Denver a draft blue-chipper?

It’s not often that a full-blooded Filipino cracks the lineup of a US NCAA Division I basketball team. In fact, Malabon-born Denver Lopez could be the only one ever.

Lopez, 23, is a 6-1, 175-lb point guard who played 2 1/2 seasons for the California State at Fullerton, the same school that produced National Basketball Association (NBA) veterans Bruce Bowen, Cedric Ceballos and Leon Wood. He left the varsity Titans a few weeks ago to try his luck in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) draft on Jan. 16 at the Glorietta in Makati.

Lopez flew in from Los Angeles last Saturday and showed up for the Red Bull practice at the RFM gym in Mandaluyong the other day.

"I think I did okay at practice," said Lopez. "We basically scrimmaged. I’ve watched some PBA games on film but not a whole lot. I know the league’s very competitive and I also know the style of play is different from what I’ve been used to in the States. My goal is to just play the game. I’d like to follow in Jimmy Alapag’s footsteps. I know Jimmy and we’ve played together in US leagues. I’m a hard worker. I’ll do what it takes to be on a winning team. I hope to enjoy a long career in the PBA."

Lopez said his game takes a bit from several backcourt stars. "I like the way Gary Payton takes control of a game, John Stockton’s headiness and Jason Kidd’s ability to push the ball," he noted. "If I have to, I can shoot, too. I like setting up my teammates. I’ll do anything the coach tells me to do. It’s all about winning games and winning championships."

Lopez, sister Donna and brother Donald were brought to the US by their mother Dinna Martinez to West Covina, California, when he was six. His parents had split up. Lopez went back to Manila for a visit six years later and was reintroduced to his father Eliodoro but hasn’t since seen him. This is only his second trip home since migrating in 1986.

"I have no idea what my father does," said Lopez. "I imagine he’ll check me out when he finds out I’m in town. I’ve got relatives in Malabon and Caloocan but I’m not seeing any of them yet. I’m concentrating on the draft and avoiding any distractions."

Lopez’ mother will plane in for the draft. He said his brother and sister might also fly in. His 29-year-old sister is a UCLA graduate taking up a Master’s in psychology at the University of Southern California. His 28-year-old brother is involved in cars and insurance.

Lopez, who was christened Denver because his mother is a fan of late singer John Denver, averaged 12 points, four assists and three rebounds as a senior at Nogales High School in 1999. He played a year at California State University-Dominguez Hills, averaging 5.4 points and 17 minutes in 20 games, 10 as a starter. Lopez hit 14-of-35 triples. Then, he transferred to Fullerton, redshirting in 2000-01 before making his Titans debut for coach Donnie Daniels.

"I made the team as a walk-on," recounted Lopez. "I used to play pick-up ball at Fullerton. Once, I asked coach Daniels if there was room in the team for me. He gave me a chance, first without a scholarship. Eventually, I got a scholarship."

Lopez averaged 1.6 points and 10 minutes in 27 games in 2001-02. His best showing was when he scored seven points, including two treys, in 18 minutes against Pacific. The next season, Lopez played sparingly, posting only three points and four assists in 53 minutes in 11 games.

This campaign, Lopez saw action in only four games, scoring seven points in 17 total minutes, under new coach Bob Burton. He shot 2-of-5 field goals and 2-of-3 free throws. Before the end of the year, Lopez decided to leave the Titans and fly to Manila.

"It was the right time to leave," said Lopez. "I’ve known about the PBA for years. Don Raymundo, who runs Pac-Rim Sports in L.A., got me in touch with my agent SCOPE All-Stars in Manila. I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity of applying for the draft."

Although Lopez made it to the Fullerton State roster, the experience was hardly smooth-sailing. Daniels inherited a varsity that was slapped a three-year NCAA probation for recruiting violations and later departed for an assistant coaching job at UCLA. When Lopez left the team last month, the varsity struggled with a 4-5 record under Burton.

Alapag, Eric Menk, Rudy Hatfield, Mark Caguioa, John Arigo, and Asi Taulava never played for a D-I school. Lopez did. And that fact alone is a stock-booster in the PBA draft this year.