Pinoy makes US cage debut

A 6-2 shooting guard from Calauag, Quezon, is now playing for the San Jose Skyrockets in the 31-team American Basketball Association (ABA) and making a name for himself as an "import" in the US minors.

Mark Magsumbol, 25, made an auspicious ABA debut by scoring 12 points, including 3-of-4 triples, in the Skyrockets’ 160-101 romp over the Tijuana Dragones at the San Jose Auditorium last Jan. 30.

The former St. Benilde cager was chosen to play for the Skyrockets among 15 Filipino aspirants in a tryout conducted by coach Marc Joffe at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig last October. Joffe arrived here with team owner Kazuni Hasegawa from San Jose to check out Filipino players capable of playing in the ABA.

Ravi Chulani, a 28-year-old La Salle graduate who spends his own money to rent the Brent Gym in Pasig Tuesday nights for pros and would-be pros to play pick-up games, organized the tryouts for Hasegawa. Chulani’s cousin Girish Mirchandani lives in San Francisco and suggested to Hasegawa, a close friend, to recruit a Filipino for the Skyrockets to reflect the ethnicity of San Jose as a melting pot in the Bay Area. It was Mirchandani who introduced Chulani to Hasegawa.

"Mark’s contract is until the end of the season," said Chulani. "That’s 36 regular season games plus the playoffs. Housing is provided for. Mark lives in a beautiful house with four teammates on Flint Crest Drive in San Jose. He is provided with food and a living allowance. He has access to a car which the team has also provided. He has free travel to everywhere the team goes, all over the US and Hawaii. His basic salary is $1,200 a month."

Magsumbol, who wears jersey No. 34, arrived in the US last Jan. 22.

"I wasn’t expecting to play against Tijuana but I kept myself ready at all times," said Magsumbol in an email. "I’m happy I was able to deliver. One of my three-point shots was under the 3D rule so I got four points instead of three. The rule gives you an extra point on a shot after forcing a turnover in the other team’s backcourt."

Former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) import Harold Arceneaux led the Dragones with 42 points. The Skyrockets led, 77-46, at the half. The blowout saw 11 Skyrockets, including Magsumbol, scoring in double digits.

Magsumbol said one of the veterans playing in the ABA is former National Basketball Association (NBA) star Tim Hardaway of the Florida Pit Bulls. His closest friend in the team is Matt Luedtke. Other players in the San Jose roster include Lamar Castile, Jason Smith, Anthony Lumpkin, Darius Pope, Rock Winston, Todd Okeson, Jamar Howard and Anwar Ferguson.

Watching out for Magsumbol are his girlfriend Caecent’s parents Ed and Henri who live nearby. "They always make sure I’m okay and take care of me," said Magsumbol. "I’m lucky they’re close by."

Magsumbol said although he’s just new in the team, fans are already asking for his autograph.

"It’s a hard life because I’m all alone," said Magsumbol. "But I know this is good for my future. I just have to sacrifice. I want to get better as a player and I hope to show that a Filipino can play in the league. Playing in the ABA is a different experience for me because the players are really solid. My teammates are very good to me but I still have to memorize their names."

Magsumbol said Joffe was replaced by Kermit Young as San Jose’s coach before the season started. Young has coached for 36 years and is a Hall of Fame athlete at Montana State.

On the ABA, Magsumbol said the league combines NBA and FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball) rules. "It is fast-paced and exciting," said Magsumbol. "We play 12 minutes a quarter with a 24-second shot clock. We use a red-white-and-blue ball. It has no one-and-one free throw situation and instead, there’s a penalty of two shots on the eighth team foul each quarter. A shot from behind the halfcourt line is good for four points."

There are seven divisions in the league, named after former ABA stars Spencer Haywood, Ron Boone, Freddie Lewis, George Gervin, Roger Brown, Connie Hawkins and Marvin Barnes-Moses Malone. The Skyrockets are now leading the Boone division with a 20-5 record.

Among the teams are Los Angeles, Southern California, Indiana, Fresno, Detroit, Ohio, Pittsburgh, New Mexico, Harlem, Montreal, Boston, Maryland, Buffalo, Baltimore and Atlanta. The only foreign team is the Aoshen Beijing Olympics whose players include former NBA guard Fred Vinson, Huang Hai Bei, Wo Nan and Sun Yu.

Last Feb. 6, San Jose picked up its 20th win at the Tacoma Navigators’ expense, 124-76. The Skyrockets swept Beijing, 99-80, and 108-91, in a two-game series early this month.

Magsumbol earned a Hotel and Restaurant Management degree at St. Benilde in 2001 but instead of applying what he learned in the classroom, decided to try his luck on the court. He never applied for the PBA draft and has played for four teams in the Philippine Basketball League, three teams in the National Basketball Conference and a team in the Cebu Basketball Federation. Magsumbol also played for the Cebuana Lhuillier national squad.