The perfect irony

Strange but true. Apparently, Talk ‘N Text has no room in its roster for reserve guard Kenny Evans who ironically, enjoyed a breakout conference before the Phone Pals were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Samsung Governors Cup.

Phone Pals team manager Frankie Lim told The STAR yesterday that Evans’ one-conference contract has expired. Will he be rehired? It depends on the kind of lineup that coach Bill Bayno decides to form for the Commissioner’s Cup, said Lim. Bayno left Manila last Friday and is in the US scouting for imports. Jerald Honeycutt may be back but probably not Richie Frahm for the Second Conference, added Lim. Bayno, who signed a one-year contract, is expected here late this month.

As for Evans, he’s now a free agent.

Evans’ agent Bobby Rius, a Filipino based in San Mateo, California, sent The STAR an e-mail the other day confirming preliminary talks with Bayno.

"I know Bayno loves the kid and he even told me that Kenny is worth three times the money he’s making," said Rius. "Kenny can bring a lot of excitement in the PBA, especially among the Cebuano fans."

How much was Evans paid for playing in the Governors Cup? Lim said it’s confidential and could only say, "not much."

Rius said Bayno promised to call him last weekend so they could talk about Evans’ future. Yesterday, Rius e-mailed to say that Bayno never called.

Evans, 28, is itching to play. Of course, he’d like to continue playing for the Phone Pals. Bayno showed a lot of confidence in him especially when Ibet Demape got hurt. But with Patrick Fran back from the national pool and Felix Belano hopping aboard from Sta. Lucia Realty in the Gherome Ejercito trade, Evans looks like the odd guy out.

"I played okay," said Evans, referring to his performance in the First Conference where he averaged 7.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 24 minutes in 13 games, including two starts. "I showed what I’m capable of doing with playing time. All I need is to get my feet a little wet. I can adjust to any kind of playing style. When I played at Alaska, I learned the triangle and you know that’s difficult to learn. In the US, I played for teams that ran and played the halfcourt so I’m comfortable either way."

Evans said he’d rather forget about his Alaska stop. "I wasn’t happy and I asked to be traded," he related. "I guess they weren’t happy with me, too. So I decided to get out. It was best for both sides."

What about the rumors that he flunked a drug test?

"Not true," he replied. "My leaving Alaska had nothing to do with any drug test. I left because the situation called for it."

At Alaska, Evans averaged two points and seven minutes in 17 games. He hit 20.8 percent from two-point range but a respectable 35.3 percent from three-point distance. Evans was a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. At Talk ‘N Text, he shot 45.2 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from the stripe. Evans played with confidence and proved his toughness under pressure, unafraid to take the big shot. Sometimes, he was out of control–he has a tendency to be flashy–but more often that not, he was in sync. One thing about Evans, he looked to pass first before shooting. And when he had an open shot, he calmly knocked it down. In Talk ‘N Text’s 101-90 win over FedEx last April 20, Evans tallied a career-high 22 points.

Evans said he dreams of playing for a championship team. "That’s what it’s all about–winning a ring," he continued. "I hope to play for a team that can use me and can go all the way–whatever team that is."

Before moving to the PBA, Evans saw action for the Cebu Gems in the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA). He called it "an incredible experience." Evans said the MBA prepared him for the PBA.

"I’ll always remember the MBA fondly," he said. "Because of the home-and-away format, I got to see a lot of the country. Everywhere, the fans were great, especially in Cebu. The games were fast-paced so I liked that, too."

Evans traces his Filipino roots to Cebu. His Filipina mother Arlinda Base was born in Cebu and studied at San Nicolas Elementary, University of San Carlos, and the Cebu Institute of Technology. Her cousins, the Aquinos, own an engineering company in Cebu. She migrated to the US after graduation and currently works as a civil service secretary at Vanderberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, California.

Evans’ father Leon is a car salesman. His parents were introduced to each other by a mutual friend in Lompoc. Evans has an older brother Racine, 33, who works for the US Army as a recruiter. His brother is his mother’s only child from a previous marriage.

Evans’ father recently underwent a seven-way heart bypass, is recovering, and hopes to fly to Manila late this year to watch his son play. The problem is at the moment, his son has no team to play for.

"According to his dad, Kenny was the most inspirational player on all the teams he played for in the States–Lompoc High, Allan Hancock College and San Francisco State–and was a very good kid," said Rius. "His father told me Kenny always dreamed of being a big star. His mother called Kenny her ‘comic’ son, always joking around. Her message to Kenny has always been God first before basketball and never forget to pray."

Evans lives alone in an apartment in Mandaluyong. He’s on his own now that his Talk ‘N Text contract is over.

Last year, he went back to the US after his Alaska exit. Early this year, he returned to try out for the Phone Pals when he heard of Bayno’s arrival. Evans landed a one-conference contract as a walk-on since Talk ‘N Text had a spot open in the backcourt because of Fran’s absence.

Evans is in limbo. He doesn’t know what the future holds for him. He played beyond expectations in the First Conference and averaged 13.3 points in his last four games. Evans is the perfect irony. It’s summertime and he’s out in the cold.