Bring out the Harp

If Nero had his fiddle, Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao has his harp – make that DaVonn Harp.

Last Wednesday, it was Harp who made the difference as the bull-strong center powered the Thunder to a thrilling 79-77 squeaker over San Miguel Beer in Game 5 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

Harp scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in compensating for import Antonio Lang’s no-show. Lang fired an inconsequential four points in 24 minutes. But in a tribute to Red Bull’s resiliency, Guiao bucked Lang’s off-night to pull off the win.

Down the stretch, Harp overran San Miguel’s single coverage to bail Red Bull out of danger. It may be different in Game 6 – the Beermen learned their lesson the hard way and they’ll likely double Harp tonight.

The key to Red Bull’s inside offense is Harp, not Lang. Harp feeds off a healthy diet in the paint. Eating glass is his main course, scoring on put-backs is his dessert. When he’s attacking the hoop, Lang and Mick Pennisi crash the offensive boards just in case. If he’s pressured, Harp will pass – and he knows how to dish off. In the recent All-Filipino Cup, Harp averaged 4.5 assists – No. 4 in the league.

Last season, Harp averaged 13.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 44 minutes as a rookie. The chink in his armor was his atrocious free throw shooting – he hit only 45.3 percent from the line compared to 55.8 percent from the field. The pattern was the same in the All-Filipino this season – he shot 49.2 percent from the stripe and 53.1 percent from the floor.

San Miguel hasn’t resorted to the Hack-A-Harp tactic in the Finals. Guiao says it’s the Beermen’s lookout if they do because Harp thrives in a physical game. The more contact, the harder Harp plays. The more trips to the line, the more he’ll work to his rhythm.

Harp, 23, is no stranger to championship pressure. After graduating at Brookhaven High in Columbus, Ohio, the burly 6-6 frontliner saw action for Allegany Community College in Maryland. Harp took Allegany all the way to the National Junior College Finals in 1996. Scouts noted that Harp’s "interior skills" boosted Allegany to a lofty 31-2 mark that year although it lost to Indian Hills in the title game.

From Allegany, Harp moved to Towson State, an NCAA Division I school. He played all 28 games for coach Terry Truax but averaged only 4.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 18.7 minutes. When Towson floundered to 9-19 and hired a new coach Mike Jaskulski, Harp transferred to Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.

Harp started in 26 of 27 games for Kutztown in 1998-99. Harp averaged 12.1 points and 9.0 rebounds as the Golden Bears varsity posted a 13-14 mark under coach Jeff Jones. He led the team in field goal percentage (68.3 percent, tops in NCAA Division II), assists, and blocked shots. Harp was the Bears’ top rebounder in 20 of 27 games and high scorer in eight. The glowing stats more than made up for his 52.2 percent shooting from the line. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference second team.

In Harp’s farewell Kutztown game, he compiled 26 points and 14 rebounds as the Bears lost a 75-60 decision to West Chester.

From Kutztown, Harp brought his sneakers to the PBA.

Harp is Red Bull’s anchor, its foundation. He’s what harpings are to a ship. It’s difficult to rock the boat when Harp’s got the wheel. For Guiao, the sailing couldn’t be smoother with Harp on board.