Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao was so disappointed in Antonio Lang’s debut that he seriously considered to ship out the former Duke University star early in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup.
Guiao confided that he had serious doubts as to Lang’s ability to play the go-to role for the Thunder at the start.
Flashback to Lang’s first game against Alaska in Balanga City last June 2. He missed 10 free throws and shot only 44 percent from the field. Lang scored 20 points and was outplayed by Alaska’s Terrance Badgett who fired 28. A consolation was Lang hauled down a game-high 16 rebounds, 10 offensive.
Mike Gonzalez, the Los Angeles-based Filipino import recruiter who brought Lang to Manila, said he was ready to find a replacement on Guiao’s go-signal.
But a remorseful Lang asked for a second chance. It’s not often that an import is as humble. Despite his National Basketball Association (NBA) credentials and the two NCAA titles under his belt, Lang practically begged for forgiveness. Imports don’t usually apologize for a bad game but Lang did.
Of course, Lang didn’t need to go down on bended knees. After all, Lang’s debut was in Bataan under conditions not quite like at the Araneta Coliseum, the PhilSports Arena or the Ynares Center.
When I asked Lang about it, he admitted apologizing to Red Bull management. "I told Tony (Chua) and Andy (Jao) that God willing, before it’s all over, they’ll see one of the best imports ever," said Lang. "And I prayed and prayed for the strength to get the job done. My mother taught me to pray. I knew that with prayer, God would take care of me."
Lang said he battled a major distraction during the game– the death of his best friend’s father a few days before. Besides, it was an out-of-town game and his first-ever overseas outing as an import. Lang just wasn’t himself.
For the record, Alaska beat Red Bull, 84-81, in Lang’s debut.
Lang rebounded from that forgettable performance to bag Best Import honors and power Red Bull to a 4-2 series win over San Miguel in the Finals.
"It’s the best feeling in the world to know we’re the best," said Lang who played on the Duke teams that captured NCAA crowns in 1991 and 1992.
Although he was never a go-to guy at Duke, Lang carried Red Bull on his shoulders throughout the conference.
"A lot more was asked of me and it’s made me a much better player, maybe four to five times better," continued Lang.
In the Finals, Lang called it right. He predicted a struggle to end in six or seven. "If we play hard and play smart, we’ll win," Lang said before Game 1. He singled out Red Bull’s three strengths–size, versatility, and bench–that he insisted, would propel the Thunder to victory. One other thing, he said the winning team would make the crucial stops down the stretch. In the Game 6 clincher, San Miguel failed to score in the last four minutes and Red Bull closed out with a 7-0 burst.
Gonzalez said Lang has been signed by Mitsubishi Electric to play in the Japanese League which starts in a few weeks. He disclosed that Mitsubishi coach Morata and an interpreter flew in a few hours before Game 4 of the Finals last Aug. 19 to watch Lang in action then took a 5 a.m. flight the next day to go back to Tokyo. Although Red Bull lost the game, Morata was convinced he’d found the jewel for Mitsubishi– just like Guiao for the Thunder.
Lang said he’ll play in Japan until February when the season ends then head for the US to assess options in the NBA. He’ll be open to play in Venezuela just to keep in shape for his return to Manila in May when Red Bull defends the Commissioner’s Cup crown.
"When I’m out of the US, my first choice will always be to play in the PBA," said Lang.
Red Bull’s import has found a second home.