Those NBA tours

Reacting to a Star story published last Feb. 19 on the Laker Girls’ coming visit, reader Alejandro Munoz of 1605 Cypress Street, Dasmarinas Village, Makati, wrote to set a few things straight.

Here are excerpts of his letter:

"You made good story about the history of NBA (National Basketball Association) players coming to Manila. There’s an error and something missing. The Washington Bullets played here in 1979, not 1978. I remember (it) well because I went to that game. Maybe you should look at old newspapers of 1979 and find that story. The Washington team won the NBA title in 1978 but they played here a year later after losing to the Seattle SuperSonics 1-4.

"Then there’s something missing and that is former Laker greats Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar came here in 1995 playing in a one-game exhibition against their respective teams. Magic’s team came out the winner. Kareem came here not just once but three times. One was somewhere in the 1970s when he came here for vacation and some fans were surprised to see him in person and he stayed at the Manila Intercontinental Hotel. The second was in the early 1980s when he came here for a basketball clinic and the third, of course, an exhibition game with Magic’s team in 1995.

"Anyway, that’s all and hope you understand the correction I explained in the letter."

Thanks, Ale, for the notes. Since you started it, I thought of reviewing other NBA tours, not mentioned in the Feb. 19 story, to complete the picture.

In 1973, Kareem stayed two days in Manila after attending his friend Bruce Lee’s wake in Hong Kong. I was tipped off by former PBA chairman Doming Itchon on his visit and spoke to Kareem at the Intercontinental poolside. My exclusive interview was published on the front page of a national newspaper.

In 1979, Bill Walton came to Manila, not to play, but to accompany an ABC-TV crew filming a segment for the series "American Sportsman." The segment was on a baby monkey-eating eagle found in Davao City. Walton was here for about two weeks and squeezed in a basketball clinic for the Gilbey’s Gin pro team.

That same year, the Bullets invaded Manila and played an exhibition before 35,000 fans at the Big Dome. Coach Dick Motta brought in only eight players – Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, Kevin Porter, Roger Phegley, Greg Ballard, Steve Malovic, Dave Corzine, and Andrew Parker – but that was enough to blast a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star selection, 133-123.

Baby Dalupan called the shots for the PBA All-Stars who trailed by 33 points in the third period. The All-Stars were Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Philip Cezar, Arnie Tuadles, Atoy Co, Jesse Sullano, Rudy Kutch, Cyrus Mann, Larry Pounds, Glenn McDonald, Larry McNeill and Dean Tolson. El Presidente scored 21 points. Porter compiled 31 points and 25 assists.

In 1980, the NBA’s first and only Fil-Am player Raymond Townsend visited with his father Ray, Sr., mother Virginia Marella of Balayan, Batangas, brother Kurtis, and three sisters. Townsend brought along NBA players Jamaal Wilkes, Clifford Ray, Derrick Dickey, and Greg Lee to play exhibitions in Manila, Olongapo and Cebu. In 1993, Townsend returned here alone, offering his services to play as a local in the PBA, but there were no takers.

In 1981, Kareem returned to conduct youth clinics at the University of Sto. Tomas gym for a milk drink. He came with wife Cheryl Pistono and their son Amir. On the day he was supposed to act as a celebrity judge at the Miss Young International beauty pageant, Kareem flew out of town without notice to the organizers.

In 1984, an NBA "legends" squad came here to play the Philippine team. The "legends" were Phil Jackson, Dennis Awtrey, Mel Davis, Cazzie Russell, Earl Monroe, Rick Barry, Fred Brown, Jr., Connie Hawkins and Pete Maravich. Only eight players suited up when the "legends" defeated coach Pilo Pumaren’s national quintet, 84-77. Maravich couldn’t play because of a bum stomach. The national team’s mainstays included Hector Calma, Naning Valenciano, Elmer Reyes, Tonichi Yturri, Alfie Almario, Yves Dignadice, Jeff Moore, Dennis Still, and Chip Engelland.

In 1987, NBA coaches Lenny Wilkens and Bernie Bickerstaff led a troupe of 15 players, a rookie draftee, two trainers and two referees to play an exhibition series here. The cagers included Adrian Dantley, Mark Eaton, Jerome Kersey, Tom Chambers, Alvin Robertson and Tim McCormick.

Alas, the games failed to materialize due to a coup attempt. The NBA group stayed four days in Manila and left without playing a single game. McCormick became an instant news correspondent for a US radio network when he broadcast live from his hotel room, reporting on coup developments.

That same year, former Los Angeles Lakers forward A. C. Green visited here for the Champions for Christ movement. He would take another trip to Manila a few years later, also for the Christian group. Another ex-NBA player Dave Jamerson came here for Champions for Christ clinics and games in 2000. Last year, Jamerson was back with NBA veteran Keith Tower for another series to promote the Champions program.

In 1995, Lakers guard Mike Cooper and team trainer Gary Vitti conducted hoop clinics here for Gatorade. Phoenix star Kevin Johnson flew in that same year for a two-day visit to promote Converse. And still that year, Magic and Kareem played in a 40-minute exhibition at the Big Dome. Among the NBA veterans in the trip were Lester Conner, Jim Farmer, Mike McGee, John Williams, Reggie Fox, and John Long.

There were several NBA referees to visit here, too. Richie Powers and Jake O’Donnell accompanied the Walt Frazier group that played 12 games here in 1975. Incidentally, there were 32 players who joined the Frazier tour–some of the prominent stars were John Drew, Tiny Archibald, Scott Wedman, Mike Bantom, Hank Bibby, Charlie Scott, Jim Cleamons, George McGinnis, Randy Smith, Bob Love, Ron Behagen, and Lucius Allen.

Other NBA referees who flew in were Manny Sokol, Jim Capers, Lee Jones, and Darrell Garretson. Capers and Jones even worked a few PBA games in the course of a lecture tour.

Since 1997, Manila has rolled out the red carpet for such NBA stars as Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Tim Thomas, Grant Hill (twice), and Paul Pierce.

It’s understandable why the NBA considers the Philippines a major market. Filipinos just love the game.