The One-team club
by rick olivares
alvin patrimonio photo from czar julius
jimmy alapag pic from pba-online.net
By the end of the 2012-13 PBA season, a total of 850
Filipino players have suited up in the Philippine Basketball Association. If you add up the number of imports through
the years as well as the rookies for the 2013-14 season, the number will swell
to about a thousand players.
Of that total of over a thousand players, there is a
select group that stuck it out with only one team. In fact, there are only nine of them.
This is a group that is just as exclusive as that 1,000
games or 10,000 points club for there are very few of them.
Alvin Patrimonio – Purefoods 17 years
Danny Ildefonso – San Miguel, Magnolia, Petron 15
years
Rey Evangelista – Purefoods 14 years
Jayjay Helterbrand – Ginebra 13 years *
Mark Caguioa – Ginebra 12 years *
Jimmy Alapag – Talk ‘N Text 11 years *
Harvey Carey – Talk ‘N Text 11 years *
James Yap - Purefoods, B-Meg, San Mig 10 years *
Samboy Lim – San Miguel 10 years
Samboy Lim – San Miguel 10 years
There are two others who spent nine years with one
team – Hector Calma with San Miguel and Bal David with Gordon’s Gin/Ginebra.
If Danny Ildefonso suits up for another team, that
list will be trimmed down to seven.
It is fascinating to see these five active players –
Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa for Ginebra, Jimmy Alapag and Harvey
Carey for Talk ‘N Text, and James Yap for San Mig Coffee -- keep on going with one team despite living in this
age of free agency, the constant influx of college talents and Fil-Ams, and the
few teams in the pro league.
Think of it this way in NBA terms – it’s Magic
Johnson finishing his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s Larry Bird
playing in Boston green forever.
It is the same thing with these PBA players.
I spoke with a couple of these players – one retired
and one active – about their being in the One-Team Club.
Alvin Patrimonio (Purefoods 1988-2005)
The cool thing about the Captain is that in his 17
years with Purefoods, he is a member of an elite cub where he suited up for 857
games and is a part of several statistical milestones: 10,000 points; 2,000
assists; 2,000 defensive rebounds; and 1,000 offensive rebounds clubs.
Patrimonio is the only one in the One-Club List to
have amassed all those records. No one else come close.
Rick: Alvin, what do you think of being one of nine people to have played for only one team for over 10 years? Seventeen years with
Purefoods in fact.
Alvin: Wow. Ganyan
katagal ba talaga? Hindi ko na naisip yan. It means that I made the most out of
my God-given talent and had a good attitude towards the game. When you’re there
in the PBA, you have to maximize your opportunities because not everyone is
given that chance as you said in your research. It’s having the talent and a
good attitude. When you combine the two you get a good result. I am thankful
for that.
Rick: Was there ever a time that you thought about moving
to another team or was nearly traded?
Alvin: When my first
contract with Purefoods (from 1988-1991) expired, I was given an offer sheet by
Pepsi. I was thinking of already moving when Purefoods matched the offer. I
felt blessed that they wanted me to stay. I told myself that if I sign this new
contract with Purefoods dito ko na tatapusin yung career ko. The rest is
history.
It was also
part of my maturation process.
Rick: The average career of a PBA player pegged at five
years. Why do you think that is so?
Alvin: If you look at
the last PBA Draft, ang daming applicants. Umabot pa sa seventh round. Maraming
pumapasok na talented rookies at marami rin mga Fil-Americans so mas mahirap
mag-stay sa league. If you can play multiple positions and constantly improve
your skills, you will have many options. The coach will find you useful.
Rick: How did you psyche yourself year after year? Season
after season?
Alvin: Lagi
binabanggit yang ‘hard work’ pero yun talaga. If you don’t work hard wala kang
playing time. Wala kang playing time nandoon ka sa dulo ng bench.
Nung matagal
na ako sa Purefoods, I realized that not only was I a leader but I was also an
ambassador for the team. So it helps that meron kang good attitude. Reward din
eventually yun na gawin akong team manager.
