PBA not for sissies

An irate reader, who asked not to be identified, phoned yesterday reacting to our report that Purefoods import Marquin Chandler called Red Bull guard Celino Cruz a dirty player for allegedly low-bridging him during last Sunday’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) San Mig Coffee Fiesta Conference opener at the Araneta Coliseum.

"Basketball is not for sissies," fumed the reader. "It’s a contact sport. Imports should expect to be roughed up because they’re the focus of the defense. If they’re not prepared to take it, they should pack up and go home. The PBA is not for crybabies."

The reader challenged Chandler to prove he was submarined.

"You can replay the sequence over and over again and you’ll never see Cruz making sahod," continued the reader. "Chandler and Cruz tripped over each other and they both fell on the floor. It’s not Cruz’ fault if Chandler hurt his elbow going down. He shouldn’t blame Cruz for not knowing how to break a fall."

The reader said Red Bull’s physical play shouldn’t be construed as being dirty.

"The PBA is where you separate the men from the boys," he went on. "This is not the UAAP or the NCAA. Iba ang laro sa PBA. The pros don’t mean to hurt but they play hard to win. That’s what I like about Red Bull. Buo ang loob ng mga players. Hindi sila natatakot sa physical contact. Bigay na bigay."

The reader pointed out that if not for Red Bull’s never-say-die attitude, the outcome would’ve been settled in the third period when Purefoods erected a 22-point lead. But the Barakos came charging back to pull within three, time down to 32 seconds, on Nelson Asaytono’s corner pocket triple.

Asaytono, incidentally, is now the league’s senior statesman. He’s 38 years old. PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon listed the 10 oldest players, in this order: Asaytono, Bong Hawkins, Johnny Abarrientos, Vic Pablo, Olsen Racela, E. J. Feihl, Jun Limpot, Rey Evangelista, Ato Morano and Andy Seigle. They’re all at least 33 years old and still going strong.

Red Bull’s comeback was fueled by its no-nonsense defense, forcing one turnover after another on the Chunkee Giants. When the smoke cleared, Purefoods managed to survive 24 turnovers to Red Bulls’ 14. The Giants made up for it by outrebounding the Barakos, 66-48.

Red Bull put up 96 shots compared to Purefoods’ 76 but the Giants were more accurate from the floor, .461 to .323. Red Bull’s finishing kick produced 29 points in the fourth period but it wasn’t enough to overhaul Purefoods’ early cushion. The Giants won, 84-77.

What was evident in Sunday’s opener was the way the referees allowed the players to play. The whistle-blowers didn’t bother with incidental contact. That’s the way it should be to preserve the flow of the game. And that’s the way the fans like it.

After all, the PBA is no sissy’s league.

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Here’s a list of the PBA’s youngest players. Sta. Lucia Realty rookie Alex Cabagnot is the youngest. He turns 23 on Dec. 8. Then, there’s Coca-Cola’s Denok Miranda followed by Larry Fonacier, Leo Najorda, James Yap, Nino Canaleta, Ranidel de Ocampo, Sonny Thoss, Mark Cardona and Jay Washington. They’re all 23 and under.

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Tickets were hard to come by for last Sunday’s PBA season inaugurals. Over 15,000 paying customers jammed the Big Dome and if you add the usual scholars, attendance had to be at least 16,000.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala, wearing a leather jacket in the spirit of running a "tough" league, was all smiles. So was PBA chairman Ely Capacio who came with his younger brother Glenn, a long-time pro.

PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said patron and lower box tickets were sold out as early as last Thursday afternoon and only upper A tickets remained in the box office. Ticket prices were P500, P420, P280, P120 and P5.

Upper B tickets went for only P5 each. By 4 p.m. last Sunday, Marcial said the usually closed general admission section was opened because Upper B was completely sold out.

"It was the biggest opening day crowd since commissioner Eala took office three years ago," said Marcial. "We have no report on scalping but malamang, nagkaroon kasi ubos na ang patron and lower box tickets since Thursday."

No doubt, the PBA’s 31st season got off to a rousing start.

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