Crisano flexes RP 5 might; Toyota leads

Alex Crisano showed that he’s got more than just tattoos when he carried the RP Team past Mail & More, 94-84, yesterday in the PBL V-Go Extreme Energy Drink Cup at The Arena.

The former PBA enforcer, who wears colorful tattoos on his legs, arms all the way up to his neck, scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and provided the muscle for the Nationals.

In the other game, Toyota Balintawak assumed the early lead with a 91-85 win over rookie team Pharex. Toyota climbed to 2-0 while Pharex dropped to 0-2, tied with Mail & More.

Crisano, who was tapped to help the RP Team win the gold in December’s SEA Games in Thailand, had 10 points in the third quarter where the Nationals led by 19 points, 65-46.

“Coach Junel (Baculi) just told us not to worry about the referees because that’s their  job. So, we just played. No blood, no foul,” said the rugged, 6-foot-7 Fil-American.

The Nationals, scheduled to play only in the elimination round of this tournament, took a cruise in the final quarter to avenge a 74-83 loss to Harbour Centre last Tuesday.

“We played like an all-star team in our last game. That’s why in practice I told them that we are not an all-star team but the national team. I think they absorbed it,” said Baculi.

Baculi noticed that when Crisano became part of the team last month, there was some apprehension among the other players who seemed intimidated by flamboyant center.

“It was like they were afraid to talk to him. I kept telling them ŒWhy can’t you talk to him when he’s already one of us?’ There were some apprehension. I hope that’s gone now,” said Baculi.

Crisano, who saw action for Ginebra and Purefoods in the PBA, played the role of a leader yesterday. At 31, he’s the oldest in the team, and hopefully the wisest, too.