So it’s understandable, that most if not all of these so-called Welcoat babies are now looking forward to the time when the Welbest franchise formally makes its Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) debut sometime in October.
The list undoubtedly, is a star-studded cast from Romel Adducul, RenRen Ritualo, Don Allado, Yancy de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Ronald Tubid, Anthony Washington, Leomar Najorda, Denok Miranda, Eddie Laure, Celino Cruz, Renato Morano, Gilbert Demape and James Yap
"Boss, aakyat din lang pala kayo sa PBA, sana naghintay na lang ako," the 6-foot-7 de Ocampo said in jest to his former bosses, Welcoat owners Terry Que and Raymund Yu, together with Yu’s mother Margaret, the team’s acknowledged No. 1 cheerer, during the elaborate farewell tribute given by the PBL on one of the most successful teams ever to play in the 24-year history of the league.
De Ocampo, together with Allado and Eugene Tan formed part of the Elasto Painters team that bagged its first ever PBL title with a 3-0 sweep of the Red Bull Energy Drinkers during the 1999 Challenge Cup.
From that time on, the franchise won five more championships in 12 finals appearances, putting the team almost in the same breath as some of the legendary ball clubs in the annals of the PBL such as Magnolia in the 80s and Tanduay in the 90s.
Que and Yu, one of the most successful partnerships local basketball has ever seen, together with Mrs. Yu, were each presented with a jacket by commissioner Chino Trinidad during the hour-long ceremony at the Olivarez College Sports Center, symbolic of the league’s gratitude for the lasting memories the team brought with them in the PBL.
"We’ll never ever forget our PBL days, the time when Welcoat really became a byword in Philippine basketball," said Que and Yu. "If not for the PBL, Welcoat or Rain or Shine will be nothing."
As early as four years ago, Welcoat already signified its intention of joining the pro ranks, at a time when it has in its roster the likes of Adducul, de Ocampo, Laure, Ritualo, Pingris and Cruz.
But the Paint Masters’ entry into the PBA albeit belatedly was eventually turned down, compelling some of their star players to jump into the pro bandwagon earlier and join other ball clubs.
Adducul is now with Barangay Ginebra, Ritualo with Talk ‘N Text together with Washington, Laure is a reserve with Alaska, Yap and Pingris are valuable starters for the Purefoods Giants and Cruz a chief reliever at the Red Bull backcourt.
Washington, Najorda, Tan along with young stalwarts JR Reyes and Jay Sagad as well as veterans Jojo Tangkay and Marvin Ortiguerra were the prominent members of the Rain or Shine team that won the franchise’s last PBL title a 3-1 rout of Montaña Jewels in the 2005 Unity Cup finals.
All three coaches that served as architects of Welcoat’s PBL dynasty were present during the tribute Junel Baculi (four), Leo Austria (one) and Caloy Garcia (one).
Not around were Gabby Velasco and assistant Boyzie Zamar, the two coaching brains who piloted Welcoat to the first PBL VisMin Cup title in 1997 opposite the powerhouse, Fil-Am reinforced Blu Detergent team of Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and Rob Duat.