MANILA, Philippines — Chip Engelland is back in town on Team USA’s coaching staff for the FIBA World Cup and enjoying every moment of his return to the Philippines which will always have a special place in his heart. He lived about three years here in the 1980s, played three conferences in the PBA and had a sentimental “homecoming” in 2007. Now that Engelland is back, he’s reliving the fond memories of how it was playing for the late Ambassador Danding Cojuangco.
Engelland, now 62, never got to play for the Philippine national team although he saw action for Northern Consolidated Cement (NCC) at the FIBA Clubs Championships in Gerona, Spain and for San Miguel Beer at the Jones Cup in Taipei, both in 1985. He became a naturalized citizen in 1984 and under FIBA rules at the time, had to serve a three-year residency for eligibility to play on the national team. The 1986 EDSA Revolution led to a change in basketball leadership and with the disbandment of the national team, the Philippines forfeited its ticket to the FIBA World Cup in Madrid that year. Engelland would’ve been eligible to play for the Philippines in 1987.
Engelland recalled playing his last game for Cojuangco in the Jones Cup and it couldn’t have been more memorable. He fired 43 points, including eight triples, to power San Miguel to a 108-100 OT win over Team USA in the final. Team USA was coached by Purdue’s Gene Keady and featured future NBA players Joe Wolf, Kevin Henderson, Harold Pressley and Kenny Gattison. San Miguel’s coach was the late Ron Jacobs and Engelland’s teammates were Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Franz Pumaren, Tonichi Yturri, Yves Dignadice, Jun Tan, Alfie Almario, Elmer Reyes, Dennis Still and Jeff Moore with Jerry Codiñera, Peter Aguilar, Al Solis and Naning Valenciano as reserves. Engelland has a clear copy of the final game on tape and maybe, someday it could be replayed on Philippine TV with him doing commentary.
Another unforgettable tournament was the FIBA Clubs Championships where NCC beat Banco Di Roma of Italy by 19, lost to eventual runner-up Monte Libano of Brazil by one and Team USA by eight. Team USA was bannered by David Robinson, Steph Curry’s father Dell, Chuck Person, Armon Gilliam, Muggsy Bogues and Larry Krystkowiak.
In 1984, Engelland averaged 29.02 points in the PBA First and Second Conferences where NCC posted a combined 30-18 record. The next season, he played in only the First Conference and sat out the Third which was NCC’s warm-up for the FIBA Asia Championships. Engelland said he once told Robert Jaworski he was a huge fan and would pay to watch the Big J play. Some of the other PBA stars he admired were Bogs Adornado, Atoy Co and Philip Cezar.
Engelland said he heard about Lim’s health condition and will visit him on this trip. He also plans to get together with his former teammates, mentioning Calma, Pumaren, Codiñera, Aguilar, Reyes among others, when his schedule allows. Engelland said he’d also like to meet up with Almario’s widow Irene because he was a special friend. Known as the Shot Doctor, Engelland earned an acclaimed reputation as a shooting coach in the NBA and was on the San Antonio Spurs’ staff for 17 years before moving to Oklahoma City last season. Engelland worked with Grant Hill and Steve Kerr during their NBA careers and they’re reunited with Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. Hill is Team USA’s managing director and Kerr, head coach. What Engelland hopes to do is to tour Manila and revisit his old hangouts like Kamayan. But his priority is Team USA and that’s his exclusive focus at the moment.