PBA vet keeps dream alive

MANILA, Philippines - PBA veteran Epoy Jalmasco’s dream of making it big in the pros never came true and that’s his motivation to guide youngsters hoping to find their way to the country’s premier basketball league.

Jalmasco, 52, suited up for Shell in 1988 and 1989, averaging 8.3 points in 31 total games then drifted to other teams as a practice player. He was in Sta. Lucia Realty’s practice corps when the team won the Governors Cup title in 2001. Jalmasco eventually turned to coaching kids. In 2011-12, he piloted the Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College to second place in the elementary and high school divisions of the Marikina PRISAA where PBA Hall of Famer Freddie Hubalde led Marist to the elementary crown and Sunny Manucad took Marist to the high school title. Jalmasco once coached the Sorsogon Pilot Elementary School to the provincial championship.

Jalmasco has no steady job. He’s often in Manila watching basketball games of any league by himself. His wife Lina Labadia works as a nurse in the Sorsogon provincial hospital and their five children, from 7 to 19, are all in school. They were married in 1996 and adopted three kids until Jalmasco’s wife delivered her first child in 2007 then another. Jalmasco said he’d like to join the PBA Legends team but because he’s unemployed and a wanderer, he’s embarrassed to approach the big-name stars like Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Allan Caidic and Vince Hizon.

“Sometimes, I see (San Miguel Beer coach) Leo Austria from a distance when I’m watching a PBA game but I’m ashamed to approach him,” said Jalmasco. “We were Shell teammates with Ronnie Magsanoc and Benjie Paras. Maybe, one day, I’ll visit the PBA office and ask for a recommendation to apply for a US visa so I can connect with PBA veterans abroad.”

Meanwhile, Jalmasco hangs around gyms to find out if there are kids he could mold into future college stars or pros. One of the players he took under his wing for a while was former FEU high school standout Jerie (Koko) Pingoy, now with Ateneo. Pingoy’s father Jerry brought his son from Cebu to Manila and hooked up with Jalmasco who is a compadre. “I used to watch over Koko every day at practice,” said Jalmasco. “I’ve also brought some kids from the provinces to Manila schools to give them a chance to live their dreams. That’s what I want to do now, to keep the dream alive for others.”

A prospect whom Jalmasco has high hopes for is Myles Anicete, a long jumper from St. Augustine in North Carolina and Kansas University. Anicete, 25, is a 5-7 point guard who dropped basketball for track in college but is back into hoops. Anicete was born in the US to Filipino parents Benjie Anicete and Princess Trajano then went to Manila when he was four. He returned to the US when he was eight to live with his aunt Marivic Lardizabal, now the Brooklyn Nets manager of team services, while his parents stayed in Manila.

Two weeks ago, Anicete returned to Manila after 17 years and met for the first time, his sisters Martina, 16, Monica, 13, Maridona, 12 and brother Michael, 15. Since Lardizabal has been involved in basketball for nearly 20 years, Anicete was exposed to several prominent coaches. Lardizabal worked as coach Larry Brown’s executive assistant when he was at Indiana, Philadelphia, Detroit and New York and currently reports to the Nets general manager Billy King.

“My eyes were opened to basketball in 2005 when coach Chot Reyes came to Detroit to recruit Kelly Williams,” said Anicete. “At the time, I played in the junior division of the Fil-Am league in Detroit while Kelly was in the seniors. I was lucky to be named MVP that year. Then, I played a year of basketball at Ervington High School in New York but later shifted to long jump. At Kansas, I roomed with Douglas Compton who was a varsity basketball player as a freshman. I loved the basketball atmosphere at Kansas and worked on my game with Doug and other varsity players. Coach Larry was my father figure growing up. He taught me how to play the right way.”

Anicete is now enrolled at Kean University in New Jersey and has 19 more units to finish before earning a psychology degree. After he graduates, his plan is to join a PBA D-League team, if he can make it, and apply for the PBA draft with Jalmasco’s guidance.

“I’m lucky to be able to hang out with the Nets,” he said. “I was with the team in China for the Global Games last year. I’ve played one-on-one with guys like Darius Morris and Mirza Teletovic who gave me tips and helped me out. Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko were always nice to me but they’ve both left Brooklyn. Markel Brown is also a nice guy. I’m learning a lot from coach (Lionel) Hollins particularly his defense and assistant coaches Paul Westphal and Joe Wolf. Last summer, I apprenticed with NBA Summer League head Warren Legarie in Las Vegas and saw Jimmy Alapag and Bobby Ray Parks.”

As a boy, Anicete enrolled at the Milo Best Center and played football at Claret in prep and Grade 1. During his recent visit to Manila, he practiced with Café France and Racal Motors of the PBA D-League. “I think I held my own,” he said. “I know I have a lot to work on but I’m hoping to get a chance. This is my dream.”

Jalmasco said Anicete has the potential to play in the PBA. “He has to improve his defense, how to deny his man, his jumpshot and quick release,” said the PBA veteran. “Myles is lefthanded like Caidic and I want him to be another Alapag.” Anicete’s father said his son plays like Hector Calma. “Myles is a pass-first team player,” said his father. “He hardly takes a bad shot and makes the right decisions. He’s not an Allen Iverson type who likes to shoot.”

Anicete left for the US a few days ago to go back to school and finish up. “I’ll be back,” he said. “(Racal) coach Caloy (Garcia) told me he’ll wait for me and maybe, I can play for him. I’m slowly adjusting to the Philippine game. I’m committed to work hard. I’m taking things one day at a time. Right now, my priority is to get my degree then I’ll go back to Manila and play ball.”