promise.. hehehe

5. ALVIN PATRIMONIO

always my hats off to this guy..he wasn't my top fave only because i felt he had a lot of fans already.. and the fact that i appreciate other things than offense but i don't think alvin will mind.. but i will agree with all the other alvin fans that he is a super player..kaya nga kahit ako, i accept the fact that codiñera, and all the other pf players was just 2nd to this guy eh..even i've watched pf only by 1996, saw a lot of times he had bailed purefoods out.. yes of course he have helped from his teammates, true enough, but when they say that he have a big heart, he really have a big heart sa hardcourt and outside the court.i never know pivot before but learned only to this guy.. he played the post so well.. lucky are those pba players na ngayon lang nakapasok sa pba coz patrimonio was literally a pain in the neck when you're defending him..his big fighting heart also influence the whole purefoods as well that's why he deserved to be called the "captain lion heart".. and to his fans..well i undertstand all of them why they literally love alvin so much..during the time when he was a player, he won't get on his car basta may tao pa na gustong magpapic sa kanya..minsan nga kahit nakasakay na sa car lalabas pa yan, kahit ngaun na he is team manager na, ganun pa rin sya maggive way to his fans..yeah, i love alvin too..and nothing can change that..

6. BONG RAVENA

during his pba career, he was like my cyrus baguio before.. with meneses, duremdes and the like, mas nappreciate ko ung talent nya (maybe because his purefoods..hehehe).. i love it when he was making those alleyhoop shots, those fastbreak lay-ups and his "super-set" 3 pointer.. hehehe i said super-set kasi ayun super parang walang effort from the knees eh, hindi sya natalon unlike other guys who take outside shots.. well iyon siguro isa sa mga reason why the percentage is not that good naman pero like ko un eh.. hehehe.. he's incredible in defense too, i mean if he's defending a great player, he hold his own defense against them.. and his steals parang pngmatrix minsan and dating.. ravena, with evangelista and pumaren was like the unsung heroes of purefoods before..but i've appreciate basketball more during that time because of them..

7. DINDO PUMAREN

the best point guard for me.. he have made purefoods team look so well before.. this is the real type of point guard that the present purefood team was missing now..stat had agreed to me, he is among the top players on the all-time list for steals and assist.. there is a stat known as the assist-to-turnover ratio na ginagamit to measure pg's strength, well he is like always number one on it during his time..he also knows when to make the big shots and also for a good shooter like him, bihira pa yan tumira, he likes to pass more (not like other pointguards nowadays).. he's a great defender too,if many had considered that abarrientos was like the greatest pg ever, well against pumaren hirap sya.. and i like most about him is palaban sya for his height, he is like the "literal" fighter of purefoods.. hahaha can't forget nung 1997 finals vs gordon's gin, pumasan sya kay locsin nung papasok na sila sa dug-out at talo ang gins.. hehehe.. malakas mang-asar! and now as he coach the UE warriors, he is really good.. i hope he will have his 1st taste on the uaap champion.. i will really pray for it..


8. RENE PARDO (Governor of the Purefoods team)

mr.rene pardo was one of the reason why a lot of purefoods fans were happy.. he was like the fairy godfather of purefoods fans and he made our dreams come true by introducing us personally to our fave players.. had anyone of you experienced being introduced to your fave players? i was to evangelista (2003) and codinera (2004). have anyone of you experienced being introduced to the whole team after the team's practice and being included as the team prayed? i was after a practice of july 2003.. have anyone of you experienced having a picture with the whole team? we were, dalawa kami ni rose nun.. and it's all because of sir pardo.. we were able to enter the team's dugout sa araneta during a game and have a team pic as well, we were able to enter the team's dugout sa sportskamp, even sa reyes gym.. he was like a combination of patrimonio and evangelista hindi nga lang nglalaro sa hardcourt, he joins chatrooms, recognizes every website done for the team.. in short, he understand us fans most.. and most especially, even before the news about the team hit the papers, websites or tv, kapag nakausap na namin sya malalaman na namin.. hehehe.. he is fun to be with too.. can't forget biniro ako nyan nung champ ng fash at welcoat (we were with him kasi he's watching simon and yap), sabi nya sa akin tumayo na daw ako, eh nakatayo na ko.. tsk tsk apihin daw ba ang height ko.. hehehe..sir pardo,purefoods fans were lucky to have him..

