The Giants lost to San Miguel by nine.
Of course, Mendoza’s absence was coincidental. Or was it?
Mendoza, 34, was in Leo Austria’s coaching staff at Shell before joining Purefoods last year. According to Purefoods governor Rene Pardo, he "takes care of scouting the other teams play and helps the coaching staff set up ways to stop it."
Mendoza took a leave of absence from Purefoods to accept a rare invitation from St. John’s University vice president Fr. James Maher to observe the varsity basketball team’s practices and interact with the coaching staff. The trip was arranged through Adamson University president Fr. Gregg Banaga.
By the way, St. John’s and Adamson are both Vincentian schools and Mendoza coached the Falcons junior varsity to third place in the UAAP this past season. Mendoza’s team unexpectedly made it to the Final Four with 11 rookies who, he proudly noted, attended all their classes and passed all their subjects.
Last Sunday, Mendoza was back in his seat behind the Purefoods bench for a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) game against Ginebra San Miguel at the Araneta Coliseum.
Before over 16,000 fans, the Giants upset Ginebra, 88-84, and in the process, outrebounded the Kings, 47-43. What made the feat more remarkable was the fact that Ginebra leads the league in rebounding and Purefoods ranks dead last in that department.
Mendoza paid tribute to coach Ryan Gregorio and assistants Ronnie Magsanoc and Koy Banal who did a masterful job in laying out a solid gameplan that took away Ginebra’s edge in size and speed. The Giants kept the game close by playing it slow, not giving up on defense and gang-rebounding. In the third period, they applied a full-court press that sapped the energy of Ginebra’s vaunted backcourt, now known as the Fast (Jay-Jay Helterbrand), the Furious (Mark Caguioa), the Fearless (Ronald Tubid), the Fiery (Mark Macapagal) and the Flying (Johnny Abarrientos). All Gregorio hoped for was to get a chance to steal the game in the end and the Giants somehow managed to do it.
Of course, Mendoza’s reappearance was coincidental. Or was it?
After the game, Pardo patted Mendoza on the back and said, "our lucky charm is back and we caught a big fish."
Mendoza left for the US at his personal expense last Oct. 12. He negotiated his Northwest round-trip ticket through an exchange deal of his oil-on-canvas paintings with a New Jersey art collector.
Mendoza was initially booked to stay at the St. John’s campus in New York but two days before his departure, he was told to stay elsewhere. The St. John’s offer for accommodations was withdrawn because it would be an NCAA violation for the school to host a visiting coach in contact with high school-age players. Instead, Mendoza arranged to stay in Teaneck, New Jersey, with his Claret high school classmate Dave Marcon, a licensed physical therapist.
Mendoza said he was given complete access to observe the St. John’s practices and speak with head coach Norm Roberts.
"In only one season with the Red Storm, coach Roberts has revitalized the basketball program and has made St. John’s a formidable competitor in the Big East Conference once again," said Mendoza.
Roberts earned a degree in health and physical education at Queens College in 1987. He played for the Queens varsity and finished his career as the school’s third leading all-time scorer and career leader in assists and steals.
At St. John’s, Mendoza called on Fr. Maher and Paula Migliore, campus minister for athletics, and attended Roberts‚ basketball clinic at the Taffner Field House where he lectured on strength and conditioning, his program organization and philosophy, offense, defense, set plays, individual guard and post skills improvement and progression drills.
On the practice floor, Mendoza observed, up close and personal, St. John’s key players including 6-7 Anthony Mason Jr. whose father once played for the New York Knicks.
Mendoza also conferred with director of basketball operations Chris Casey, assistant coach Frd Quartlebaum, video editor Will Lanier, San Antonio Spurs scout George Felton and senior associate athletic director John Diffley, a former US national soccer team player who oversees equipment operations, facilities, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, support groups and enforcement of the student-athlete code of conduct at St. John’s.Aside from the St. John’s tour, Mendoza watched a New York-Philadelphia preseason game at Madison Square Garden last Oct. 24. The Knicks won, 113-102, as Nate Robinson scored 19 points and Steve Francis chipped in 13. Recent Manila visitor Andre Iguodala, whom Robinson beat for the NBA’s slam dunk title last season, saw action for the Sixers.
Then, Mendoza attended a Knicks practice conducted by coach Isiah Thomas and assistant Mark Aguirre.
But it wasn’t only basketball on Mendoza’s agenda at the Big Apple. An accomplished painter, he took a New York Gallery tour with professional artist assistant Merlin Lyons and visited the Whitney Museum.
"I dream and plan to hold my own exhibit at the New York Art Studios in October 2008,"said Mendoza.