Alvarez may open door for RP cagers

Paul "Bong" Alvarez’s coming stint in the United States Basketball League could be the breakthrough local cagers need to make it in the land of milk and honey.

That’s how local basketball’s "Mr. Excitement" himself and Sam Unera, part-owner of the Pennsylvania Valleydawgs, the team Alvarez is slated to play, saw the Filipino’s unprecedented appearance in the summer league that has been one of the rich sources of players moving on to the more illustrious National Basketball Association.

"Bong’s stint in the USBL actually serves as test case that can pave the way for more Filipinos to play in the league or even in the NBA," Unera said during yesterday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant on West Ave. in Quezon City.

"Kapag maganda ang ipinakita niya, hindi lamang mare-renew ang kanyang kontrata kundi malamang na kumuha pa kami ng mas maraming Filipino para ma-beef up ang aming team at ‘yung iba pang teams na kalahok sa liga," said Unera, US-based agent for American imports in the Philippine Basketball Association.

"And that exactly is one my primary intentions in inviting him to play for the Valleydawgs. To open the eyes of the American basketball crowd to the brand of basketball Filipinos play," he added. "The Filipino community represents one of the biggest basketball audiences in all parts of the US at kung ma-i-impress ni Bong ang fans doon, we might yet see an influx of Filipino players invading the American shore."

Alvarez, now 37 who earned the distinction of becoming the First Filipino to play in a US pro-league agreed, saying he felt honor in playing a part in the whole scheme.