Cagers show up for Yolanda victims

BOGO CITY – They didn’t behave like pampered superstars. Not by a long shot. Reigning PBA MVP Arwind Santos, two-time MVP Willie Miller, Alex Cabagnot and Enrico Villanueva arrived on the dot to make their 7 a.m. PAL flight to Bogo City on a relief mission with PBA chairman Ramon Segismundo and PBA commissioner Chito Salud last Friday.

They woke up before dawn that morning to catch the flight. No complaints, no problem. Globalport’s Sol Mercado and Petron’s JuneMar Fajardo were also supposed to join the group but begged off on doctors’ orders because of injuries. Fajardo may be out four to six weeks to rest his knee or so a source disclosed. Mercado was reportedly bothered by pain in a tendon. They were both excused from the trip but for sure, without the injuries, they would’ve jumped at the chance to show care for the victims.

Santos arrived at the NAIA Centennial airport dressed in black-and-blue, looking dapper. He had Nike Kobe Bryant sneakers on, also in black and blue, and a blue cap. Underneath his Nike black-and-blue jacket was a white Petron T-shirt. Miller wore a Dwyane Wade T-shirt, shorts and Nikes. Cabagnot’s T-shirt had a ball in front with the word “Junkies” and wore Nike ACG (All Condition Gear) sneakers. Villanueva wore a red, round-necked T-shirt with blue demin pants and Saucony shoes.

The traveling party included actress Shaina Magdayao, Excite Events COO Izel Argana, PBA media bureau chief Willy Marcial, PBA accounting manager Odessa Encarnacion, PBA business development manager Rhose Montreal, PBA inter-department secretary Michelle Flores and Excite Events staff. Cebu-based travel agent Andrew Teh arranged for a bus to fetch the group from the airport and motor to Bogo City for the 4 1/2 hour ride both ways. Provincial board member Yayoy Alcoseba, a legendary Cebu basketball coach, met the group in Bogo City with his staff that included PBA pioneer Fred Enriquez.

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Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr. and son Carlo welcomed the PBA visitors in their home before accompanying them to City Hall and to Barangays Polambato, Sto. Rosario and Gairan. While in the city, the guests made a quick stop at the local museum where memorabilia of Flash Elorde is displayed. Elorde, the former world junior lightweight boxing champion who reigned for over seven years, was born in the city. His son Bebot donated boxing gloves, a championship belt, a pair of shoes, fight souvenir programs and clippings of famous fights to the museum in 2008.

The four PBA players didn’t hesitate to pose for pictures and chat with fans who mobbed them wherever they went. It was their way to bring comfort to those affected by the recent typhoon. If only for a few minutes, the victims forgot about their troubles. The lasting effect is they realized there are good things in life to live for and their problems will pass away, too. The PBA’s visit was a reminder that efforts are being made to restore normalcy in devastated areas because people care.

Miller and Santos will return to action at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday. They’re both excited to mix it up. Santos will now be on the other side against former FEU and Petron teammate Denok Miranda while Miller will join forces with another former Spiderman teammate Dorian Pena for Barako Bull. Santos attended the Petron practice yesterday and will report for duty again this morning. Barako took the day off yesterday but Miller said it’s back to work in the gym today.

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Barako has won two of its last three games after losing six in a row, including one in overtime and another by two points. Miller said he’s not losing hope of advancing to the playoffs. “It’s like coach Bong (Ramos) told us, let’s be patient, chip away at the rock until it splits open,” he said in Pilipino. “We’re happy Dorian is playing well for us. We need his inside presence. Mick (Pennisi) noticed Dorian is enjoying playing again. When he’s inside, he’ll get doubled and that opens up things for us. And when he’s a threat inside, we don’t have to shoot so much from outside. He wants to bring down his weight to 260, I think he’s now 280 but he started the season close to 300. We’re encouraging him to practice hard so he’ll get his minutes in the game. We’re still working on chemistry because we have a lot of new guys but slowly, we’re getting there. Denok is really playing well for us and we hope we continue to win.”

Santos said playing against Barako means facing not only Miranda but another FEU teammate Mark Isip. Petron started the conference on a 7-0 tear but has lost two of its last three. The good news is it’s coming off a 105-91 win over Talk ‘N’ Text despite playing without injured JuneMar Fajardo.

“Coach Gee (Abanilla) really prepares us well for every game, he’s very detailed,” said Santos. “Coach Todd (Purves) helps us a lot. We’re all getting along, the coaches and players. We just need to stick to the game plan and we’re fine.”

Cabagnot said he’s happy to be able to connect with fans. The Fil-Am played at Eagle Rock High in Los Angeles four years behind Mark Caguioa. They were legends in the school which has a huge Filipino community. Another Fil-Am whom Cabagnot said was an Eagle Rock star is J. R. Buensuceso. Unlike Caguioa and Cabagnot, Buensuceso never made it big in the PBA. He played three games and scored just a point for Globalport in the Governors Cup last season.

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Miller remembered Buensuceso when they played together with Globalport. “J. R. is a go-hard player and at practice, he really stuck to Sol (Mercado),” said Miller. “Once, Sol gave him an elbow. It’s too bad J. R. didn’t get a chance to show what he can do in the PBA.”

Villanueva said he asked to be relegated to the reserve list at Globalport this conference. “I was ready to play earlier,” said Villanueva who was traded from Barako in the offseason. “When we played Air 21, Asi (Taulava) had 21 points and 15 rebounds. I felt I could’ve done something to neutralize him somehow. I finally got to play against San Mig Coffee then I had pain in my left knee. I’ve recovered from ACL surgery in the right knee and maybe, I didn’t compensate rehabbing my left knee where I also had an ACL operation before. I asked to be on reserve so at least, it gives a chance for another player to move up.”

Villanueva said once he has recovered fully, he’ll go all out for a last big run. He was playing some of his best basketball when he tore his ACL over a year ago. Villanueva was on the Gilas squad that played at the FIBA-Asia Cup in Tokyo in September 2012. He’s still considered one of the PBA’s top bigs to execute the pick-and-roll. “The secret is once you set a pick, you roll hard,” he said. “Some bigs don’t run after a pick. I’m lucky at Ginebra, I did the pick-and-roll with a great scorer in Mark.” Villanueva, 33, entered the PBA in 2003.