Friends in Las Vegas

It was like a reunion of sorts at the recent Global Hoops Summit in Las Vegas.

Former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) imports were all smiles as they greeted their Filipino friends and spoke enthusiastically of how they enjoyed living in Manila.

Nigerian national team center Julius Nwosu, for instance, said he’d love to play in the PBA again if given the chance.

Nwosu said he waited three months late last year for a call to play in the PBA. When no call came, he decided to play in France. Then, his agent phoned saying there were three PBA coaches looking for him.

"Too late," said Nwosu. "I was told San Miguel Beer was interested but they eventually found Ace Custis. Talk ‘N’ Text was another possibility but I couldn’t see them changing Jerald Honeycutt. And Red Bull picked up Earl Barron so there was no room left for me.’

Nwosu asked about the import ceiling for the next conference. "I hope they keep the unlimited height format so I get a chance to come back," he said wistfully.

When Nigeria played the Philippines at the Summit, Nwosu opted to sit out the game. "I don’t want to play against friends," said Nwosu who watched the contest in the stands.

Nwosu said the Nigerian team, coached by Sam Vincent, will work out for two weeks in an exclusive Atlanta camp then go overseas to play in the African zone championships. If Nigeria tops the African tournament as it is expected to do, it will qualify for the World Championships in Saitama, Japan, next year.

Another ex-import Damien Cantrell, playing for the Long Beach Jam, said he checks on the internet everyday to find out what’s going on in the PBA.

"I’m pretty up-to-date," said Cantrell. "I know Asi (Taulava) is back playing. That’s great. If only I could get a Philippine passport, I’d play for the Philippines."

Cantrell, who once played for Talk ‘N’ Text, said he stayed away from basketball last year to be with his mother in Los Angeles.

"I took a year off," said Cantrell. "My mom isn’t getting any younger and I wanted to spend time with her. I never really got to see much of her when I was playing all over the world. I even passed up guaranteed money to play in Korea. But this season, I’ll be back playing."

Cantrell’s Long Beach import Fred Vinson, a former Seattle SuperSonics guard, said he once played in the Philippines but not in the PBA. Vinson remembered suiting up for Carol-Ann’s in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

Long Beach coach Corey Gaines said he, too, has visited Manila.

"It was back in the ‘80s," recalled Gaines, a five-year National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran from UCLA and Loyola Marymount University. "I’ll never forget my Manila experience. First, there was a coup that happened. Then, a brawl erupted during the championship game. One of our players ran into a photographer at courtside and it triggered an ugly fight that lasted about five minutes. We were sponsored by Swift USA and won the title (the Philippine Amateur Basketball League international invitationals). Another incident was when guys in our team went to a bank to exchange dollars into pesos and we were all held up by gunmen. In spite of all those things, I remember Manila fondly and I’d love to go back one day."

Long Beach player Jack Hartmann, also a PBA veteran, said he’s not finished playing the game he loves. He brought his wife and children, including a newly-born baby, to Las Vegas for the weekend while he played for the Jam.

Hartmann missed playing against the Philippines at the Summit because he was called to a tryout for an Italian team.

Another former import who played at the Summit was BCI Edge forward David Booth.

"Of course, I remember the Philippines," said Booth. "I played for Pop Cola in 1998, just five games. I lived in Makati. Yeah, I liked it over there."

Booth, 35, has played the last four years in the Japan League.

* * *

Shell player Kalani Ferreria showed up to watch the Philippines’ last game against Nigeria.

"I live in Vegas," said Ferreria. "I didn’t know the Philippine team was in town. If I’d known earlier, I would’ve watched all the games."

Three of Ferreria’s Shell teammates were on the squad–Tony de la Cruz, Billy Mamaril and Rich Alvarez.

Filipino realtor Ricardo Inting was a regular customer at the Summit. He watched all five of the Philippines’ games.

"I came to give moral support to our team," said Inting. "I’m from Cebu so I cheered for Dondon (Hontiveros)."

Inting has lived in Las Vegas the last four years. He’s the chief executive officer and marketing head of a real estate company called Vision 1.

"I represented the biggest real estate developers in the Philippines when I was working in Cebu," said Inting. "Then, an American came to Cebu, saw my name in the real estate directory and invited me to Las Vegas. I took a chance to try my luck in the US and so far, so good. I’m now a multi-million dollar producer. I own two houses in Vegas, one being rented out and the other where I live, overlooking the strip."

Inting, who drives a Lincoln Navigator, said he hopes to send for his wife and three children from Cebu soon. He sings as a hobby and records his own CDs. During a recent benefit show headlining Imelda Papin in Las Vegas, Inting sang two songs as the front act.

An American basketball fan Greg McDonald was another regular customer at the Summit. He is married to a Filipina, Tess Gutierrez whose cousin is actor Eddie Gutierrez.

"I played two games in the PBA as a import during the Billy Ray Bates era," claimed McDonald. "My knee got busted when I was undercut by Rudy Distrito. I know everything about the PBA. I often visit Manila with my wife."

Distrito, incidentally, is incarcerated in a Las Vegas jail. There are designated visiting hours during the day. A source said his family is trying to raise money for bail.

Still another Filipino with roots in Philippine basketball now living in Las Vegas is Nonnie Mediarito. He watched a few Summit games and was reunited with basketball friends from Manila. Nonnie is connected with the National Basketball Training Center.