The kid called ‘Cobbs’

TUGUEGARAO – When Romel Adducul was a little boy playing basketball, the neighborhood barkada called him "Cobbs" – the popular brand of imported hybrid chicken. It was an appropriate nickname because Romel was always big for his age. He was different from the rest of the kids. He stood out for his good looks, his unusual height, and his athletic ability.

At the age of 13, Romel was a lanky 5-8 freshman center playing for the St. Paul’s High varsity. Today, he is 6-6, a four-year veteran of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), and a perennial choice as an Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) All-Star.

Romel was born to be Cagayan’s favorite son and a blessing to his family.

The youngest of nine children, Romel traces his roots to humble beginnings in Cataggaman, the biggest barangay in the provincial capital city. Mother Maria Arugay lost her 7-year-old job as a tobacco stripper at Tabacalera when she became pregnant with Romel. Father Gregorio used to earn P60 a day as a kalesa driver when he quit to work as a truck helper for 13 years. Then he went back to the kalesa route before finally retiring his whip.

Gregorio, 67, remembers nailing a makeshift goal on the trunk of an old mango tree in front of the family’s modest one-storey, 40-square meter home for Romel to shoot hoops when he was in fourth grade. The boy grew addicted to the game and before long, it was a habit for father to chase son away from the playground to do his homework.

Maria, 63, says Romel was always a loving son. She is tall for a Filipina–about 5-7 – and says Romel got his height from a grandfather Reyno Adducul who was 6-5. Gregorio is 5-8.

Three of Romel’s sisters are in the US. Late last year, Romel accompanied a sister Mylene to Phoenix to stay with another sister Visitacion. A third sister Edna lives in Wisconsin. The eldest in the family Norma, 44, is a corn trader and lives in a bungalow in the 1,500-square meter Adducul Compound, originally farm land inherited from at least two generations back. Two brothers Eugene, 35, and Celerino or Ninoy, 32, also live in the compound with their families. Two other sisters reside in Isabela.

Since Romel joined the MBA in 1998, his father has gone to see him play only thrice. He doesn’t travel outside of Tuguegarao often and prefers to stay close to home, tending to his backyard piggery which Romel financed. So far, Gregorio has four sows, eight biik and a barako. But he watches all of Romel’s games on TV.

When Romel got his first MBA paycheck, he paid for the construction of a spacious two-storey house where the mango tree used to stand in the family lot. The total floor area of the house is at least 700 square meters. It was Romel’s gift to his parents.

Through the years, Romel has never forgotten to give back to his family. He bought a Kia Besta van. Ninoy says now, instead of squeezing into a tricycle which he could hardly fit in to drive home from the airport on visits from Manila, Romel rides in comfort. He put up capital for his sisters’ businesses in Isabela. He bought five lots of 748 square meters each in a subdivision near Rep. Manny Mamba’s home. And in Metro Manila, he purchased two homes in B.F. Las Piñas.

Is Romel planning to settle down soon?

Actress Assunta de Rossi has visited the Adduculs’ home here and paid her respects to his parents. But that was before they split up. Now, Romel says they’re just good friends. His father says Romel once confided he’s ready to get married. To whom? "Yan ang di ko alam," replies Gregorio.

Ninoy says Romel looked forward to playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) this year. Apparently, he was assured of his release after leading the Batangas Blades to the MBA title last season. But the transfer failed to materialize.

"Disappointed kaming lahat noong ‘di pumayag ang MBA na i-release si Romel," says Ninoy. "Challenge sa kanya na makalaban sina (Asi) Taulava at (Danny) Ildefonso. Matter of pride kasi."

For three days while his agent Ed Ponceja tried to negotiate his MBA release, Romel waited in Tuguegarao–staying loose at home, lifting weights in the backyard and visiting old friends. When the decision came, Romel accepted his fate like a true Christian.

"Ang target ni Romel ay makalaro sa PBA," adds Ninoy. "Anyway, bata pa siya – 25 years old. Makakalaro pa siya sa maraming Asian Games."

Romel’s father says Ponceja has taken good care of his son. "Si Ed, nakarating na rito sa bahay namin–noong naglalaro pa si Romel sa San Sebastian, magkaibigan na sila," notes his father. "Nagpapasalamat kaming lahat kay Ed at ‘di niya pinabayaan si Romel."

Ninoy says his kid brother is the ultimate role model. "Wala siyang bisyo – ’di umiinom, ’di naninigarilyo," he continues. "Malapit siya sa Diyos. Active member siya ng Champions for Christ. Matulungin sa pamilya. At ’di niya nakakalimutan na galing siya sa mahirap."

There is a Santo Niño statue in the corner of the living room in the Adducul home. Romel’s ABC All-Star jersey is draped on the statue as if to implore His protection on the family breadwinner forever. His trophies, plaques, and medals are in a glass case separating the living room from the dining area where over 12 persons could easily fit around the table. In the stairway leading up to the bedrooms, Romel’s jerseys are encased and hung on the walls. His championship team portraits are also on the walls.

Romel has matured into a basketball icon. But to his barkada in Cataggaman, he’ll always be "Cobbs" – their friend for keeps.