Winning numbers

We continue our story on PBA players who have hidden reasons for sporting the jersey numbers that have become their trademarks. As always, replication and admiration is the main reason. Red Bull’s Mick Pennisi wears 7 because he respected the play of Toni Kukoc, who could do a little of everything. Teammate Junthy Valenzuela sports 10 because, since grade school, he always liked BJ Armstrong. So it seems Red Bull players have an affinity for former Chicago Bulls. Topex Robinson, however, loves Jason Kidd, and wears his trademark number 5.

Barangay Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa used to wear number 4 since high school. "When I’d go to the playground, I’d wear numebr 4," he elaborates. "My Dad wore number 7. So when I got to the PBA, that’s when I combined them to number 47."

Speaking of high numbers, Ginebra’s Andy Seigle wears the uncommon 52.

"I’ve pretty much had that my whole basketball career since high school. I guess I ended up with it because the guards all got the low ones. And as the jersey numbers got higher, they got bigger. So I guess 52 was the biggest they had."

Red Bull’s Davonn Harp also has a a similar practical reason why he started wearing his jersey number.

"I picked number 4 because, when I was in junior high school, all jerseys were just handed out, and only number 4 was the one I could fit in. So that’s when I started. Ever since, that’s the number I wore, up to now."

John Ordonio has his own reasons, although he isn’t wearing the number he wants.

"I wanted 0 because I wanted to remind myself to keep humble. I had the number 7 when I was with Alaska, it was like my lucky number. But when I came to Red Bull, Mick Pennisi had my number. So I got 9. But it seems to be lucky, because we’re doing good."

"My jersey number is 4 because we got EJ Feihl, who wears 32, the number I had with Welcoat," says Alaska’s Willie Wilson. "Rob Duat’s wearing number 5, which I wore in La Salle. So I chose 4, which is the closest number to 5."

Ironically, Duat is in the same predicament.

"Right now, it’s 5. But it was 32 throughout high school and when I played in San Miguel," he explains. "But when I got into Alaska, EJ (Feihl) and I got traded at the same time. He has seniority over me so he got 32. So coach and I figured out what I should get, 3 + 2 is 5."

Aside from fulfilling his older brothers’ dreams of playing pro ball, Rafi Reavis also has a special reason for recalling the number 4.

"Number 4 was worn by a high school teammate of mine who died during a basketball game we had. He was a very great player. So I thought if he lived his life long through basketball... I’m trying to live it for him by wearing # 4."

Talk ‘N Text’s Donbel Belano started wearing the number 42 late in his MBA career, because he became the first player in the league to record a quadruple double, a feat he wants to keep remembering. Backcourt partner Jimmy Alapag dons 3 because that’s the age he started playing the game, and he is also the third son in the family.

For FedEx’s Wynne Arboleda and Sta. Lucia’s Kenneth Duremdes, the number 19 just sort of grew on them, and has brought them fortune. Alaska rookie Bernzon Franco also feels the same way about number 29. Coke’s Jeff Cariaso has a similar sentiment about 22.

But the bottomline is that the jersey is a great trigger device, but it’s still the man in the uniform who makes the number magical.