All about effort, guidance

When San Miguel Alab assistant coach Danny Seigle speaks about the importance of effort and guidance in propelling a basketball career, he’s talking from experience. Seigle, now 42 and a 16-year PBA veteran, recalls how in high school, he never took a three-point shot. But when he graduated from Wagner College in Staten Island, New York, after four years of playing in the NCAA Division I, Seigle ranked in the top 10 in career three-pointers made in school history.

Wagner coach Tim Capshaw re-oriented Seigle’s game from playing center in high school to becoming a versatile, dominant scorer who could play multiple positions. That meant working extra hours to adjust his shot, creating more backspin with a higher arc to increase the chances of the ball going in from a soft entry. It also meant gaining more confidence in taking the shot from downtown, something that his coach developed with guidance.

“In high school (in Scranton, Pennsylvania), I played 82 games and we lost only three,” says Seigle. “I never took a single three-pointer. We had a streak of 59 straight wins. But despite our record, my brother Andy and I were the only players from our high school to make it to Division I. It’s a fact that only one percent of high school players get to the Division I level so the chances are really slim. Andy and I were fortunate to make it. I went to Wagner and Andy to the University of New Orleans.”

Seigle finished his Wagner career also in the top 10 in career points, field goals and free throws. He was sixth in the school’s all-time scoring ladder. In nine of his last 10 games with the Seahawks varsity, Seigle hit at least 20 points to go out with a bang. He was a two-time Northeast Conference first-team selection. As a senior in 1997-98, Seigle averaged 19.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 29 games. In 2014, Seigle was inducted into the Wagner Sports Hall of Fame.

Capshaw was the Wagner coach from 1989 to 1999. When he joined Wagner in 1989, Capshaw became the youngest Division I coach in basketball at 28. Capshaw never took Wagner to the NCAA Tournament but was named the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year in 1993. He is now a color commentator for the Brooklyn Nets and NBA TV.

In the PBA, Seigle played for San Miguel Beer, Barako Bull and TNT. He was Rookie of the Year in 1999 and ended up playing on eight championship teams with four Finals MVP awards. In three of his 16 PBA seasons, Seigle averaged at least 20 points. 

Aside from Seigle, another example of a player who blossomed with effort and guidance is Alab’s Bobby Ray Parks. “For some reason, Ray-Ray was misunderstood early on,” notes Seigle. “He got a bad rep for being a two-time MVP in the UAAP but couldn’t bring NU to a championship. There were also reports that he had some kind of attitude with Gilas. But at Alab, he’s turned out to be our best local player. Jimmy (Alapag) and I sat down with Ray-Ray when we recruited him. We guided him, showed support and understanding. He’s a two-time local MVP in the ABL and last season, was the Finals MVP. Ray-Ray put in the effort and the results were evident. With Alab, he’s a two-way player. He has a tough post game and doesn’t care if he’s defended by a smaller guy or a bigger guy. He defends imports who’re bigger. He’s quick and coachable. To me, he’s a winner.”

In the ABL this season, defending champion Alab is off to a blazing 5-0 start even if playing with two imports when three are allowed. Alab’s imports are Renaldo Balkman and P. J. Ramos. A third slot is open for Justin Brownlee if ever. At the moment, Alab is steady with Balkman and Ramos to give their teammates a chance for more minutes. Fil-Ams Ethan Alvelo, Caelan Tiongson, Lawrence Domingo and Brandon Rosser are among the beneficiaries of extended minutes. So are PBA veterans Josh Urbiztondo and Pao Javelona. Others in the roster are Thomas Torres, Prince Rivero,  J. R. Alabanza and Chris Sumalinog. Then, of course, there’s Parks.

Seigle says Balkman’s reemergence has been a huge positive for Alab. “He was the ABL’s co-defensive player of the year last season (with Christien Charles) but I thought he should’ve been the only defensive player of the year,” says Seigle. “When we brought him to Alab, I saw how much he wanted to clear his name and return to the PBA.  So when he was approved to come back, I was so happy for him. As for Justin, he’s a class act, a great player, a nice guy off the court. He plans to live in the Philippines and he’s taking out Filipino citizenship in case we want him to play for the national team.”

Aside from his Alab duties, Seigle is helping out the La Salle senior men’s basketball program. Last November, he started working with La Salle’s in-residence players in the gym. It’s the same two things that Seigle is emphasizing in re-energizing the Archers – effort and guidance.