From slasher to sharp-shooter

CEBU, Philippines —  In his illustrious PBA career, Al Solis is best known for his prolific outside shooting.

Testament to that,  Solis is in the distinguished list of PBA players who have made at least 1,000 3-point conversions during their stints in Asia’s first professional league.

But unbeknownst to many, Solis didn’t have a penchant for long-distance gunning during his collegiate days with the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in the Cebu Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), which is now the CESAFI, back in the late ‘70s until 1984.

The 57-year-old Solis, who finished second to Allan Caidic in the Rookie of the Year race during his freshman year in 1987 and third next to eventual winner Ato Agustin and Nelson Asaytono in the tight battle for  season MVP in 1992, made this revelation in his appearance in The Link podcast of veteran sportswriter Rey Joble last Wednesday that was reported by PBA.ph.

“Si Boy Cabahug talaga ang shooter namin, ako slasher. Ang laro ko court-to-court, fastbreak at open court. Pag binigyan ako ng one step opening, layup na yan,” said Solis, referring to fellow PBA great Elmer “Boy” Cabahug who was his tag parner during their glorious years with the UV Lancers where they won a National Inter-Collegiate title in 1984 and went on to become members of the RP Youth team that bagged bronze medal in the ABC Under 19 tournament in Seoul, South Korea that same year.

“Na-realize ko lang na kailangan kong matutong tumira sa labas noong naglaro na ako sa Manila,” continued Solis. “Inaatrasan ako ng depensa, nagsa-sag down; alam nila wala akong tira sa labas. Pero kahit atrasan ako, drive pa rin ako. So lagi akong foul out, kasi ang galing ng mga Manila players mag-draw charge. And so ang sabi ko sa sarili ko, kailangan kong matuto tumira sa labas.”

A well-rounded cager, it did not take long for Solis to learn the art of outside sniping - his most lethal weapon that brought him six championships, a one-time All-Star selection, and a two-time Mythical First Five selection in his 14-year journey donning the uniforms of Formula Shell, Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, Swift/Sunkist, Pepsi/Mobiline, and Batang Red Bull Thunder.

Interestingly, it was only during his final year in the PBA with Red Bull in 2001 that the Davao-native Solis joined the elite club of 3-point snipers.

Thanks to then Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao for giving him the golden opportunity to reach that milestone.

“Pinaglaro ako sa Red Bull for one conference in 2001. Lumalaro ako mga two minutes a game.

Then came a non-bearing game against Sta. Lucia Realty. Five three-point shots na lang ang kailangan ko, pinalaro ako ng mataas na minute at inabot ko ang mark,” said Solis in recalling the historic night where he was installed as the third player in PBA history to complete 1,000 three-point hits after Allan Caidic and Ronnie Magsanoc.