Something to prove

Alaska forward Robbie Herndon said yesterday it was frustrating to watch the Aces battle in the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals from the sidelines and he would’ve wanted to do his share in the Aces’ farewell game against NLEX at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Saturday. Herndon twisted his left ankle after elevating for a layup and landing on Phoenix import Du’Vaughn Maxwell’s foot in the third quarter of the Aces’ 104-99 loss last March 3. The Fil-Am had 17 points and five rebounds when he went down.

“My time frame was four weeks from when it happened,” he said. “It’s a lot better now. I’m back running and jogging.” Herndon sat out the Aces’ last three games. His Alaska contract expired last August but was extended until the end of this season like most of his teammates. When news broke out that Alaska would leave the PBA, Herndon said it was a shocker.

“A lot of hearsay so I didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “Everyone was anxious, not knowing what would happen. There was talk of a new owner coming in or a dispersal draft. I’m grateful to Alaska for giving me a chance. I just hope the new owner takes care of the guys, especially the ball boys. Right now, we’re all in unknown space. We don’t know who’ll get signed. My first and foremost priority is to play in the PBA. I know I have lots more to show. I’ve watched the Japan B.League and it’s a cool atmosphere. But I’d like to stay in the PBA. I still have something to prove.” Herndon is preparing to visit his folks in the US over the weekend. “It’s been over two years since I’ve visited my family, my grandmother, my sister, my nephew and niece whom I’ve missed seeing grow up,” he said.

Herndon said losing import Olu Ashaolu for the playoffs was tough. “Olu was nursing chronic injuries and wasn’t 100 percent,” he said. “Management brought in Mark St. Fort who arrived two days before his first game. Mark was still jet-lagged when we won over NLEX in our first quarters game. In our second, he took only two attempts the entire first half. At practice, Mark was near perfect from three points so I knew he could shoot. At halftime, he told me the defense was all over him and couldn’t get off a shot. I told him as an import he had to find a way to score, to be aggressive. He tried to come back in the second half but it was too late.”

Herndon said he’s hoping things will work out. “I’m 28 and in the Philippines, that’s young for basketball but I’m coming close to 30 and I’d like to be able to showcase my full potential in the next few years,” he said. “I know I can do a lot more.” Herndon was Alaska’s second leading local scorer this conference, averaging 10.3 points in nine games, including five starts.