In an affair to remember, the present Alaska Milk team and the Alaska players of yesteryears gathered together in an evening of nostalgia and celebration, toasting the Uytengsu franchise on its 25th year gala night at the Grand Ballroom of Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati Tuesday night.
It was a proud moment for the ballclub, celebrating a tall reputation and winning tradition it has earned since joining the Philippine Basketball Association as an expansion team in 1986.
The ballclub, team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu and all personages that have become part of the organization basked in glory in the grand rites highlighted by the retirement of the jerseys of Alaska greats Johnny Abarrientos and Bong Hawkins, and the distribution of championship rings to the Alaska squad that ruled the recent PBA Fiesta Cup.
They walked down memory lane and savored sweet memories of their exploits highlighted by their domination of the league in the 90s.
Memorabilia from the Alaska Milk archives as well as those from personal collection of the members of the United Friendship Club of Alaska (the team fans club) were there on display in an exhibit.
The momentous occasion was covered for TV and broadcasted live via a webcast on the Alaska Aces website. It ushered in a yearlong celebration of the historical milestone.
Overall, Alaska made the finals 25 times and bagged 13 championships including the grand slam in 1996 in a great run making the team synonymous to winning.
Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, the Uytengsu patriarch’s son entrusted of the task to study the viability of the PBA as a marketing vehicle in mid-1985, marveled at what a journey it has been.
“Here we are now embarking on our 25th year and, indeed, we’re so fortunate,” said Uytengsu.
Uytengsu paid tribute to his partnership with coach Tim Cone and team manager Joaqui Trillo and to all those who have become a part of the organization.
“We’re blessed to have a great coach and an outstanding general manager. That’s our version of the triangle. It’s a great partnership that has yielded pretty good results,” said Uytengsu.
“We work with mutual trust and respect to one another and along the way we’ve built teams that represent the company as ambassadors with the virtues determination, hard work and teamwork all on environment of professionalism,” Uytengsu added.
The Alaska chief expressed gratitude to all individuals who have become part of the team but made special mention of the team that won the 2010 Fiesta Conference championship dedicated to his late father.
“My father started the organization. Winning the championship dedicated to him was very meaningful,” said Uytengsu.
For Cone, the night was about the journey and the history their players have given the organization.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the players. You’ve gone on a journey -- a journey so wonderful. Now we honor the history you’ve given us,” Cone addressed the players.
Given the biggest honor in the night were Abarrientos and Hawkins whose jerseys were retired. Theirs were the fifth and sixth Alaska jerseys retired after those of William “Bogs” Adornado, Sean Chambers, Jojo Lastimosa and Jeffrey Cariaso.
Abarrientos and Hawkins, who spent their best PBA years with Alaska in the 90s, shared the honors with their teammates, particularly
Lastimosa, Cariaso and Poch Juinio with whom they formed the magnificent five leading the team to the 1996 Triple Crown.
“I wouldn’t be here without my Mr. Clutch (Jojo Lastimosa), my Luc Longley (Juinio), The Hawk (Hawkins) and The Jet (Cariaso). And there won’t be the grand slam without our best import of all-time in Sean Chambers,” said Abarrientos.
“I have to give special thanks to (longtime team physician) Dr. Facundo Sun, (trainer) Gus Vargas and (assistant trainer) Mike Braga. They have had so much contribution to the success of the team. Lagi kaming kondisyon sa laban dahil sa pagaalaga nila,” said Hawkins.
Sun flew all the way from Dubai to attend the occasion.
And there were former Alaska players who came from as far as England and the United States to join the merriment.
“I won’t miss this for the world,” said Chambers, who flew in from California with Ponky Alolor.
“I take pride in once being an Alaska player and so I’m here paying homage to the organization,” said Dennis Abbatuan, who came from London.
Former Alaska players who have become coaches, academicians and businessmen were among those who made a homecoming.
Boy Cabahug and Rhoel Gomez, now handling collegiate teams in Cebu, came and mingled with the likes of Joel Santos, Woodrow Balani, Nani
Demegillo and Nandy Garcia.
“To see all-time greats Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa and Bong Hawkins and the Alaska originals and others… to see all these guys together gives me goose bumps. It’s awesome, it’s wonderful,” said Cone.
The list was long.
Among those spotted in the jampacked venue were Kenneth Duremdes, Rodney Santos, EJ Feihl, Chris Bolado, Bryan Gahol, Rensy Bajar, Eddie Laure, Dickie Bachmann, LA Tenorio, Cyrus Baguio, Larry Fonacier, Sam Eman, Joachim Thoss, Mark Borboran, Topex Robinson, Reynel Hugnatan, Ervin Sotto, Tony dela Cruz, Joe Devance, Brandon Cablay and Mike Burtscher.
With all their accomplishments through 25 years, Uytengsu isn’t about to relax on their laurels.
“I still have high expectations for our team next conference and year after year,” said Uytengsu. “We been around for 25 years and I hope to be around a while longer.”
Driven by a tremendous competitive spirit, Uytengsu pushes his team not to settle for just okay.
As he always says: “Good enough, never us.”