Ukrainian won’t forget Pinoys’ win

MANILA, Philippines - Ukrainian national team assistant coach Joe Wolf will no doubt recall the Philippines’ 1985 Jones Cup victory at the US’ expense when Gilas plays the Eastern European squad in a warm-up game in Antibes, France, tomorrow night.

Wolf, 49, was on coach Gene Keady’s squad that lost to the Philippines, 108-100 in overtime, for the title in Taipei. The 6-11 center from the University of North Carolina scored 11 points. Teammates Kenny Gattison and Harold Pressley, both future NBA players, combined for 44. For the Philippines, Chip Engelland hit 43, Samboy Lim 21 and Allan Caidic 19.

“We were so young then,” said Wolf. “Our team had guys like Jay Bilas, Frank Ford, Tommy Amaker and Kevin Henderson. Whenever I see Chip in the NBA, he makes sure I don’t forget losing that game. One of the guys on the Philippine team was Dennis Still who was a strong inside player. The Philippines shot the lights out that game with Chip and those two Filipinos (Lim and Caidic). I’ve always known how big basketball is in the Philippines. It’s strange that somehow, I’ve never gone to visit. I’ve been to Singapore, Thailand, China, South Korea and Japan but never to the Philippines. Someday, I’ll make it a point to visit. Of course, I know about Filipinos like Erik Spoelstra, Manny Pacquiao and that guy (Arnel Pineda) who sings with Journey what a voice he has, just like my idol Steve Perry.”

Wolf will get a chance to size up the Philippine new-age shooters in tomorrow’s friendly as both Ukraine and Gilas get ready for the FIBA World Cup. Ukraine placed sixth at FIBA Eurobasket in Slovenia last year and earned a ticket to Spain. At the previous FIBA Eurobasket in 2011, Ukraine finished 17th. This is Ukraine’s debut at the FIBA World Cup.

Ukraine is bracketed in Group C with the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Turkey, Finland and the US in Bilbao while the Philippines is in Group B with Croatia, Greece, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Senegal.

It was in February 2011 when Mike Fratello became the Ukraine head coach and recruited Wolf to join his staff. Fratello said he took the job because it was an opportunity to coach a country against other great countries in the world. Fratello, 67, was head coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies in a 17-year NBA career that featured four 50-win seasons.

Wolf was the Los Angeles Clippers’ first round pick in the 1987 NBA draft and played 11 years as a pro with the Clippers, Denver, Boston, Portland, Charlotte, Orlando and Milwaukee. He was head coach of the Idaho Stampede in the CBA and Colorado 14ers in the NBA D-League. From 2008 to 2013, Wolf was an assistant coach with the Bucks. He was recently named assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets who employ Fratello as a TV analyst.

At North Carolina, Wolf played a season with Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins and another season with J. R. Reid and Scott Williams, three with Brad Daugherty and four with Kenny Smith.  The youngest of seven children, Wolf learned to play the game from his brothers John, Jeff and Jim.

Wolf led Kholer High School to three Class C State championships and as a senior in 1982-83, averaged 31.5 points, 17.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots. His jersey No. 42 was retired by Kholer and he is widely considered the greatest high school basketball player in Wisconsin history.

Wolf took a break from the NBA to play for Leon in the Spanish league in 1993-94, averaging 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in 28 games. It will be a sentimental return for Wolf in Spain at the World Cup.

Asked about his most memorable NBA experience, Wolf said it was when he played for Orlando in 1995-96. The Magic posted a 60-22 record and downed Detroit, 3-0, and Atlanta, 4-1, in the playoffs before bowing to Chicago, 4-0, in the Eastern Conference Finals. “I thought we would go all the way until we ran into Michael (Jordan),” said Wolf. “We had guys like Shaq (O’Neal), Penny (Hardaway) and Dennis (Scott). But we still couldn’t beat the Bulls.”

Wolf said bringing in Andray Blatche to reinforce Gilas puts a lot of pressure on the 6-11 center. He said the practice of recruiting naturalized cagers levels the playing field in international competition. Ukraine’s naturalized player is 5-11 former University of Portland guard Eugene (Pooh) Jeter who averaged 4.2 points in 61 games with the Sacramento Kings in 2010-11. Jeter replaced Steve Burtt, Jr. whose father Steve Sr. was once a PBA import with Shell. “I know Blatche to be an offensive player,” said Wolf. “That guy can score. But as a naturalized player, he’s got to know what his role is, how he fits in. With the Philippines, he’ll need to play defense, too, because a big stopper is what the team lacks. With Ukraine, we took in Pooh because we needed a playmaker. We’ve got enough shooting forwards and big guys.”

Wolf said coaching international basketball is “refreshing” and the global game, marked by unselfish play, is “a joy to watch.” As for setting up camp in Ukraine, he said it’s a case of staying away from the eastern region where there is unrest. Ukraine played warm-ups in Lithuania and Kiev before moving to Antibes. The country was slated to host FIBA Eurobasket next year but because of domestic turmoil, is unable to stage the event.

Last year, Ukraine was the surprise team at FIBA Eurobasket, defeating Germany, 88-83, Serbia, 82-75 and Italy, 66-58, enroute to a sixth place finish, its best ever. Fratello and Wolf were on the Ukrainian bench to steer the way.