Is Purefoods for real?

The outlook was far from bright for Purefoods at the start of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Samsung Governors Cup. Gone was the Tender Juicy Hot Dogs’ head coach Eric Altamirano, seconded to assist Joseph Uichico on the national squad. Gone, too, were starters Andy Seigle and Noy Castillo plus sixth man Boyet Fernandez–all drafted to the national pool.

To make matters worse, the Hot Dogs had no pick in the first and second rounds of this year’s draft due to previous trades. Purefoods wound up choosing four guards in the later rounds–6-1 Junel Mendiola, 6-2 Dexter Racho, 6-1 William Moody, and 6-foot Eugene Tan. Only Mendiola survived the tryouts.

Back in uniform were Alvin Patrimonio, Rey Evangelista, Ronnie Magsanoc, and Jolly Escobar–a quartet of veterans in their 30s. Other holdovers were Richard Yee, Roger Yap, Paul Guerrero, and Mark Victoria. From trades came Bonel Balingit, Chris Cantonjos, and Kerby Raymundo. Lost in the shuffle was E. J. Feihl, shipped to Barangay Ginebra.

Ryan Gregorio, a former University of the Philippines guard, was tapped to call the shots for Purefoods in Altamirano’s absence. Gregorio belongs to the new breed of coaches–young, intelligent, personable, hard-working, and decent. Altamirano couldn’t have turned over the Hot Dogs’ reins to a better man.

Altamirano would’ve wanted David Wood to team up with Derrick (Flight) Brown as Purefoods’ import tandem in the First Conference but the Great White Hope couldn’t extricate from his Spanish league contract which expires in May. Wood took the Hot Dogs to a win shy of making it to the Commissioner’s Cup Finals last year.

Brown, 28, was a logical choice. He’s played three years in the PBA. In the 2000 Governors Cup, Flight was voted Best Import for leading Purefoods to the Finals. Last year, he averaged 33.6 points and shot 43 in the Hot Dogs’ 123-112 win over Red Bull to close out the season.

With Wood unavailable, Altamirano tapped 6-5 Leonard White, the Los Angeles Clippers’ second round pick in the 1993 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. White’s credentials are glowing. In 1990-91, he averaged 26.6 points and 13.2 rebounds for Faulkner State to lead the entire national junior college league in both departments. Then, the 30-year-old White transferred to Southern University, the Louisiana NCAA Division I school that produced the late NBA veteran Bobby Phills and former Ginebra import Terry Thames. In two years at Southern, White hit at a 21.5 clip. He went on to play in France, Australia, Argentina and the Continental league.

Like Brown, White’s a do-it-all type of player. He scores, rebounds, plays defense, passes, and hustles.

Altamirano could’ve brought in a bigger import. White and Brown measure a combined 12 feet and 8 inches—3 inches short of the 13-foot limit. Since Brown stands 6-3, Altamirano could’ve picked an import up to 6-8.

White, however, plays a lot taller than his height. So Altamirano stuck to the colorful combination of Brown and White.

In Gregorio’s baptism of fire, he faced Talk ‘N Text’s celebrated coach Bill Bayno of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas fame. Bayno threw a full court press on the Hot Dogs from the start and Talk ‘N Text raced to a 53-44 lead at the half. But Gregorio never lost his composure. He patiently waited for the Phone Pals to lose steam then went to his veterans Patrimonio and Magsanoc for the big end-game plays when Talk ‘N Text panicked under pressure.

Brown and White combined for 60 points. Patrimonio chipped in 15. But what made the difference was Purefoods’ relentless defense which held Jerald Honeycutt to six points in the second half and Richie Frahm scoreless in the fourth period. Gregorio spoiled Bayno’s much-ballyhooed debut in the process.

The Hot Dogs made it two wins in a row at Barangay Ginebra’s expense last Tuesday. Again, Gregorio pushed the defensive buttons to repulse the Kings, 60-58. Brown was the only Hot Dog in twin digits but lack of firepower support didn’t matter in the final reckoning as defense, not offense, saved the day for Gregorio.

It’s not surprising that with the game on the line, Gregorio makes sure his senior statesmen are on the floor. Patrimonio and Magsanoc, both 35, know what winning is all about in the PBA. They’re proving that the size of one’s heart is the big difference. And when it comes to heart, none is bigger than Patrimonio’s. That’s why he’s called Captain Lionheart. Of course, experience is a major advantage, too.

In a conference with a two-import format, it’s clear that the point guard’s role is crucial. His job is to make sure there is order in the court. And nobody plays quarterback better than Magsanoc who’s the personification of calm.

Whether the unbeaten Hot Dogs are for real or not is still a big question mark. In the first game of today’s doubleheader at the PhilSports Arena, Purefoods battles Alaska. The outcome could be an indicator of the Hot Dogs’ true worth.