Andy’s PBA memories

NBA Entertainment vice president of production Andy Thompson is in town to document the sights and sounds leading to the league’s first-ever game in the country at the Mall of Asia Arena tonight. It’s his first trip to the Philippines since hobbling out of the PBA as a Tanduay import with a partially torn ACL in the 1986 Open Conference.

Thompson, 54, wasn’t Tanduay coach Turo Valenzona’s first choice as a partner for Rob Williams as the Rhummakers’ import tandem. University of Houston center Benny Anders was the original pick but was sent home after two games. Andre McKoy, who played in the first conference, was signed up as an interim replacement for Anders. Another import Billy Goodwin planed in but quickly planed out after he showed up two inches shorter than the 6-6 ceiling. Finally, Valenzona tapped Thompson. For a while, the Williams-Thompson pair worked wonders as Tanduay racked up four straight wins following four straight losses. But Tanduay failed to sustain the surge.

Among Thompson’s local teammates were Ramon Fernandez, Onchie de la Cruz, Alex Clarino, Willy Generalao, Ely Capacio, Vic Sanchez, J. B. Yango, Padim Israel, Abet Gutierrez and Freddie Hubalde.

Bidding for a Grand Slam after capturing the first and second conference crowns, the Rhummakers bombed out in the race for the Open title and finished fourth. Among the import duos that Williams and Thompson battled were Harold Keeling and Michael Young of Manila Beer, Alvin Franklin and Leroy Jackson of Great Taste, Billy Ray Bates and Michael Hackett of Ginebra San Miguel, Dexter Shouse and Perry Young of Formula Shell and Norman Black and Keith Morrison for Alaska.

The 6-5 1/2 Thompson, whose brother Mychal played in the NBA with Portland, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers from 1978 to 1991, recalled how it was when he suited up in the PBA.

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“Tanduay had won the last two titles and when I got there, there was talk of the triple crown,” he said. “I was the third import they brought in that conference only after four games. I couldn’t believe they cut Benny Anders who was averaging 33.5 points and 19 rebounds. I thought to myself, if this guy got cut averaging that, then what in the world do they expect me to average? But they had lost their first four games and I guess it was a chemistry thing. One thing, I knew I could do was play better defense than almost anyone. That was the only way I earned playing time when I was on the University of Minnesota Gophers varsity with teammates like the great Kevin McHale and Trent Tucker.”

Thompson said his mindset was to survive in the PBA, he had to prove himself on defense if he couldn’t produce big numbers. “I came in with the mindset that if I can’t score 30, then I’ve got to limit whomever I’m guarding to less than that for us to have a chance,” he continued. “Fortunately, for me, we went on a four-game winning streak, winning games in dramatic fashion and the owner of the club felt I was a good fit so I played out the season. We ended up losing to Great Taste four straight in the second round.” The Coffeemakers finished third and Tanduay, fourth.

Thompson said he’ll never forget taking on Bates and Hackett with Williams. “They were the toughest to play against,” he said referring to the Ginebra stars. “Hackett was my height but he outweighed me by 40 pounds and was strong as an ox. Thank God, Billy took most of the shots because he was very difficult to stop down low. The next toughest tandem was Young and Keeling. Michael never met a shot he didn’t like. He shot the ball once every minute. Seriously, 48 minutes meant 48 shots. One night, he scored 60 on me and took 48 shots.”

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Thompson suffered a knee injury while playing in the PBA. It was later diagnosed as a partially torn ACL. “Somehow, I was able to finish the season with a brace I received from another import Donnie Ray Koonce (who was replaced by Morrison at Alaska) and it was a bittersweet end for me,” said Thompson who averaged 23.5 points and 13.9 rebounds in 20 games. “I knew this was it for me because my knee didn’t feel right and I had a feeling this was it and it was. After I got back to the US, I felt in my heart it was time to move on with my life. After I got back in December 1986, I went to New York to visit my sister. As fate would have it, while there, I called up a friend of mine to say hello and during the course of the conversation, she mentioned there was a position open at NBA Entertainment if I was interested. I interviewed while I was there and three months later, they offered me the job as a production assistant. I guess they liked the fact that I knew the game and had a creative background in the arts because I didn’t have a background in production.”

Thompson said he’s aware that San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Chip Engelland once played in the PBA like him. “Whenever we see each other, we laugh and reminisce about the good, old days,” said the Bahamas native whose PBA single-game high was 38 points.

Although Thompson played briefly in the PBA, his Philippine experience left a lasting impact. “It’s tough to pick out one great memory about the PBA but if I have to, it would have to be the love and passion you feel from the fans,” he said. “Whether at the game or in the community, you felt appreciated beyond anything I had ever experienced while playing in Europe or the US. I always say to this day that you can always tell who’s a Filipino because they are the nicest people in the world.”