At 7:00 a.m. yesterday morning, Lang, his wife and two young children left the Philippines for Japan, trying to piece together their crushed emotions. He told The Star that he was unprepared for what happened.
"I was shattered," he said amidst the mess of boxes, clothes and toys that littered his hotel room as he hurriedly tried to gather his things, and his life, back together. "It’s been hell. I’ve been crying myself to sleep, haven’t had a decent meal since I found out I was replaced. I told my agent I had to leave. I couldn’t bear to watch the game (Friday night). It hurts seeing my teammates fighting without me."
This was the first time in its history that the PBA had seen an import replaced in the middle of a championship series. However, acting PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios said that the rules allow for an import to be replaced any time, while locals cannot be changed after the elimination round of a conference.
"We’ve even joked that you could theoretically bring in a Michael Jordan for a Game Seven," Barrios said.
Nevertheless, what makes Lang’s termination shocking is that he was last year’s Best Import, and had led the Batang Red Bull Thunder to the fastest championship in PBA history. This year, though marked by subtle differences, he drove them to the brink of another title.
"If there’s a question of my intensity, look at my numbers," he declared. "My numbers in the Finals are higher than my numbers in the eliminations. And my numbers in the Finals this year are even higher than my numbers last year. I’ve had maybe just three or four bad games the whole year."
This season, though, some Red Bull officials have intimated that Lang had changed, though not conspicuously to the public. He was being charged with losing his temper, and challenging the authority of head coach Yeng Guiao.
"I had to be a little nastier this year," Lang said without regret. "It’s different when you’re the underdog. But when you’re on top, everybody’s going after you. I had to become tougher, a little meaner, to survive. I’ve taken a lot of abuse this year, a lot of falls, a lot of cheap shots. I’m not being dirty, just a little nastier, a little more vocal, a little more emotional."
It was exactly this kind of intensity that apparently fractured his relationship with the coaching staff.
"I have the utmost respect for Coach Yeng," the Duke alumnus continued. "He’s a professional; I’m a professional. He’s emotional; I’m emotional. I may have said some things that shouldn’t have been said. But I said those things out of my competitiveness. And I apologized for them."
Lang went on at length to describe how much playing for Red Bull had meant to him, the hurt echoing in his voice. Perhaps his greatest pain comes from having been summarily dismissed, and not even being given a chance to see the fruits of all his effort come to fruition. One reason for the team’s uncertainty was his groin pull and pain in his thigh. But the 6-8 forward waves it off.
"If I can walk, I’ll play. If I have to crawl up and down the court, I will. I’m a warrior. I will fight for this team, I will fight for my teammates. I love them."
Lang also recounted his sacrifices for the team, and his fond memories of bringing the franchise its first championship. And he denied taking his mind off the PBA midstream to think about his coming contract in Japan.
"My grandfather has cancer. My mother just got out of the hospital. My son has missed a month of school. I’m still here," he said.
Lang had no objections to Sean Lampley, who has the same manager. But he would have wanted to be there for his teammates, unbearable thought it might have been.
"If I’m hurt, you live or die with me. After what I’ve put up with, what I’ve been through for this team? I was pushed in the face by another import (San Miguel Beer’s Art Long), and nothing was done. I was choked from behind by another import (Terquin Mott) and nothing was done. I have put this team in a position to win another championship. At least give me a chance to finish what I started. If you’re going to replace me because I’m hurt, then put me on the injured list. Let me be there. You at least owe me that."
You may reach me through bill_velasco@hotmail.com