Who cast the largest shadows that darkened the sport, and who shone the brightest lights of them all? Here they are, in no particular order.
Ryan Gregorio and Chot Reyes. Similar yet distinct paths to the top. In his first attempt, Ryan Gregorio stepped into the huge shoes of Eric Altamirano, who was loaned to the Philippine Team for the Asian Games. Gregorio went about his work without any assistant coaches, either, save for sophomore player Mon Jose, whose career on the court has just started. Because of the player drain, even Ronnie Magsanoc had to join Alvin Patrimonio on the hardwood for one big go-around. The result? Purefoods’ first title in five years.
For Reyes, it was a case of building without a full load of bricks. Five, count ‘em, five of his players were depleted by the Philippine team, leaving him with hardly any bench. To top it all off, he suffered injuries to gunner Estong Ballesteros and good luck charm Chris Bolado. Add to that trying to blend in a diverse mix of talented but raw recruits, and you could imagine how daunting it was. However, the exposure of the bench gave them strength, and resulted in the fastest ascent to the PBA’s zenith, for the Coca-Cola Tigers.
Johnny Abarrientos. Did anyone have a more dismal year than Johnny Abarrientos? First, he suffered a knee injury which took longer to heal than expected. Then, in losing weight to heal faster, he is accused of using drugs behind his back. But only in whispers, mind you. Then, the Flying A backs out of the RP Team for reasons only he knows. Lastly, just as he leads his undermanned Coca-Cola to victory in Game 1 of the All-Filipino Cup finals, his face is smashed in by a wayward elbow. No foul called.
Joel Banal and the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Nobody believed it could be done, least of all with a rookie coach who had to go through the wringer just to get the job. But Banal, a "frustrated Atenean," proved he could scale the mountain, both as prophet and coach. He bucked injuries to key players Magnum Membrere and Bugs Bugia to carve out a dramatic championship over the mighty De la Salle Green Archers, ending both a fourteen-year drought and a four-year dynasty.
Jun Bernardino and Noli Eala. Coming and going. Against his will, Jun Bernardino’s tenure as perhaps the most amiable and beloved PBA commissioner was ended by his deteriorating health. His legacy will be one of great diplomacy and increased public citizenry on the part of the PBA. His successor, Noli Eala, carries the responsibility of adapting the league to changing times. His expertise in the law, marketing and television will serve him in good stead.
Bill Bayno and BCAP. Was there ever anyone who so brazenly stepped into a league and decided he would do things his way and no other? Bayno spoke his truth when he saw fit, the heavens be damned. His inadvertent row with the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines has lit a fire that sits simmering until today. It will also shape the way business is done with foreign coaches in the future.
Joe Lipa. Firebrand turned father of a league. Lipa’s clout helped brew the Champions’ League, turning an experiment into a credible tournament format. The top sixteen college teams squared off, and revealed the lack of parity between Metro Manila and the rest of the Philippines. Yet, it also showed how knowledge could be shared, and may help homogenize the different styles of local basketball.
Jong Uichico, Davonn Harp and Danny Seigle. Who knows how differently things would have turned out if Jong Uichico had Ron Jacobs there, not to mention Davonn Harp and Danny Seigle? We’d probably be singing their praises and hoisting our beer mugs to a gold medal in Busan. Then again, we will never know. Uichico, who never wanted the job (and certainly doesn’t want it again) trudged on, under-equipped and constantly adjusting, expressing his grief only privately, and never being publicly acknowledged for the good job he did of managing egos and getting superstar swell heads on the same page. As for Harp and Seigle, each was considered the best player on the team, stats or spiritwise. What difference they could have made will forever be speculation.
The San Beda Red Cubs. How many championships has it been for Ato Badolato? Another challenge met, another championship party. the dynasty that began roughly three decades ago continues. No matter the opposition, no matter the change in roster, Badolato’s boys find a way to win. Too bad the same can’t be said of our other teams.
The UV Green Lancers and UE Red Warriors. The who? The dominant team in the south. The University of the Visayas has swallowed up everything from collegiate tournaments on their turf to the Asian Adidas Streetball Challenge. their schedule was often so hectic, they sometimes shuttled from one tournament to another. But Boy Cabahug’s gang continued to win, even cracking the top four of the Champions’ League, no mean feat in itself. And of course, special mention must be made of Boycie Zamar’s Red Warriors. Long toiling in the shadows of Ateneo and La Salle, they finally won two major tournaments, the Showdown for Bantay Bata, and the aforementioned Champions League. Nobody is going to take them lightly next year.
Sen. Robert Barbers and Sen. John Osmeña. Hoping their investigation will be nothing more than a footnote in sports history, well-intentioned Sen. Robert Barbers has come to the succour of grousing local players. By January, he has promised to unmask false Fil-Ams, and prove that he means business.
Disinterested, he has the capability to back it up, too. Sen. John Osmeña, meanwhile, not only pursues the fraudulent Filipino pros, he also managed to get the headstart over his political rivals by putting up his own basketball team in the PBL. A stroke worthy of the most astute political strategists.
Who will step into the limelight in 2003? The next twelve months will tell.