Walking away …in love

Times are definitely hard in basketball. Competition is so fierce, more than forty pros found themselves unemployed. Many chose retirement, sitting on the sidelines with diminished hopes for the future. Some dropped back down to the PBL, swallowing their pride to try out for amateur teams again. Others, regardless of their age, have opted to try out for the teams of retired PBA players that San Miguel Corporation is putting together. Sad.

It is therefore so striking that two people who have had flourishing careers in the sport decided to walk away from it. In times of relative plenty, they have turned away from what may have given them substantial remuneration and personal satisfaction to start a life away from the game…together.

Jeff Flowers was the 6-8 starting center of the FedEx Laguna Lakers in the MBA, and last season transferred to the Olongapo Volunteers. The soft-spoken giant was one of only three players to average double figures in points and rebounds throughout his career. Separated from scoring machine Chris Clay at Olongapo, Flowers led the Volunteers to the top of the league, where they threatened perennial favorites Batangas, Negros and Cebu.

Flowers tried out for the Philippine team to the Asian Games, but pulled out after a couple of months.

Chiqui Lucindo was a budding sports broadcaster, who tried out for the UAAP broadcasts. She received a call to do the MBA games instead. A disc jockey and student, her fierce spirit and intensity caught the attention of many, including Jeff Flowers.

"I was playing for FedEx, and she was doing the games," Flowers smiles. "And I took notice. And she, well, she didn’t care that I was talking to her."

Undaunted, Flowers gently took pursuit, and the unlikely romance between the tall, tough morena and gargantuan gentleman started to bud, then bloom. Refreshingly enough, they surprised each other, revealing their not-so-obvious attractions.

"It was his sense of humor," Chiqui admits. "And his ability to carry on an intellectual conversation. That’s very important to me."

"She challenged me in way I had never been challenged before, especially in relationships," Flowers confessed. And he liked it.

The quickly growing affection prompted the two to decide to get married last year, and make a big decision, that of walking away from the game that had brought them together. It was not an easy decision, more so with Chiqui giving birth to their first child any time now.

"Even though basketball can provide a living, and a very good one at that, there is also risk involved," Jeff says, speaking from the experience of having been hacked and bumped and beaten on by many smaller players, and players his remarkable size, as well. "So we decided it would be better for me to not play the game anymore."

Now, the couple has set up house and is building their young future together. Chiqui has decided to become a full-time mother, and Jeff is looking to finishing his Master’s degree. In the meantime, he is organizing the "Learn the Game" training program of Detlef Schrempf with a former college teammate. The twelve-year NBA veteran will be conducting training sessions in Manila, Batangas and other places, and is planning on bringing coaches from the camps to the US to train. For this writer in particular, it was an unusual sight to meet Flowers dressed for business, not in sweats or shorts and sneakers.

"I still love the game, still watch it, but the fire to play it isn’t there anymore," he says.

"I can see how responsible Jeff is, and he’ll make a great father," Chiqui reveals.

And the feeling is mutual.

"I look forward to raising our children together, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you," he tells her openly.

Chiqui and Jeff prove that there is life after basketball. And with each other as teammates, there is no way they can lose.

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