Advice to rookies

PBA legend Jimmy Alapag made a guest appearance on the East Asia Super League (EASL) clubhouse chat app a few days ago and drew from his over 20 years of experience in basketball as a player then coach to offer sage advice to rookies entering the pro league this season. EASL CEO Matt Beyer organized the get-together that also featured Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy, Blackwater rookie Andre Paras, EASL CFO Henry Kerins, EASL Philippines head Banjo Albano and EASL general manager of special projects Alex Olin as moderator. The chat was participated in by media, sports personalities and basketball fans, including San Francisco-based ABS-CBN North American bureau chief T. J. Manotoc, Ginebra player Jared Dillinger and Trainer Watkins of Woodland Hills, California.

Beyer got the ball rolling by updating everyone on the status of EASL’s invitation for the PBA to join the league which is unveiling its inaugural five-month season in October, pandemic permitting. The PBA has put its decision on hold in the process of determining how to address the crisis on the homefront. The PBA’s Season 46 is set to begin next month but with COVID cases on the rise, it’s subject to approval by the IATF and the LGU hosting the venue for the games. Because of EASL’s home-and-away format, Beyer said it wouldn’t be possible to do a bubble so that if the pandemic persists, the season opener may be postponed until next year. With South Korea, Japan and Greater China confirming participation, Beyer said he’s hoping the PBA will link up when the situation stabilizes.

Kerins, whose Chinese name translates to Bruce Lee, said he’s bullish on EASL’s prospects for growth throughout the region. Even as EASL is investing millions in getting the season off the ground, Kerins said he’s optimistic that financial projections will be realized in guaranteeing sustainability. In the first season, each of EASL’s eight teams will be paid $20,000 every game plus $20,000 for the winner and the champion will receive $1 million, the runner-up $500,000 and the third placer, $250,000. On the third season, EASL will expand to 16 teams with the prize money increasing to $1.5 million for the champion, $750,000 for the runner-up and $375,000 for the third placer. The winner of each game will earn $50,000 and the loser, $25,000. EASL is backed up by a 10-year affiliate agreement with FIBA.

Alapag resettled in Los Angeles last year with his family but said he’s keeping the door open to come back here.  He’s exploring opportunities in the US at the moment. As the PBA Rookie of the Year in 2003, Alapag said he has a lot to share with the league’s incoming newbies. “Be ready to get to work, always look to improve, stay healthy and strong, take care of your body, enjoy the experience, work on bonding relationships with your teammates,” he said. “It helps if you’ve got talent but it’s also important to communicate with your team to create chemistry and camaraderie.”

Alapag said he strongly disagrees that basketball is a big man’s game. At 5-9, Alapag proved heart is a bigger factor than height in leading Gilas to two FIBA Asia Cup silver finishes and two SEA Games golds. “Look at how Steph Curry controls the pace of a game, how he gets his teammates involved and makes his team better,” he said. “It’s not enough to have a huge presence in the middle. When you’ve got guards shooting 40 percent from three, it’s a different game.” Alapag said he’ll always cherish living 20 years in the Philippines and he owes a lot to Filipino fans for supporting his career that was highlighted by six PBA titles, a PBA MVP trophy in 2011 and two Finals MVP awards.

Paras said he’s excited to play for Blackwater. “I’m grateful to GMA for my showbiz career and allowing me to join the draft,” he said. “Right now, my focus is basketball. No pressure at all because I’m in good hands with great teammates. I’ve looked up to guys like Dave Semerad and Frank Golla, I’ll learn a lot from the bigs although I see myself transitioning to three. You have no idea how excited I am to play with Baser (Amer). We almost played together at San Beda but I didn’t make it to the team on his last year.” Sy called Paras the steal of the draft. “I know other teams wanted to draft him but we got lucky he was available when it was our turn,” said Sy. “He had over 20 rebounds in back-to-back games in the D-League and I told our coaches he’s the guy we need.”