Miller or Arigo? - Sporting Chance by Joaquin M. Henson

The word is out. Batang Red Bull will choose either Willie Miller or John Arigo on the first round of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) draft at the Glorietta complex in Makati on Jan. 14.

A team insider confided that coach Yeng Guiao will soon make up his mind on whom to tap as the draft’s top overall pick. But there’s still a possibility that if a blue-chip big man is available, Guiao might just go for height instead.

Red Bull is in an enviable position. George Chua’s club was awarded the No. 1 slot after beating Shell in a two-way, handicapped lottery a few weeks ago. The draft is expected to be the PBA’s richest in years. Applicants are coming from the collegiate ranks, the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), and Fil-Ams with – of course – Department of Justice (DOJ) clearance.

Miller, a Letran spitfire, has proved himself in the MBA as an exciting up-and-down player. He’ll fit nicely in Guiao’s high-octane offense. But Arigo, a Fil-Am, is just as explosive and about five inches taller.

Last year, Arigo quietly slipped into town and joined Red Bull in a few practices. He’s due to plane in tomorrow from South Carolina. A team source said the jury’s still out on Arigo, who looks a bit like Gherome Ejercito – long, lean, and deadly. Arigo weighs close to 170 pounds, leaps like a frog, and is a reliable 18 to 20-foot jumpshooter. In the PBA, Arigo’s got to expand his range to cover the three-point territory as a two-guard.

Arigo, 22, traces his roots to Cavite, his father Manuel’s home province. His mother is Caucasian. He led the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team Jacksonville Knighthawks in scoring three years ago, averaging 21 points and nine rebounds. He hit back-to-back 34-point games against Florida’s top under-19 competition during the AAU season and was named to the All-Tournament first squad. As a junior prepster at Orange Park High, he hit at a 17 point clip, grabbed 8.5 rebounds a game, and led the district in three-point shooting at 46 percent.

Arigo played two years at the University of Tampa, a Division II school. As a freshman in 1998-1999, he started in two of 15 contests, led the team in free throw shooting at 87 percent, and scored in double figures in five games, including 17 against Spalding and 20 against Warner Southern. In his sophomore season, Arigo blossomed as the Spartans' leading scorer, averaging 16.6 points. He started in 16 of 18 outings and shot in twin digits in 14. Arigo netted a career-high 30 points against Florida Southern, knocked in 7-of-11 triples against Rollins, converted 12-of-17 field goals against Florida Tech, set a school record in free throw shooting at 89.2 percent, tallied at least 20 points in five contests – including back-to-back 29 and 28 against Rollins and Florida Tech, and was Tampa’s top scorer in 11 games.

In 1999, Arigo was voted MVP at a Fil-Am tournament in Chicago where he was spotted by recruiter Rolando Hiso. The same Hiso, a Filipino who has lived in Chicago the last 30 years, discovered Tanduay’s Rudy Hatfield and Barangay Ginebra’s Jay-Jay Helterbrand.

But for Arigo to be eligible in the draft, he’s got to be cleared by the DOJ as a legitimate Fil-Am. That’s why he’s flying in weeks before the draft to submit his papers. Another Hiso discovery, 6-2 Frank Navales, is applying for DOJ clearance. Navales, whose father is Caucasian and mother is from Samar, teamed with Arigo on Hiso’s Fil-Am team that won the Hai-Hwa Midwest title in Chicago last May.

Despite its neophyte status, Red Bull didn’t do badly last season. The Thunder wound up with an overall record of 16-22 and it would’ve been 18-20 if not for the two All-Filipino Cup reversals due to the Kerby Raymundo problem. The breakout came in the Third Conference where Red Bull took third place. It was a big comeback for Guiao’s boys who failed to qualify for the quarters in the All-Filipino and Commissioner’s Cups.

The outlook is bright for Red Bull. Only four contracts are expiring – those of Edmund Reyes, Ogie Gumatay, Cris Bolado, and Terry Saldaña. For sure, Reyes will be renewed – he’s come into his own as an import stopper. There is also talk that Bong Alvarez may join the team. His father-in-law has approached Red Bull management and Alvarez himself has sent feelers that he’d like to suit up for the Thunder. Additionally, the team is looking to lure Jay Mendoza out of Shell – perhaps as Saldaña’s replacement at power forward. And Raymundo will finally be eligible to play.

DaVonn Harp, the league’s Rookie of the Year awardee, is in Pennsylvania for the holidays while Mick Pennisi is in Sydney. They’ll be back in the first week of January.

Harp didn’t even get the bonus that Red Bull offered for bagging rookie honors. A team source whispered that Harp asked to keep it in his bank account here. Harp, whose Filipino father abandoned him and his mother, is planning to settle down in Manila.

As for Red Bull’s Kid Lightning, guard Jimwell Torion is scheduled to undergo repair surgery for his dislocated shoulder before the turn of the year. He’s expected to rest about 2 1/2 months and should be ready to resume playing end of February.