Back to the salt mines

Today marks the start of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Selecta All-Filipino Cup at the Araneta Coliseum and 15 national players, except the injured Danny Seigle, return to their mother clubs in a much-awaited homecoming after a 10-month leave of absence.

Three veterans of the recent Asian Games are making their debuts on new teams after offseason trades. Former Tanduay guard Jeffrey Cariaso joins Coca-Cola in a reunion with Busan teammate Rudy Hatfield. Eric Menk, who also played for Tanduay last campaign, suits up for Barangay Ginebra to bolster the Kings’ frontline. And Dondon Hontiveros, another ex-Tanduay stalwart, sees action for San Miguel Beer.

No imports are allowed in the traditionally season-opening All-Filipino, pushed back as the Third Conference to soften the impact of the absence of the national players. The only exception to the rule could be Talk ‘N Text coach Paul Woolpert, if he obtains a work permit from the Department of Labor and Employment. Although Americans, Alaska coach Tim Cone and Sta. Lucia Realty coach Norman Black are not considered "imports" because they’re long-time local residents and married to Filipinas.

Woolpert, 42, coached the Yakima Sun Kings to the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) title in the year 2000. Among the Kings on the championship squad were former PBA imports Rosell Ellis, Silas Mills, and Kevin Holland. He worked five years in the CBA before deciding to take the Talk ‘N Text job. His father Phil piloted the University of San Francisco Dons to back-to-back NCAA crowns in 1955 and 1956.

It was the elder Woolpert who recruited Filipino Gerry Cruz to play for the San Francisco varsity in 1959. Cruz, a celebrated Hall of Famer who now works for Bukidnon Gov. Jose Zubiri, said Woolpert and assistant Ross Giudice brought him to the Dons training camp. Some of Cruz’ teammates were Al Dunbar, Boston Celtic legend Bill Russell’s brother Charles, John Cunningham and Dave Lillevand.

Cruz, however, never got to play a game in the NCAA. Unlike his teammates, Cruz was segregated to live with undertakers on top of a mortuary about 200 meters from the San Francisco campus. His living conditions were almost inhuman. He was given a semestral stipend of $200 and it was hardly enough to pay for his food. Cruz was shabbily treated by Woolpert and his ilk. When Ysmael Steel owner Baby Ysmael learned of Cruz’ plight, he immediately sent a plane ticket for him to go home. After two months of training without ever playing a game for the Dons, Cruz packed his bags for Manila and accepted Ysmael’s offer to suit up for the Steelers. He’d had enough of Woolpert.

How ironic that 43 years later, Woolpert’s son is here being treated to a warm welcome by his gracious Filipino hosts.

Today’s inaugural twinbill pits San Miguel Beer versus FedEx and Ginebra versus Purefoods. Both games should be humdingers.

National coach Joseph Uichico returns to the San Miguel bench. His Busan assistants Allan Caidic, Eric Altamirano, and Binky Favis are also back with their different teams. Ginebra’s Caidic and Purefoods’ Altamirano, in fact, face off in the second game tonight.

At San Miguel, Hontiveros moves into Seigle’s spot so his arrival is more than timely. Uichico’s frontline of Danny Ildefonso, Dorian Pena, and Nic Belasco is tough, any way you look at it. Olsen Racela reassumes his role as chief playmaker with Boybits Victoria and Joey Mente coming off the bench. Dwight Lago is expected to keep the fire burning from outside.

FedEx coach Derick Pumaren likes his chances in the All-Filipino with a nucleus of RenRen Ritualo, Yancy de Ocampo, Jerry Codinera, Vergel Meneses and brother Dindo. FedEx got used to Jermaine Walker piling up points in the first two conferences–who will pick up the slack with the prolific import gone? Pumaren shut the door on Bong Alvarez’ bid for a comeback so he seems confident of the Express’ chances to break out.

After Ginebra failed to make it to the quarterfinals of both the Governors and Commissioners Cup, loyal Kings fans are praying for redemption. Meneses is gone for good but Jun Limpot, Mark Caguiao, Bal David, Ronald Magtulis and Jay-Jay Helterbrand are back. James Wallkvist entered the picture in the Second Conference and should ease the pressure off Menk inside the lane. Menk is the key to Ginebra’s reemergence as a championship contender.

Ryan Gregorio steered Purefoods to the Governors Cup title this season in Altamirano’s place. No other interim coach performed as creditably. Now, Altamirano and Gregorio are back on the same track in a classic two-heads-are-better-than-one situation. Alvin Patrimonio, Rey Evangelista, Kerby Raymundo, Richard Yee, Ronnie Magsanoc, and Chris Cantonjos can’t wait to welcome Asiad veterans Andy Seigle and Noy Castillo on the floor.

International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules will apply in the All-Filipino except for two slight modifications.

First, the PBA rule on fouls away from the ball will be used. In the last two minutes of the fourth period and in overtime, a team that fouls away from the ball is penalized by awarding a technical free throw to the opposing team with the option of choosing the foul shooter plus ball possession. Under FIBA rules, the fouled player takes the free throws and on a miss in the second attempt, the ball is live.

Second, the PBA rule on tracking the 24-second shot clock will also be used. Under FIBA rules, the clock continues even while the ball is in flight and a miss will mean a violation no matter if the release was made before the limit.

PBA assistant technical and operations director Perry Martinez said the other FIBA rules will apply such as interference with the ball above the rim, five foul limit, and only coaches to call a timeout. He added that next year, the league may consider applying more modifications to the FIBA rules.

What appears certain is the illegal defense rule is gone forever, thank goodness. The PBA did away with the illegal defense violation when it adopted the FIBA rules starting the First Conference this year. With no defensive restrictions, coaches are free to mix and matchup, to zone or not to zone, to double or triple whenever and wherever, to camp inside or outside, to trap or sag and do whatever is necessary–under the rules–to get the stop.