MANILA, Philippines — More than being a high first-round pick by the Washington Bullets in 1980 and a fellow Chicago Bulls neophyte with Michael Jordan in 1984-85, Wes Matthews would be remembered for being a part of the great LA Lakers Showtime team.
Still, all of them are being remembered in the frenzy stirred by “The Last Dance” documentary show.
Matthews would bring his showtime basketball with Ginebra San Miguel in 1991, only to be foiled by Alaska Milk in what would be the kickoff of a great PBA dynasty.
The Matthews show would be ruined by one of the greatest comebacks in the PBA – an unbelievable soar by the Mr. Excitement tale. Before his fallout with Alaska, Bong Alvarez would come back from an injury and, along with Sean Chambers, led the Milkmen to their first crown with a 3-1 conquest of Matthews and Ginebra in the 1991 Third Conference Finals.
Jojo Lastimosa had joined Alaska then in a trade with Boy Cabahug. The other members of the first Alaska champion team were Peter Aguilar, Biboy Ravanes, Roehl Gomez, Nandy Garcia, Dong Polistico, Eugene Quilban, Eton Navarro, Alex Araneta, Frankie Lim and Nap Hatton.
“Comeback Player of the Year ako noon, my first. And I consider it my best moment in the PBA, kasi champion kami,” Alvarez told The STAR.
“I got injured in Game Three of the previous Third Conference Finals – complete Achilles rupture. Two-zero up kami against Purefoods tapos na-injured ako sa Game Three and I was out for the rest of the series. Pag-balik ko championship uli, and, this time, we went all the way to win the title,” Alvarez added.
Alaska conquered Ginebra in four games of a best-of-five finale, with a big, big hand from Alvarez on sterling effort on both ends of the floor.
The Milkmen closed out the series with a 99-90 win in Game Four where Alvarez fired away 30 points, collected four rebounds and held Matthews to a single field-goal conversion after exploding for 22 points in the first half.
But with 7-of-8 free throws in the final half, the prolific Ginebra import still finished with a triple-double performance with 31 points, 11 assists and 10 boards.
“Ang galing non (Matthews), pero napag-aralan siya ni coach Tim (Cone). Ako ang inilagay ni coach Tim sa kanya dahil kasing laki ko lang, at nasasabayan ko yung bilis niya. At syempre meron help defense,” said Alvarez.
“Balik na ang kundisyon ko noon galing sa injury, at yung mga panahon na ‘yon, nai-convert na ako ni coach na defender/stopper,” added Alvarez. “Lagi kong nasusundutan si Matthews, tapos breakaway dunk. Maraming photos na habol-habol ng kamay ni Matthews yung dunk ko.”
Alvarez made his presence felt throughout the series, starting with an 18-point job in their 93-92 nail-biter in Game One. He then tallied 25 markers in their big 122-103 victory in Game Three.
He had nine markers in their 105-107 loss in Game Two where Matthews erupted for 42 on top of nine boards and four dish-offs.
Alvarez would play one more season with the Milkmen before making a sabbatical in the United States. He’d been traded to Sta. Lucia upon his return.