Caguioa’s rise to stardom - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

LOS ANGELES — Barangay Ginebra rookie Mark Caguioa’s f ather Ricardo knew his son was destined to become a basketball star as a small boy in Mandaluyong.

There was something about the way Mark moved, the way he shook and baked, the way he held the miniature rubber basketball in his hand, and the way he shot it inside the toy ring, some 10 inches in diameter, in their backyard. He was only seven, recalled Ric, and it seemed like he was born to play the game.

Ric was Mark’s first teacher. He was a neighborhood star. Ric and two brothers were the streetball kings on Vergara, the busy Mandaluyong district where fathers and sons played fullcourt seven days a week. Ric often traded baskets with his cousin Recah Trinidad and the Inquirer columnist’s son Chino, now the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Commissioner, who were also Mandaluyong street players.

Ric sat up and took notice of Mark’s potential when as a boy of eight, he scored 47 of his team’s 56 points in a barangay kids league. The father was convinced he had a future star for a son.

In 1988, Ric left for the US to try his luck overseas. He was a unit short of earning an engineering degree at Feati but figured he had enough education to make a decent living abroad. Ric got a job as a cable TV technician and a year later, called for his family.

Mark, 21, is the oldest of three children. Ric said his other son Richard, 19, also plays hoops and may see action in the PBL. Ronelle, 5, is the youngest in the brood. Ric and wife Remy Yu were childhood sweethearts who knew each other from their elementary school days at Vergara. Remy now works for a Los Angeles company manufacturing heart pacemakers.

Ric, 45, said Mark calls home nearly every night from Manila. "He’s enjoying himself," continued Ric in an interview here. "He’s excited to be playing ball. He’s always talking about how good his teammates are, especially Vergel Meneses and Jun Limpot. Sure, he gets homesick— he misses us and his girlfriend Lita, a Thai who was born in the US But it’s dream come true for him."

Mark has close relatives — Ric’s brother and Remy’s sister — living in Manila so he’s got family close by. Mark stays in a condo on Ortigas and Ginebra provides a car and driver for him to move around.

Ric said Mark was offered a basketball scholarship to play for the University of Hawaii at Hilo but turned it down to play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). At Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles, he averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds to stamp his class as a collegiate prospect. Mark was a two-time MVP and led Eagle Rock to two straight conference titles. He shot 1,154 points in two years to set a new school record. Then, Mark transferred to Glendale Junior College where he was spotted by PBA scouts.

"About three years ago, Ron Jacobs, Derick Pumaren, and Yeng Guiao came over and saw Mark play," recalled Ric. "Ron invited a lot of Fil-Ams, including Ali Peek, for a tryout at South Harbor College and Mark showed up. Of course, Mark was still too young to go to the PBA. Last November, Frankie Lim came and asked Mark to try out in a camp for Fil-Ams at Pasadena College. Frankie took us out for dinner. A month later, Louie Alas arrived and treated us to breakfast. Mobiline was interested. Ginebra, too. So I knew Mark was going to be drafted."

Ric said Mark initially thought of taking up marine biology in college. He recently decided to study physical therapy instead and will likely enroll in a Manila school.

It took a few games before Mark began to show his stuff in the PBA. And Ric said he had to goad him into stepping up. "I told him to be confident of what he can do," related Ric. "Sa Los Angeles, kayang-kaya niya yung mga 6-6 na malalaking Kano. I knew it was just a matter of time before he would explode. He’s a good all-around player—he’s in great physical condition, he knows how to pass, how to dribble, how to shoot, how to play defense. He has tremendous leaping ability. We were so excited when he was named back-to-back best player when Ginebra beat Mobiline and Purefoods. No doubt about it, we’re all proud of him."

What about Mark’s hair?

"Since high school, blondie na si Mark — siya lang ang kumukulay at pumuputol ng buhok niya," said Ric. "I don’t know if he goes to a salon in Manila but here, he used to bleach his own hair every three weeks. You know how kids are these days — they want to establish an identity."

But it isn’t the blond hair that’s made a standout of Mark. It’s his exciting style of play, reminiscent of Samboy Lim and Bong Alvarez in their prime. Mark the Spark, who idolizes Michael Jordan, is the PBA’s latest electrifying act.