Alex’ birthday wish

Welcoat playing assistant coach Alex Compton would’ve liked to celebrate his 33rd birthday last Friday with a Dragons win over Barangay Ginebra in a PBA game at the Big Dome.

The Dragons came tantalizingly close to pulling an upset but the Gin Kings held on to win, 99-97. Compton hit 14 of his 21 points in the fourth period as Welcoat almost made it two wins in a row after a 114-104 decision over Sta. Lucia Realty last Sunday.

Despite the setback, there are positive signs that point to Welcoat’s emerging presence as a serious contender. The Dragons brought up the rear in their first PBA appearance in the last conference with a lowly 3-15 record.

"I think, now we’re capable of beating anybody," said Compton, born here in 1974 when his parents James and Carol were Peace Corps volunteers. "We lacked identity last conference. We didn’t know who was our leader, who was our go-to guy, who would step up in the end-game."

Compton credited coach Leo Austria for getting things in order.

"Coach Leo is patient and a very capable Xs and Os guy," said Compton who played on two MBA title squads and was the 2005 PBL finals MVP. "He’s a good coach to start a franchise with. He’s a players coach. At the end of games, I overhear the opposing coaches congratulate him for his defensive rotation and the way he runs the offense. He’ll tell you it’s okay to shoot if you’re open. He’s not a screamer. He’ll motivate you to improve. You’ll get your playing time if you step up and make plays. The guys have adjusted to his system and it’s showing in the way we’re playing."

Compton said import Charles Clark of Johnson C. Smith University has made a big difference, too.

"Chuck doesn’t fit the mold of an import," said the 5-10 1/2 Compton. "He doesn’t dunk, doesn’t talk trash. He’s not flashy. He’s a good, quiet gentleman. We all like him. He plays hard, can score around the basket and he’s getting better."

Clark, 23, is fresh out of school in North Carolina and is playing for his first commercial club ever. He played two years at J. C. Smith after transferring from Spartanburg Methodist. Clark majored in communication arts and plans to become a sports radio talk show host.

Compton, the youngest of three boys, played two years at St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia (Norman Black’s alma mater) and two years at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He gained a reputation in the NCAA Division I for his sweet-shooting stroke and deft ballhandling.

As a West High School (Madison, Wisconsin) senior in 1991-92, Compton averaged 18.9 points and 8.6 assists. He shot .514 from the field and hit 53 triples. At St. Joseph’s, Compton collected only two turnovers and hit .833 from the line in 19 games in his freshman year. He was a popular honor student on campus. In his second year, he broke a nose and wore a protective mask until the end of the season.

Compton redshirted to gain eligibility at Cornell and in his junior year, averaged 11.2 points and 2.7 assists for the Big Red varsity under coach Al Walker. He shot .363 from three-point distance. Against Yale, Compton buried 9-of-11 treys and scored 38 points, the third highest single-game total in Cornell history. As a senior in 1996-97, Compton averaged 11.9 points and hit .425 from three-point range. A teammate was named Scott Filippini – an ominous sign because after graduation, Compton decided to settle in the Philippines.

Compton learned of the PBA from Cornell assistant coach Tyrone Pitts who once played in the PBL. Pitts told him about Johnny Abarrientos.

"Johnny was the first PBA player I got to know about," said Compton. "I look up to him. He’s got 12 titles. He’s a fellow point guard. He’s a leader. He’s smart, talented and quick. The other guy I respect a lot is Olsen Racela who has 10 titles. I think Johnny’s and Olsen’s leadership and decision-making are unsurpassed in the PBA."

Compton’s parents met in Thailand where they were Peace Corps volunteers. They both earned their doctorate degrees at the University of Michigan and also did volunteer work in Laos. His father is an agricultural expert while his mother is a linguist. His oldest brother Ben is the Brent basketball coach at Mamplasan, Laguna. The Compton brothers love it here and built a home in Boracay.

Compton is single. Since moving here in 1998, he has had several girlfriends, including Filipinas.

"It’s probably time for me to get married and raise a family," said Compton, a devout Christian. "But I leave that up to God. I haven’t found the right girl yet."

At the moment, Compton is counting his blessings because after years of hoping and waiting, the Lord has finally answered his prayer of playing in the PBA.

"If Welcoat wins the championship, it’ll be a real Cinderella story," said Compton. "In the last Fiesta Conference, Air21 made it to the Final Four with Shawn Daniels and nobody expected the team to go that far. We don’t know how far we’ll go but anything’s possible."

Faith in the Lord works wonders, said Compton.