Yes, he can run-run Renren Ritualo plays the points

It was tough getting Florendo Ritualo Jr. to agree to an interview, tougher than extricating yourself from parasitic ticket scalpers outside the Philsports Arena (dress them up in suits and they would break insurance agent commission records). The prized PBA rookie vacillated for around a month, perhaps fearful the questions would step beyond the perimeter of a world where the Middle East conflict is confused with the battle for final playoff spots among the NBA’s mid-ranked Eastern Conference teams.

Finally, a breakthrough–Ritualo agreed to talk two hours before his RP-Hapee team’s game against Barangay Ginebra last April 6. Then, another snag. Renren, as he is universally called, was apparently hit by a hunger pang so oppressive it clouded his memory. When reminded that the 1:45 pm meeting was set days ago, Ritualo explained in his inimitable, angst-free logic, "Gutom ako, e." Ah, to be a star basketball player–massaged before and after each game, grown men paid to pick up after you as you strip away accouterments when entering the hardcourt, carbo-loading the most pressing concern of the day…

Unexpectedly, it was impressed on Reren that the show must go on, that a deal’s a deal, to make hay while the sun shines, and other readily recognizable clichés. The interview proceeded at ringside of the PBA’s decrepit occasional home and conclusively proved that Ritualo is fortunate his game speaks for itself.

Renren is the son of PBA pioneer and former Great Taste and Presto player Florendo Sr. "I was two years old when my dad was playing in the PBA," says Renren. "Ever since I was a child, ‘yun na ang nakita ko–basketball."

There was little need to enroll in basketball clinics, renowned for rigorously teaching young players the basics of the game while stripping away their creativity in a master plan of conformity. Renren honed his skills by going one-on-one against his much bigger (and foxier) professional player father. By the 5th grade, Renren was playing competitive basketball. Winning championships came naturally to Renren–he acquired a taste for it first as a grade school then as a high school student in San Beda, earning the ncaa Juniors mvp plum in the process.

La Salle’s eagle-eyed college recruiters easily spotted his prodigious talents. Discounting his beanpole build, the Taft Avenue university used its vast poaching experience to persuade Renren that his future, as well as theirs, lay as a Green Archer. At the time, La Salle had come achingly close to winning the uaap championship, finishing second four consecutive and dispiriting years. During Renren’s rookie year, they again ended up runners-up. The following year, Renren’s personal winning tradition finally rubbed off on his school.

What followed was La Salle’s total domination of the uaap league–four championships in four years. In the 1998 Finals, Renren sank three crucial baskets in the final 43 seconds of the game, assuring the Archers of their first uaap title since 1990. His legend as a clutch shooter impervious to pressure was born. By the year 2000, Renren had unquestionably become the heart and soul of the La Salle team.

"I’m very competitive," says Renren. "Kahit anong game talaga, I hate losing, actually. Siguro parang kung pag sinasabi na someone is putting me down, hindi pwede ‘yon. Parang I want to go up; I want to succeed. Parang ganoon ‘yung attitude ko. Siguro yun ang lumalabas sa game, parang pag kailangan na talaga, I have to step up my level of playing."

Renren is a rarity in the current landscape of Philippine basketball. He is a pure shooter in an age where athleticism has overtaken dead-eye shooting skills as the quality most sought after by coaches. Even more singular is his ability to hit the big shot that not only changes a game’s complexion, but also often determines its outcome. Renren is the Reggie Miller of the Philippines–like the veteran Indiana Pacer, he may play atrociously for the first three quarters yet inexorably end up the man who sticks a dagger into the other team’s heart at the end of a close game. When a game is on the line, everyone in the building knows the ball will wind up in his hands. The coaches know it, the players know it, the fans know it, and Ren Ren relishes it. His coolness is eerie–after all, he is only 22.

In the highly charged uaap 2002 Finals game against arch-rival Ateneo–the final and biggest game of his amateur career–Ren Ren willed his team to victory. Even the most parochial Ateneo supporters admitted their team lost because the amateur game’s best player was wearing a green jersey. Cruelly juxtaposed against the miserable performance of Enrico Villanueva, Ateneo’s star player, Ren Ren’s exploits were even more devastatingly pronounced. He was justly awarded by the Philippine Sports Association as the top amateur player in the land for a second straight year.

"I don’t think of the pressure but I feel the pressure kasi it helps me focus more in a game. Lahat ng ginagawa ko, ‘pag napre-pressure ako nafo-focus talaga ako ng mabuti. Kasi kailangan you don’t crack on pressure," says Ren Ren, struggling to explain his gift while stumbling over prepositions.

