Bates grateful to PBA for honor

MANILA, Philippines - From his home in New Jersey, the enigmatic Black Superman said yesterday he owes a debt of gratitude to the PBA and Filipino fans for the cherished memories of a significant chapter in his basketball odyssey.

Billy Ray Bates, 55, was recently named among seven inductees of the fourth batch of PBA Hall of Famers. The others to be enshrined during the PBA season opening program at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 2 are four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, former MVP Freddie Hubalde, Grand Slam coach Tommy Manotoc, coach Tito Eduque, the late commissioner Col. Mariano Yenko and TV producer Carlos (Bobong) Velez.

“The PBA was a big part of my career,” said Bates in an e-mail to The Star. “It gave me a place to continue playing with talented players while I was able to compete at my highest level. It also introduced me to a fan base that, out of all the places I’ve visited, is unmatched.”

Bates saw action for the Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Bullets and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA before moving to Crispa in the PBA in 1983. In his PBA debut, the Kentucky State star erupted for 64 points to lead the Redmanizers to a 120-119 squeaker over Great Taste whose import Norman Black hit 59. He would go on to average an eye-popping 46.2 points in 98 total games for Crispa and Ginebra over four PBA seasons. 

Even as Bates played all over the world, he said the Philippines was his favorite overseas destination. He took his hoop act to Italy, France, Spain, Uruguay, Argentina, Yugoslavia and Switzerland but will never forget his legion of Filipino fans.

“Filipino fans are the best in the world,” said Bates. “They’re loyal fans. I love them to death. They make me feel appreciated, respected and remembered. The one thing that stuck out about my Filipino fans was how welcoming they were to me. When you go to a place you’ve never been before, sometimes, it can be intimidating because you don’t know the language and the culture. That was never a problem in the Philippines. From the moment I stepped off the airplane in my first trip out there, the fans showed me love and accepted me for what I am and the way I played the game. I never had a bad experience with the fans and always loved interacting with them. Nearly 25 years later, the Filipino fans remain the same way.”

Asked to rank the PBA in relation to other leagues he has played in, Bates said it ranks high in his list. “The PBA has become one of the premier leagues in the world and a lot of American players are trying to play in the PBA because of the Black Superman,” he said.

Bates has been invited by the PBA to fly in for the induction rites. The PBA offered Bates a round-trip ticket and hotel accommodations for four nights. 

When he planes in, Bates said his arrival message to the fans will be simple. “Like basketball, everyday is like another game in the season of life,” he said philosophically. “Some days, we lose, some days, we win but as long as we keep hope and don’t let the days we lose keep us from chasing the days we have the opportunity to win, we can all be champions in life. I will also tell the fans to always keep God in their life and always put God first. Another thing, I’ll tell the PBA and my fans is how much I want to thank them for the experience they gave me and the love they continue to show me. The experience and the fans remain in my heart forever.”

Bates said although he has long retired from playing organized ball, he won’t back down from a challenge for a shootout. “Yes, I’ll agree to play against the PBA’s best three-point shooter but not in a full-court game,” he said.

Bates said he’s definitely coming for the enshrinement. “I’ll be there,” he said. “I’m excited. It’s huge for me to be inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame. I’m honored to join the great players and coaches who have already been honored. It’s also something that is a permanent reminder of my time in the Philippines and will be around after I am long gone.”

Bates said his most unforgettable PBA moment was playing for Crispa to seal the Grand Slam in 1983 under Manotoc. He teamed with former New York Knicks forward Larry Demic to power the Redmanizers to a 3-0 disposal of Great Taste in the third conference finals. 

As to whom he plans to see and where he hopes to go during his visit, Bates said his wish list is kilometric. “It’s a challenge to name everyone I would like to see,” he said. “From former coaches to my teammates and fans, there are so many people I would love to see before anyone else. There were so many places I visited during my time in the Philippines. I would like to visit the hot springs again as well as Alona Beach, Cebu, the rice terraces and the Manila Gardens. I’m looking forward to see the Manila Bay once more.”

On his moniker “The Black Superman,” Bates said fans still call him by his nickname. “All the time,” he said. “They gave me that name out of love. They saw how much I loved playing the game and how much I loved basketball like them.”