Shaq buddy for Shell - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

In 1997, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Shaquille O’Neal flew in to play an exhibition game against a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) selection and perform in a rap concert at the Araneta Coliseum.

Shaq brought along a bunch of buddies to play on his team. Among them were National Basketball Association (NBA) veterans Chris Gatling and Duane Cooper and a wiry, hard-working forward who spelled his first name different from usual.

The spindly forward was Juaquin (not Joaquin) Hawkins of Long Beach State.

Four years later, Hawkins – now 27 – is back in town to play for Shell in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Turbochargers team manager Bobby Villarosa said coach Perry Ronquillo settled for Hawkins as John Best is still playing in Germany. "We like Hawkins – he’s quick and athletic," noted Villarosa. "We’re impressed by his work ethic. He’s a slasher plus he’s deadly from 10 to 15 feet. Best is our backup in case we need to recall him."

Hawkins looked sharp in firing 34 points to key Shell’s 95-90 exhibition win over Red Bull a few days ago at the Green Meadows gym. The Turbochargers played without Gerry Esplana – in rehab for a month after undergoing knee surgery – and Benjie Paras who just had fluid drained from his knee and is on a day-to-day status.

Villarosa said aside from Hawkins, Mike Hrabak and Dale Singson produced big numbers for Shell against Red Bull.

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More known for his defense than offense, Hawkins starred at Lynwood High School in California before enrolling at Long Beach State – the school that produced another defensive whiz, Utah Jazz guard Bryon Russell.

Hawkins was measured at 6-4 (curiously, he was listed at 6-7 in NCAA record books), the shortest among the imports in town, and is eligible to play in the Governors Cup, too. So if the 210-pound Hawkins makes good in the Second Conference, he could be in for a long – and potentially, lucrative – haul. That’s his motivation to let it all hang out in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Hawkins sat out his freshman year at Long Beach State in 1992-93 because of academic deficiencies as a Proposition 48 casualty. The next season, he made his 49ers debut and averaged 6.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals as the varsity posted a 17-10 mark under coach Seth Greenberg. As a junior, Hawkins hit at 5.8 clip and grabbed 3.2 rebounds a game. The 49ers raised their mark to 20-10. In his senior season, he averaged 9.1 points, four rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.2 steals and 29.8 minutes as Long Beach State posted a 17-11 record. He also shot 51.6 percent from the floor.

"Hawkins is one of the best defensive players in the league," said Greenberg. "He’ll take up to 60 charges in a season. He can guard anyone from the point guard to a power forward. He can guard on the ball and off of it."

Hoop critics described Hawkins as "a deluxe defender and offensive rebounder." In other words, he’s a lunch-pail, blue-collar hard-hatter who’s cut out to do the dirty work on the court – and won’t complain.

Hawkins averaged 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 52 games, including 12 starts, for the Fort Wayne Fury in the Continental league two seasons back. He hit 45.5 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from the line. In a knockout playoff game, Hawkins collected 15 points, two rebounds, and two assists in 26 minutes as Fort Wayne lost a 104-94 decision to Rockford. A Fury teammate was Red Bull import Antonio Lang.

Will Hawkins stick or will he just pave the way for Best’s return? He gets a chance to show what he can do in his PBA debut against Tanduay at the Big Dome tonight.