9. OLSEN RACELA

he was a former player of purefoods pero i wasn't able to watch him that much pa.. kasi he was just playing quality minutes for pf back then, supporting dindo pumaren.. when he was traded to smb surely i was sad and the fact that i've felt he was disappointed too as he answer the questions noon during the interview parang masakit talaga, but that's basketball.. that's the 1st trade na naexperience ko na i'm hurt talaga.. but as he played for smb he definitely blossomed,even at one time exceeded the game of pumaren.. he was now among the top point guards of the league.. and i was more than happy because of that, un nga lang i felt that whenever he was playing vs pf, he was at his best.. hehehe.. wasn't able to show my support to him as the years passed by, basta whenever there is an smb game and i'm free to watch,i did (sa tv lang ha).. he's always on my list as one of my faves all time..i was able to attend his fathers burial and he share us the story how his father died, nakakatouch that time.. he knows that we were purefoods fans pero he treat us equally kind pa rin.. now that i have a chance to catch his game live and at practices since he is teammate to fonacier, i'm trying to show that isa sya sa players that i admire.. and he is cool.. as in coolet!! hehehe.. they even have a pic ni evangelista that he was trying to kiss evangelista.. hehehe.. i'm happy na parang they are good friends pa rin ni evangelista..

10.CHITO NARVASA

i dunno but i consider him my fave coach for purefoods.. he only coached by like latter part of 1998 Commissioner's cup and purefoods was eliminated back then and then by 1998 Governor's cup where pf ended up 3rd.. pero for me he is like the yeng guiao of pf eh.. he is masungit, and when he's mad he shows it well.. during his stint with pf especially the Gov Cup, they didn't have patrimonio because he was on loan to the national team, the 1st import they've got was a super scorer pero super bakaw so they ended up getting a new one na hindi kasing prolific ng iba, but narvasa did something better, he had made all the other local players involved.. sayang lang at kinapos sila that time.. and hinayang din ako coz after his career with pf he already left the pba.. maybe he's not that good enough pero for me he is one of the best coaches..

11. QUINITO HENSON

hehe well sino ba naman hindi enjoy when he is the on the panel.. he is emotional when he speaks especially when the game is intense..even if ur just watching on tv u feel like watching live eh.. though a lot of people have been judging him like parang me pinapaboran.. sa akin naman it doesn't matter for all of us were fans. what i like most about him is when he's giving out additional information..di ba enjoy? hehehe.. i've learned a lot from this guy, even minsan oa ata at pinagtatawanan sya ng co-panel nya hehe, basta a game is dull kapag hindi sya ang nasa panel..

12. ED PICSON

perfect panel combination sila ni quinito henson, hehehe ed picson also have a lot of humor on his sleeves.he was good with describing what was happening on the court like "pinasa kay ganito, nice move, sayang hindi pumasok, everything but the shot!" hehehe he was the best for me when it comes to that, kahit hindi ka nakatingin sa tv and you've heard his description ul have the idea what was happening talaga.. so kapag hindi sila minsan ni quinito ang panel and i was watching sa tv lang, ay i'd rather turn the volume off and let myself do the commentating.. (tama ba ung word ko hahaha).. hahaha i dreamed of becoming sports panel as well because of them..

13. YENG GUIAO

who wouldn't like coach yeng guiao? ah siguro ung mga fans ng other teams but not me.. though i was a fan of pf as i've started watching redbull game, i saw how brilliant he was.. i like him before na when he was the pbl commissioner back then and also when he is one of the panel ng pba.. i remember when he commented against the fil-ams he describe that a filipino should be as filipino like "alvin patrimonio".. syempre i was proud.. hehe.. one good thing about coach yeng eh he has humor.. kumbaga nakikisakay sya sa mga pauso ng pba press sa mga set-up interviews na nakakatawa minsan, i dunno if naiintindihan nyo ko.. hehehe.. but un he is the best in coaching..i can't forget this instance during a game,najorda was not playing good as he was played by coach,he commit more turnovers,coach yeng shouted at him, literally cursed him, i thought hindi na sya paglalaruin, but instead, he was still played.. and najorda finally delivered..it's a good motivation, he points out his players' mistakes but he made sure that they will not do it again by giving them another chance.. he knows how to see talent and hardwork at the same time.. never imagine that during redbulls' 1st year at the pba nelson asaytono was able to strut his wares pa, even the likes of glen capacio, edmund reyes and al solis.. those were veterans na akala ng iba wala na ipapakita... simply awesome si coach..

