US stint for Mark Magsumbol

"Things come when they are least expected."

This holds true to Mark M. Magsumbol after being picked by the San Jose Sky Rockets to play in the American Basketball Association (ABA).

Magsumbol, a Manileño, had a brief stint with Cebu-based Tribu Sugbu in the National Basketball Conference and the Gen Feeds Megamix, which he steered to its grandslam finish in the Cebu Basketball Federation last year.

After his journey down South playing with Tribu Sugbu and Zanorte Hornbill, Magsumbol went back to Manila to try his luck again with the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), planning to make the league as his stepping stone to joining the next PBA drafting.

In the PBL, he was at first told by the Granny Goose coaching staff of his entry to the team only to be informed later, when all the try-outs of the other teams folded up, that they already got a replacement for him.

It was frustrating for Magsumbol especially that he wanted badly to help his family.

But instead of dwelling on the sad happenings, he kept his cool and just looks forward positively, hoping for something else to come.

Then came a call from his buddy Unik Reyes Friday night informing him of a basketball try-out. They were both clueless of what ABA was all about, but still went to the PhilSports Arena to try their luck.

Luckily, Magsumbol, the NCAA Finals MVP in 2000, got the nod of San Jose's coaching staff, together with two Fil-Ams. Among those who joined the try-outs were Rob Johnson, Philip Newton and Johnedel Cardel.

Later in the day, a call from the Sky Rockets' agent in Manila told Magsumbol that he will be the only player chosen from the Philippines.

Before the Philippines try-outs, the Sky Rockets, a new team in the AMA, which is owned by siblings Kazumi and James Hasegawa, also picked a player from Japan. They will also be going to China to select another player there.

The Sky Rockets will be playing in the ABA, which is expecting not less than 55 teams in the 2005-2006 season, set to kick-off next month in the U.S. The ABA operated from 1967 to 1976 before merging with the NBA and was revived in 2000.

Magsumbol, an off-guard, also played in several teams in the PBL including ICTSI, Montana, Regent Cheese Ball-Shark, the Philippine Team, which carried our flag in the Jones Cup and the 20-under Asian Basketball Championships. He also helped DLSU-College of St. Benilde's Blazers' to capture their first and only tertiary title in the NCAA so far.