Wood the improbable import

If you look at Purefoods import David Wood’s scoring stats in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup, you wouldn’t be impressed. He’s averaging 20.4 points–the lowest among imports, excluding Alaska’s Sean Chambers who shot 15 in his only game so far as Terrance Badgett’s interim sub. Sure, Wood’s hitting a lofty 87 percent from the line and a creditable 48 percent from the floor but his three-point clip of 15.4 percent is atrocious.

But there’s more to Wood’s game than just scoring. Much more. He’s grabbing 16.7 rebounds a game–tops in the conference–and dishing off close to five assists an outing. Wood does so many other things that don’t show up in the stats sheet–like breaking up plays, making penetrators change their shot, diving for loose balls, and setting immovable picks.

To the Tender Juicy Hot Dogs, Wood is a God-send. He’s an inspiration to the team. Wood works hard, practices what he preaches, and never looks out for himself–he’d rather look out for others.

In the Basketball Almanac is an apt description of Wood’s game: "Plays with a lot of heart and helps his teammates look better …hustles, makes sound decisions, plays defense, rebounds, and is not afraid to mix it up …will come to work every night–(he’s) not afraid to do the dirty work on the court."

Wood’s blue-collar attitude led to spots on eight National Basketball Association (NBA) teams in seven seasons. In 1990-91, he earned $300,000 as a parttime starter playing 82 games for the Houston Rockets. In 1992-93, Wood bankrolled $375,000 with the San Antonio Spurs. In 1993-94, his Detroit Pistons paycheck was $488,000. So in three of his seven years in the majors, Wood pocketed over $1 Million–not bad for a white journeyman who didn’t get a single NCAA Division 1 scholarship offer after graduating from high school.

In the PBA, Wood isn’t coach Eric Altamirano’s No. 1 offensive option. And he doesn’t mind. In fact, he prefers to take a backseat to the locals. He’s content being a role player. It’s no wonder that in three of the Hot Dogs’ six wins in the elims, Wood wasn’t the top scorer. Altamirano doesn’t build the offense around Wood–he’s just a piece in the puzzle. And that’s why jelling hasn’t been a problem for Purefoods.

"There’s no ‘i’ in team," says Wood after the Hot Dogs upset Red Bull, 85-75, to book the No. 2 quarterfinals seat last Wednesday.

Unlike most imports, Wood is no ego-tripper. Everything he does–on and off the court–is for the Lord’s greater glory. When he finally hangs up his sneakers, Wood says he’ll become a full-time evangelist. A devout Christian, he made a vow when he was 12 to read the Bible every day for at least 10 minutes.

In signing autographs, Wood scribbles John 3:16 beside his name. In the Bible, John 3:16 says: "Yes, God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whoever believes in Him may not be lost but may have eternal life."

Wood says it was God’s will that he and wife Angie got married in 1989–they share the same birthdate, Nov. 30, 1964. Their children are named after Biblical characters–Caleb, 6, Josiah, 4, and Moses, 2.

Wood is far from thinking about retiring. He’s just been offered a two-year extension of his contract in the Spanish league which begins in September. "I don’t feel I’m 36 at all," says Wood. "My body fat has gone down from 11 to six percent. I feel younger and I’m running faster." He considers it a blessing from God that he’s still able to play top-level hoops at his age.

Experience is something Wood has plenty of. He’s faced the likes of Larry Bird–his idol, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Rolando Blackman–who once took a swipe at him for his pesky defense and was fined $2,000 plus meted a one-game suspension, Horace Grant and of course, Michael Jordan.

Against Bird, Wood recalls that the Boston Celtics legend used to take a few steps back to goad him into shooting from outside–which he did and often missed. He says Xavier McDaniel, then playing for Seattle, once scorched him in a matchup–a night after he was burned out logging 32 minutes against Portland.

As for eccentric teammates, Wood singles out Hakeem Olajuwon and Greg (Cadillac) Anderson. "When Hakeem was named one of Gentlemen’s Quarterly’s top five best dressed athletes, I congratulated him but he told me he was the No. 1 best dressed athlete," he relates. "Then he lectured about how clothes should fall and how the material’s the thing. He looked at what I was wearing and told me my silk pants didn’t match my cotton shirt. Oh, well. Cadillac? He wore outrageous clothes–like a Crocodile Dundee jacket on yellow leather pants and a black shirt."

What about Jordan? "He’s a great trash talker but backs up what he says," replies Wood. "I was a rookie when I played with Michael for Chicago. Once, he ordered me to carry his bags. So I talked to someone in management to find out if I had to do it and I was told I didn’t. Next time, Michael ordered me to carry his bags, I told him what the organization said. He barked back, ‘I am the organization.’ Still, I didn’t end up carrying his bags. But I was real nervous for a while.

In the Continental league, Wood recalls locking horns with ex-San Miguel import Terquin Mott. "He’d curse me every game so one day, I told myself I wouldn’t take it anymore and when he cursed me again, I told him let’s do it, him and me, right there," he says. "Mott spat at me and got ejected. I played him again in Spain this year. He’s mellowed. I understand he’s found the Lord. God bless him."

Wood credits his agent Kyle Rote, Jr., an ex-soccer star, for opening doors in his career. Rote also represents pros Scottie Pippen, Clarence Weatherspoon, and Grant.

Wood says the PBA is "a great league." He hopes to play here next year if Altamirano invites him back.

Wood enjoys talking about his teammates. Noy Castillo, he says, could play in the NBA especially since there will be a premium for three-point shooters with no illegal defense next season. He points to "Cap"–Alvin Patrimonio–as the Hot Dogs’ leader, E. J. Fiehl as "a big help on defense," Rey Evangelista and Yee for their all-court hustle, Boyet Fernandez for his scrappy play, and so on down the line. He’s excited about Andy Seigle rejoining the Hot Dogs in the quarters.

Wood says San Miguel is the favorite to win the Second Conference crown because it’s well-coached, talented, and extremely motivated. But with Altamirano the "Miracle Worker" and Wood on Purefoods’ side, anything can happen.