Life after hoops

Eric Quiday was the Most Valuable Player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1990. The crack guard led Perpetual Help College of Rizal to a pair of second-place finishes in the NCAA and was Bong Hawkins’ teammate on the Altas varsity.

From Perpetual, Quiday suited up for several teams in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL). He played for Bogs Adornado at Crispa, Francis Rodriguez at Magnolia, Nemie Villegas and Mollet Pineda at Burger Machine, and Joel Banal at Chowking. Quiday got better at each stop, gaining valuable experience along the way.

In 1991, Quiday was on the Crispa squad that faced China in a Davao City exhibition. For Quiday, it was the closest thing to seeing action as a national player. He joined Atoy Co, resurrected from retirement because of the Redmanizers’ depleted lineup, in battling the Chinese who were bannered by Gong Xiaobin, Adiljan, Sun Jun, Song Ligang, Shan Tao, Zhang Yongjun, and Wang Fei. China won, 104-66.

Among Quiday’s Crispa teammates that year were Max Delantes, Johnny Abarrientos, Victor Pablo, Gil (Tatang) Lumberio, Kevin Ramas, Jun Jabar, Jojo Lim, Allan Garrido, and Felix Duhig.

In the 1994 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) draft, Quiday was picked on the third round by Shell after Cris Bade and Eric Gascon. But his stint in the pros was short-lived. Quiday played in only two games and scored two points before suffering a meniscal tear in his right knee.

The injury shattered Quiday’s dream of making it big in hoops.

It was while dressing up after practice that Quiday noticed his knee felt funny. There was no pain but Quiday knew something was wrong. Later that same day, the knee swelled. An MRI later revealed the tear. Quiday didn’t undergo surgery and while he took a rest from playing, was offered by Ric Lara, who served two terms as Shell representative to the PBA Board of Governors, to work for the Toyota dealership in Alabang.

Lara, a Cavite native like Quiday, was Chairman of the company that owned Toyota Alabang.

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Today, Quiday is the Service Manager at Toyota Alabang. He’s married with two children, a 5-5 son who’s 13 and a daughter who’s six. The Quidays live in Bacoor. Lara passed away after a lingering illness last year and is remembered for his golden heart. For sure, Quiday will never forget Lara’s kindness.

Life after hoops has been good to Quiday. The PBA couldn’t provide Quiday the security for a future. The knee injury brought a sad ending to a budding pro career. So when Lara’s offer came, Quiday said he welcomed the opportunity. Hard work eventually paid off for Quiday as he rose from the ranks at Toyota Alabang.

When not at work, Quiday spends time with his family or plays pick-up neighborhood games. At work, he sometimes bumps into Shell coach Perry Ronquillo, Jerry Codiñera, Jolly Escobar (before he moved out of Parañaque) and Jun Limpot who bring their cars in for servicing. Olsen Racela, a buddy from way back, is a textmate.

Quiday is a big PBA fan and watches all the games on TV. He also keeps abreast of the latest developments in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

On the recent Commissioner’s Cup Finals, Quiday said Antonio Lang was the perfect import for Red Bull. He noted Lang’s long arms which he used for defense and in grabbing rebounds and his composure under pressure, never rushing his shots and passing to open teammates. In contrast, San Miguel Beer’s Nate Johnson was far too inexperienced to make a difference, he added.

His model import is someone like Allen Iverson who’ll never hesitate to take the big shot or figure in a big play. "Kita mo sa mga mata ni Iverson – kaya niyang dalhin ng buo ang kanyang team," said Quiday.

In the Third Conference, Quiday said San Miguel is likely to use more offensive options – including the pick-and-roll–because import Lamont Strothers is a veteran who knows how to win. He said San Miguel could’ve used a slasher like a Kenneth Duremdes or a Rodney Santos to challenge Red Bull’s defense in the recent Finals.

Quiday said among the Fil-Ams, he’s impressed with Mark Caguioa and Ali Peek who, he mentioned, sets the meanest picks in the league.

On the NBA, Quiday said he prefers Michael Jordan not to come back to preserve his legendary status.

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Quiday’s only regret as a player was he retired too soon – before the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) got off the ground. "Too bad wala pa yung MBA noon," he said.

From his previous coaches, Quiday said he learned a lot of lessons. Adornado taught him how to play offense and Rodriguez, defense. He said Rodriguez was an unforgiving drillmaster – never a light workout in practices, the only thing light was the uniform. Quiday recalled that he played on the first-ever Chowking squad with Poch Juinio and Jay Mendoza in 1993.

As for his knee, Quiday said it doesn’t act up if he holds his weight down to 180 pounds. If he’s overweight, fluid swells up the gimpy knee. So his solution is to stay in shape.

Quiday, 33, is an example of a former PBA player who has made good through hard work and clean living.