D-Day’s untold stories

It was the biggest crowd turnout for a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) draft ever.

For a while, there was some apprehension that fans wouldn’t come out in droves because the draft is traditionally held on a Sunday. But PBA commissioner Noli Eala figured the start of the payday weekend would bring in mallers to the Glorietta and create the traffic to embellish the draft. Besides, the hype surrounding the draft was unprecedented, mainly because there were only nine Fil-foreigners in the pool, meaning 35 hopefuls were homegrown and widely known in hoop circles for their exploits in the collegiate and other amateur ranks.

Eala was right on the money. Friday’s crowd was mammoth. As early as 2:30 p.m., fans jockeyed for vantage positions on railings up to Glorietta’s top floor. By the time the proceedings got underway at 6 p.m., the mall was jampacked.

FedEx was the draft valedictorian with five picks, three in the first round. Next were Alaska and Coca-Cola with four apiece. Purefoods, Sta. Lucia Realty and Talk ‘N’ Text tapped three each. Shell and Red Bull chose two apiece. Barangay Ginebra’s only pick came in the third round. San Miguel Beer went home empty-handed, opting to trade its No. 7 slot for Dale Singson, and made the first pass on the 17th pick in the second round.

It wasn’t a shocker that San Miguel coach Joseph Uichico chose not to choose. Danny Seigle, after all, is back to reclaim his roster spot after a one-year absence. With Seigle out, Uichico managed to post a respectable 28-22 record and capped last season with a second-place finish in the Reinforced Conference. The lineup is virtually intact with Danny Ildefonso, Nic Belasco, Olsen Racela, Dorian Pena, Dondon Hontiveros, Boybits Victoria, Joey Mente, Marlon Legaspi and Bryan Gahol still in the fold. Add Singson to the mix plus Anton Viloria who came in from Red Bull last year. Players with expired contracts are Benjie Paras, Billy Moody, Arnold Calo and Arnold Gamboa. Clearly, there was no room in Uichico’s cast for a fresh face from the draft.

Rich Alvarez was the fourth in Shell’s lineage of first overall picks since Sonny Cabatu in 1985, Paras in 1989 and Ildefonso in 1998. Ildefonso never played for Shell as he was traded to San Miguel for Noy Castillo after the draft.

For the record, 12 first overall picks were on PBA rosters last year. They were Paras, Vergel Meneses (1992), Jun Limpot (1993), Noli Locsin (1994), Dennis Espino (1995), Marlou Aquino (1996), Andy Seigle (1997), Ildefonso (1998), Paolo Mendoza (2000), Willie Miller (2001), Yancy de Ocampo (2002) and Mike Cortez (2003).

The four tallest players were picked, as expected. Chosen in the first round were 6-7 Joachim Thoss (Alaska) and Ervin Sotto (Purefoods). Second round choices were 6-5 Carlo Sharma (Shell) and 6-5 1/2 Manny Ramos (Coca-Cola).

One of the 19 undrafted candidates was rookie camp crowd darling Lyndon Lagat.

A PBA insider said Lagat wrote a letter to Eala, introducing himself as a draft candidate because "the league needs a hero and I can save it." Lagat claimed he was a late cut as Steve Nash’s backup on the Canadian team that played in the recent Olympic qualifiers for the Americas and drove seven-footers fits in league games. Lagat, 26, is a 5-8, 163-pound guard. He was born here, went to Nueva Ecija Colleges and enrolled in a postgraduate course at DevRy Institute in Canada.

When PBA barker Rolly Manlapaz called Lagat the "Messiah" during the rookie camp intros, the bushy-haired guard protested vehemently because he misheard his moniker. Lagat thought Manlapaz introduced him as the "Bisaya." A courtside spectator wondered if his real name was "Lamat."

Shell coach John Moran sat on the Turbochargers table during the draft but never went to the stage to welcome draftees Rich Alvarez and Sharma, probably because of a Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP) protest of his appointment. BCAP president Chito Narvasa, however, said the protest is under reconsideration.

Since running the Turbochargers practices last week, Moran has been a picture of unpredictability. He promised a different "system" for Shell this season but wouldn’t elaborate. When asked who will take over Singson’s spot at point guard, he shrugged his shoulders as if to say it doesn’t matter. He couldn’t be sure if Rensy Bajar, whose contract has expired, will be back. Could Moran’s new "system" mean interchangeable roles for his players?

Moran said he’s completed his roster overhaul. Alvarez, Sharma and Billy Mamaril are expected to fuel Shell’s charge along with holdovers Tony de la Cruz, Mike Hrabak, Chris Calaguio, Chris Jackson, Ronald Tubid and Adonis Sta. Maria, among others.

One more thing about Moran’s unpredictability is his odd practice schedule. He’s called four 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. sessions so far and three more "midnight madness" practices are scheduled this week. "Someone told me Filipinos wouldn’t be able to make the sacrifice," he confided. "But the guys have been up to it. I’m testing their limits–how far they’re willing to go to turn our team around."

Moran said next week, he’s bringing in Ron Felling, a Bobby Knight assistant at Indiana University, from the US to help out the Turbochargers.

More and more Americans are being recruited for back-up duties by different clubs. Dan Rose, a strength and conditioning specialist, started the trend under coach Derick Pumaren. Then came Kirk Collier, a plyometrics expert who was in coach Yeng Guiao’s staff at Red Bull. Nick Colon, a former Puerto Rican track star, is now in Purefoods’ staff.

Collier, incidentally, has left Red Bull to become an independent–he’s making his services available to all teams and to all comers. His spot in the Red Bull staff was taken over by American shooting coach Thor Shaffer who flew in last Thursday.

Shaffer made a surprise appearance in Friday’s draft with Red Bull’s import tryout Carlos Willer of Pensacola junior college. Willer said he’s fresh from a stint in the Israel league. A year ago, he played for the Egyptian team Zamalek that went to the Damascus tournament finals only to lose a 31-point decision to Al Wahda, starring former PBA import Tremaine Wingfield, in the championship game in Syria.

A Red Bull source said the high-flying Willer can score and rebound, is athletic and works hard but his defense is still to be tested.

In Friday’s draft, Red Bull picked Fullerton State guard Denver (call me D-Lo, not the Nugget, he said) Lopez in the first round and Francis Mercado in the second. Signed to contract renewals were Barako returnees Cyris Baguio and Lordy Tugade. Vince Hizon hasn’t reported for practice since his return from Los Angeles a week ago. Edmond Reyes’ contract has also expired.

A veteran earlybird in the draft was Rodney Santos, recently traded to Barangay Ginebra. The Slasher said he’s attended three Ginebra practices so far. No complaints, he added. He’ll play behind Mark Caguioa. Santos said he’s excited to play for the country’s most popular ball club and he’ll do whatever he’s asked to do by coach Allan Caidic.

A hot rumor blew that three Alaska players were on the trading block and an offer was made to Talk ‘N’ Text for a slew of players including Harvey Carey. But apparently, nothing came of it.

Ecstatic in the draft was James Yap who wasn’t only happy that he was picked by his favorite team Purefoods but overjoyed because he’ll be reunited with long-time teammate Paul Artadi. Yap and Artadi drew loud cheers from the crowd last Friday. This early, Yap is being called "King James," in partial reference to another rookie similarly dubbed.

In retrospect, it was a D-Day that will long be talked about and remembered.