14. PETER JUNE SIMON

whenever i was asked who among the current pf players bukod kay evangelista ang gusto ko, simon was not on my list, but i've realized that i still like the guy..i was able to watch him pa pbl pa lang kasi.. he was teammates to cyrus baguio at dazz and to larry fonacier for fash.. and i felt that he had the same heart during his pbl days that cap alvin has.. he was a fighter and he was an awesome offensive player.. here at purefoods good thing he have the chance now to show his talent (kasi when he was on his rookie year super wala talaga).. though un nga lang i hope i will see him improve more.. the offensive threat is already there, what he needs to improve is his defense and his ability to read the situations, sometimes kasi he's one of the many players of pf that make wrong decisions especially during crucial times.. he's nice to his fans too..

15. JAMES YAP

if purefoods is on a tight situation, i won't thought twice of letting james yap take the ball and make the play.. among the purefoods players that was being trusted to this kind of scenario, i will rather let him take the shot.his hands is big that there is a better chance he will be able to fight for loose ball possession just in case defense will play hard on them, di ba?? and besides his shooting percentage is enough proof naman that he can be trusted.. hehehe i'm not trying to say something (hehehe), basta i like this guy among the active ones beside rey.. what's good about him eh kung anong sungit nyan after the game sa southgate sya namang approachable nyan sa practices that huwag mo syang pansinin, sya na ung papansin sau..i think he have proven enough naman na that he can carry the team and can be concluded as the next alvin patrimonio.. for me, i won't disagree at all..

16. MARK PINGRIS

the sakuragi of the purefoods team, i love his hardwork on the court.. there were times that he was inconsistent (because of his injury) but at least he knows how to make up on it naman and he accepts his mistakes.. maangas sya sa mga maangas lang din sa kanya.. he's the comedian of the purefoods team.. if you ask for a wacky pic with him un ang gusto nya.. he also tries to be just like alvin waiting for all his fans na maubos muna after the game bago sya umalis.. it's good purefoods were able to get him..

17. DERICK PUMAREN

one of the purefoods coach i'd admire.. syempre his the brother pa of my fave point guard dindo pumaren.. sobrang sungit din nito.. hehehe, nakakatakot iapproach. i was able to watch a pf pratice na sya ang coach and i saw how disciplined he was, shouting instructions when needed.. although he had never won a purefoods title, he have done well with the team.. he was able to get 2 final appearances with pf.. un nga lang it was during his time that jerry codiñera was traded to mobiline..that's why it's okei i guess if tnt will win a championship, basta under coach derick.. hehehe

18. JUN BERNARDINO

he was the best pba commissioner for me..well actually he was the longest din kasi at sya talaga ung naabutan ko nun.. i was thankful to him because he was able to guide the league all through out those years, sacrificing his health and lifestyle.. during the time na pba had competition to metropolitan basketball association, he ably assisted the league and had proven na pba was still the best although ung concepts ng mba maganda talaga.. players of pba were being pirated pa by the mba..thanks to commissioner jun bernardino!!

19. MASCOTS OF PF, REDBULL AND ALASKA

hay can't get hold of any of pf and rb's mascot pics kaya kahit meron ako ng aces di ko na pinost.. well hehehe.. basically one of the reason why i love basketball talaga.. i love the mascots eh, and those 3 were my fave! hehehe but hindi ko naman na pinangarap na maging mascot, teka, hehehe hindi na ata pwede, tama na ung pangarapin kong maging mop girl, watergirl at tower girl (akalain mo un, all is 'girl'!).. hehehe.. i just wished i will have pics of them na with me.. and all my dreams will come true.. hahaha! just kidding!!

20. MY BASKETBALL BUDDIES

the best reason there is why i can't leave the game is because of the friendship that the basketball had given me (naks drama ito!).. i've experienced watching a game alone and it is okei, pero it was never fun.. it is better to exchange views, better to look around and make fun of things when your with friends na "gets ang trip mo!" hehehe.. try nyo magisa at mgtawa, hindi maganda di ba.. i also like cheering with my tropa, exchanging hugs after a win and crying after a loss.. basketball will never be the same without them.. you know who you are guys and a big thanks to you all!! see you at the games!!!