Tears of Joy

If you ask Don Allado is he’s a Mama’s boy, he probably won’t hesitate to say yes and he’ll say it proudly. That’s because his mother Joy Crisostomo Allado, a former Maryknoll (now Miriam College) varsity basketball player, is his biggest fan. From when he was a little kid, Joy and husband Caloy (another former varsity cager with UP) doted on Don. Now that Don has a life of his own with wife Maricar de Mesa, his parents continue to shower him with love and affection. Not that Caloy and Joy play favorites with their children who happen to be three boys. They’re just as caring with Brian, 35, and Drew, 23. It’s just that Don is in the public spotlight as a two-time UAAP MVP and a PBA veteran. Brian, by the way, is a biology major and works in Los Angeles with a company that specializes in customizing wheelchairs. Drew is enrolling in law school, also in Los Angeles, this schoolyear.

Last Sunday, Don stood head and shoulders above everyone in leading La Salle to a 117-104 victory over Ateneo in a charity game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. At 34, he was the most senior player on the court but didn’t show his age in compiling 23 points and seven rebounds. Coincidentally, his PBA career single-game high is 23 points which he scored with Alaska in 2003. Don was almost unstoppable and once, after hitting a basket, did a Tim Tebow impersonation by genuflecting on his right knee with his left hand on his forehead like The Thinker.

The game featured PBA players from both schools so the lineups were star-studded. The Archers, coached by Franz Pumaren, listed Allado, Mac-Mac Cardona, Jvee Casio, Joseph Yeo, Ryan Arana, Rico Maierhofer, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Mike Cortez, J. R. Aquino, Carlo Sharma and Jerwin Gaco. T. Y. Tang and Willy Wilson were suited up but didn’t play because of injuries. Coach Norman Black’s Eagles were L. A. Tenorio, Rico Villanueva, Japeth Aguilar, Larry Fonacier, J. C. Intal, Doug Kramer, Eric Salamat, Noy Baclao, Magnum Membrere, Rich Alvarez and Paolo Bugia.

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Since entering the PBA with Alaska in 1999, Don has moved to Talk ‘N’ Text, Purefoods, Air 21, back to Talk ‘N’ Text, back to Purefoods/B-Meg and finally, to Barako Bull. Last season, he averaged 4.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 16.8 minutes in 37 games, with eight starts, for the Llamadoes. This past conference in his 13th season, Don hit at a 6.6 clip for the Bulls, scoring at least nine points in eight of his 15 outings.

“Don dominated,” said his father Caloy, referring to La Salle’s victory. “It was a redeeming factor for him. He showed that at his age, he can still get the job done. There’s no doubt in my mind that he can play in the PBA for three or four more years. He’s disciplined, he’s a hard worker and he’s a warrior.”

Caloy said Don’s contract with Barako expires in August. “He’s happy where he is,” said Caloy. “He’d like to continue playing for Barako. But of course, he’s open to other options that will benefit his future and career.”

Caloy and Joy were in the stands cheering for their son last Sunday. “I was just thrilled beyond words,” said Joy. “It took me down memory lane again to watch my son play for his school. He was the oldest of all the players but my son prevailed over the other younger guys. Truly, they called him the King Archer of La Salle. Alam mo naman ako, mababaw lang ang luha ko and when the La Salle crowd called him King Archer, tulo talaga ang luha ko. Tears of Joy, literally and figuratively.”

Joy jokingly said as Don’s mother, she’s entitled to bragging rights. “You could just hear me cheering ‘That’s my boy,’” she said. And as she cheered her lungs out, Don must have looked her way as if to say, “That’s my Mom.”

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Smart Gilas assistant coach Jude Roque was a co-emcee with Calvin Millado and Alex Gonzaga in the rousing program that highlighted the San Beda College homecoming last Feb. 4, the school’s “red-letter” day, at the Mendiola campus. Could it be the start of a second career for Jude?

The homecoming hosts were the silver jubilarian high school class of ’87 with Jude as member and the golden jubilarian high school class of ’62 with no less than PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan as batch member.

According to Jude, the program started with an opening number by Rico Blanco and his band followed by the introduction of the silver and golden jubilarians then came performers Elmo and Arkin Magalona (sons of late Bedan Francis M) with the Manueovers, Tuesday Vargas, Rachelle Ann Go, Meg Imperial, Lovi Poe, K Brosas, Wendy Valdez and Iwa Moto. The climax featured Jet Pangan and the Dawn belting out the theme song “Pagbabalik (Sa San Beda).” Rowell Santiago directed the show with DJ Boyet Almazan.

Among those who attended the homecoming were MVP, Jude’s batchmate Palawan Gov. Baham Mitra, Sports Hall of Famer and Olympic basketball player Tony Genato, Batangas Rep. Tom Apacible, former Bulacan Rep. Boji Cabochan, former President Estrada’s oldest son Jojo Ejercito, former Department of Health Secretary Jimmy Galvez-Tan, former NSO Administrator Tomas Africa, Red Lion legend Dave Brodett, former SGV head Manny Reyes and City of Manila Administrator Jay Marzan.