Ren Ren entered the PBA’s draft as its number two pick and was promptly snapped up by FedEx, the league’s newest expansion team. Realistically, it will take the team a couple to years to seriously contend for a conference title.

"Malaking problem," he says about adjusting to the novel possibility of losing regularly for the first time in his career. "Kasi, for me, I’m a rookie here in this league. Kasi ito na ang biggest league sa Philippines. Sana madala ko dito ang ginawa ko in my amateur days, di ba? I’m not saying na madali ‘yon kasi it’s gonna be hard work ulit and determination talaga. Kailangan mo talaga gusto ‘yan, ‘yun ang dapat mong attitude e. You have to want it more."

Ren Ren’s balikbayan mother, Baby, handled the negotiations with her son’s new team. A former sociology teacher at UE and currently an administrative assistant for struggling retail giant K-Mart, Baby extracted a three-year, 9-million peso contract–excluding bonuses–for Ren Ren. Did she drive a hard bargain? "Sabi nga e! You can ask Mr. Alvarez about that," says the proud son, referring to Lito Alvarez of the FedEx management team.

It must be disconcerting for a young man to know his net worth is public knowledge. "Yun nga eh! Baka ma-kidnap, di ba? Pag nasa school ako, they say, ‘O, bakit ka pa pumapasok? Pagbukas mo ng closet mo, you have nine million and stuff,’" says Ren Ren, who must finish two more semesters to complete his double major in Guidance Counseling and Psychology. "I say no, wala pa ‘yon. I have to work hard for it. Hindi naman constant na nine million ‘yon. I have to study or my Mom is gonna be mad at me kasi teacher yung mom ko before. Talagang inapply niya yung importance ng education sa akin."

The FedEx contract provides for a P300,000 monthly salary for Ren Ren’s third year, generous but far from the P500,000 maximum monthly salary given to the PBA’s marquee players, which is what he is widely expected to become. Asked if this bothers him, Ren Ren answers, "Uhmmm, you can ask my mom kasi when it comes to money matters, I don’t know e. My mom handles it."

FedEx will have to wait a while before Ren Ren can suit up for them. Late last year, Coach Ron Jacobs called him to join the national team tryouts and was enormously impressed by the young gun’s game. Says Ren Ren, "Siguro bago pa, sobrang hyper! Siguro ganoon."

Joining established guards Johnny Abarrientos and Boyet Fernandez in the RP-Hapee team, Ren Ren has so far seen limited playing time. His sweet shooting touch has not deserted him though, and he normally contributes immediately when called upon by Coach Jong Uichico to play. But at six feet flat and a mere 175 pounds, Ren Ren is considered small for his natural shooting guard position and has been forced to play the unfamiliar point guard position.

"Yung mga guards dito, parang mga 6’6" or 6’3". In the RP team, they ask me to play point. Now I’m having a hard time but I’m adjusting–it’s a work in progress. I never played point in my entire life. All my teammates ko, talagang natutulungan ako like Johnny and Boyet. Kung ano ang pinapagawa sa akin ni Coach, ’yun ang gagawin ko."

The current thought is that Ren Ren has a good shot at making it to the final RP team cut due to the dearth of true shooters that suit the drive, draw and pass game so successful against the zone defense allowed under amateur rules. His schedule is brutal–morning practices from Monday to Saturday, games sometimes twice a week, and school at least three times a week. He says, "It’s hard balancing studies and basketball–sobra! Siyempre mahirap talaga i-focus ang mind mo on two things, di ba? Mahirap talaga pagsabayin lalo na sobrang demanding ang basketball. Demanding din ang academe ng La Salle. So, parang ang hirap."

It all leaves him little time for his favorite pastime–corroding his thumbs on Playstation control pads. "I also like to go malling. I don’t really like going out na sa mga maraming mga smoke. Siguro once in a while if there’s an occasion or a reunion with my friends, di ba? Pero kung wala akong magawa sa weekend, I’d rather go to Timezone to play," he says, proving that at 22 he is still just a kid, really. A kid with the slim, delicate fingers of a pianist who just happens to play basketball as if the hoop had a five-foot diameter.

Ren Ren Ritualo declares that his two favorite NBA players are Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Tracy McGrady of the Orlando Magic. The two players are of similar height, have similar builds and can both shoot the lights out on any given day. Pressed to pick one over the other, his answer is revealing: "Kobe, because he has two (championship) rings."

Given his history of winning even when the game appears lost, Ren Ren may find himself running out of fingers to display his hard-earned hardware. Now, if he would only manage to be on time for the inevitable press conferences.