Magsanoc, 36, and Patrimonio, 35, are supposed to be in the twilight of their careers. But they sure didn't play like it in Purefoods' 91-76 win over Alaska in the clincher of the PBA Samsung Governors Cup Finals at the Big Dome last Sunday night.
The veterans deserved their moment of glory.
Both Magsanoc and Patrimonio entered the league in 1988, the year Alaska's Jojo Lastimosa was voted the No. 1 rookie. Magsanoc played 10 years for Shell then moved to Sta. Lucia Realty in 1998. As his numbers dipped and his playing time dwindled, Magsanoc saw the writing on the wall. Last season, he tried out as a broadcaster and was ready to embark on a new profession when his pal, Hot Dogs coach Eric Altamirano, called.
Altamirano offered Magsanoc a job as playing assistant coach. The offer was too good to refuse.
Magsanoc saw action in only 10 games for Purefoods last year. But somehow, he made his presence felt—both on and off the court. Altamirano had this gut feeling that when the going got tough, he could rely on good, old Ronnie.
With Noy Castillo, Boyet Fernandez, Andy Seigle and Altamirano himself on loan to the national team, Purefoods' interim coach Ryan Gregorio called on Magsanoc to help out a little. And as the First Conference played out, Magsanoc's minutes steadily rose.
Magsanoc's last taste of a championship came in 1992 when Shell claimed the First Conference crown. That was 10 years ago. Patrimonio's wait wasn't that long. He played on Purefoods' All-Filipino title squad in 1997--his fifth championship with the Hot Dogs.
Unlike Magsanoc, Patrimonio has been a Purefoods stalwart throughout his pro career. It was in a Hot Dogs uniform that Captain Lionheart earned his four league MVP trophies.
In the past, Patrimonio used to dominate at power forward. But as more and more Fil-Ams came to town, Patrimonio found himself outmuscled. To his credit, he adjusted his style and became more versatile. Patrimonio shifted to small forward and lately, developed a potent three-point shot as an offguard.
Gregorio figured out how and when to use Magsanoc and Patrimonio in the Finals. He knew he couldn't overextend their minutes. He also realized the importance of keeping them fresh at crunch time. In the clincher, their poise was critical.
In Game 1, both Magsanoc and Patrimonio came off the bench to combine for 12 points, four rebounds and four assists. Not enough. Alaska won, 79-73.
In Game 2, Magsanoc logged 47 of a possible 50 minutes as a starter and compiled 15 points, two rebounds and three assists. Patrimonio scored 14 points in 31 minutes as a reliever. The Aces carved out a 106-102 double OT decision in a contest that could've gone either way. In Game 3, Magsanoc didn't play a single second—resting a throbbing thigh—and Patrimonio, also hurting, checked in for 12 minutes. No matter. Their teammates compensated as Purefoods prevailed, 80-66. In Game 4, Gregorio again played the veterans sparingly. Magsanoc logged five minutes and Patrimonio, nine. They scored five points together. Still, the Hot Dogs took an 82-76 win as Derrick Brown tallied 46 points.
In Game 5, Magsanoc and Patrimonio—well-rested--came off the bench to bang in a total of 21 points as Purefoods made it three in a row, 84-72.
In Game 6, Gregorio once more rested the veterans who went scoreless.
Patrimonio played 15 minutes and Magsanoc, 14. It was as if Gregorio had plans for both in Game 7. Sure enough, he did.
Last Sunday, Patrimonio made his first Finals start. The surprise assignment caught Alaska offguard. Patrimonio was matched up against John Arigo. If not for Patrimonio at two-guard, Arigo would enjoy a mismatch advantage over either Roger (Rabbit) Yap or Magsanoc. Gregorio's gambit worked like a charm. Patrimonio limited Arigo—who averaged 18 points the last three outings—to eight and scattered 11 points in 24 minutes.
As a chaser, Gregorio brought in Magsanoc from the bench to relieve Rey Evangelista at point guard. The rotation was brilliant. Gregorio paired Magsanoc and Yap in the backcourt for the off-the-bench energy that Purefoods needed to keep the pressure on Alaska.
As the clock wound down, Patrimonio and Magsanoc remained on the floor.
It was Gregorio's tribute to the veterans. He wanted them to finish the game. Magsanoc ended up with 12 points, nine in the fourth period, as he provided the composure down the stretch to seal Alaska's doom.
I worked the game with anchorman Ed Picson for TV that night. Ed and I picked Raymundo and Patrimonio as the best players of the game. Raymundo, who scored twin digits in five of the seven Finals Games, delivered 14 points, 12 in the first half when the Hot Dogs set the tone for the clincher. The Captain and the 21-year-old Young Turk represent the "old" and the "new" in the PBA. Not that Patrimonio is ready to retire although he told Raymundo, "it's your turn" as if to hand over the mantle of leadership to the next generation after the game. Both Patrimonio and Magsanoc proved Sunday night that they're far from finished.
Gregorio did a masterful job of blending the veterans and the youngsters in lifting the Hot Dogs to the throne. It wasn't easy. He shifted gears throughout the Finals, putting Alaska on the defensive, keeping coach Tim Cone guessing.
Cone had his tricks, too, like starting Rodney Santos for the first time in Game 6 and putting the Slasher on Brown. But in Game 7, it was evident that Alaska was a body or two bodies short of a championship-quality team.
The Aces were physically spent and had little left in their lungs for the last push.
In contrast, Gregorio shuffled his warm bodies like a card shark. He knew it would boil down to which team had the fresher legs in the homestretch.
Gregorio wanted Magsanoc and Patrimonio to be fresh in the final period because he knew they would make a difference. The veterans didn't let Gregorio down. The championship is theirs to cherish.