Being
responsible helps. Ang natutunan ko sa basketball ay punuin mo yung sarili mo
ng good attitudes. Yung heart o puso kasama na diyan. That will give you the
strength to take on the challenges.
Rick: How did your game change from your first years in
the league to your last?
Alvin: Nung nasa
Mapua ako, I worked on my perimeter shot more than my post up game. Sa PBA iba
na. So sa poste ako nag-concentrate para mas-high percentage yung shot mo. Over
the years, when dumami na yung mga Fil-Am na mas malaki sa akin, I went back to
my perimeter shot. At that time, I had Boyet Fernandez as a teammate and he was
such a great shooter. He challenged me to improve my three-point shooting. And
from the post, I learned to pass better. Siguro it comes with having good hands
and not butterfingers.
Rick: What would be your advice to the players in the
league today when it comes to staying with one club?
Alvin: Always do
your best and stay loyal. You will be rewarded.
Jimmy Alapag (Talk ‘N Text 2003-today)
Jimmy Alapag has played 499 games for the Talk ‘N
Text Tropang Texters. When they take on GlobalPort on Tuesday, December 3, it
will be his 500th game for the franchise. The most in team history.
Known for his booming threes and daredevil drives
inside the lane, TNT’s team captain believes he still has a lot more to offer
to PBA fans.
Rick: Jimmy, what do you think of being one of nine people to have played for only one team for over 10 years? You’re in your 11th
year with Talk ‘N Text.
Jimmy: It’s a blessing
to stay with TNT and be a part of all their success. I know that it is rare to
stay with one team in this day and age. One day you’re in and the next you’re
out. What can I say except I’m a lucky guy.
Rick: As it turns out, Harvey Carey too is just as lucky
as you are because he has been with the team for just as long.
Jimmy: It is funny
how our career has been parallel with one another. Do you know that I played
against him in college?
Rick: Really now? Amazing. But how so?
Jimmy: I played for the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes
while Harvey’s from Sonoma State. We were in the NCAA Division II in the
California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Rick: Nice! Was there ever a time that you thought about
moving to another team or was nearly traded?
Jimmy: Moving to
another team? No. But if the team (TNT) wanted to trade me to another club – it
is not something that I am aware of. (laughs). You didn’t hear anything about
any possible trade, Rick? (laughs)
Rick: No. (laughs) Not at all. I am very very sure.
Jimmy: During the
2003 PBA Draft (Harvey was selected fourth overall by TNT), I thought that if
no one got me at number ten, then it would be nice to go to Ginebra that had
the 11th pick. But Talk ‘N Text traded up with Alaska to get the 10th
pick and they selected me. And that’s how it happened.
Rick: The average career of a PBA player pegged at five
years. Why do you think that is so?
Jimmy: I think that the talent level goes up every year.
Kids are getting better coaching and that shows not just in the college game
but also in the national team. That certainly puts pressure on everyone
currently playing in the PBA to bring their A-game every night.
Rick: How did you psyche yourself year after year? Season
after season?
Jimmy: I literally
get up for every season. The competition constantly pushes me to get better.
You cannot just rest on your laurels. If you do, you’ll get eaten up. Plus, I’d
like to win a few more championships. That also constantly motivates me. And I
don’t just want to be a good player -- I want to be a great player.
Rick: How did your game change from your first years in
the league to your style today?
Jimmy: When I was much younger, I would take advantage of my athleticism
and really get to the basket when I want to. It is very similar to what Jason
Castro is doing now for us. As you get older, you have to make adjustments. You
also take the small details a lot more seriously. Like dieting, stretching, and
icing your knees. I try to play a smart and efficient game. You read all the
situations on the floor when you’re on the bench so when you’re on the floor,
you have a sense of what to do. And I keep working on my outside shot. If you
can make that shot with a lot of consistency, you will always find a spot on
any roster.
Rick: Pardon this question but how long do you see
yourself still playing pro ball?
Jimmy: No worries. I
hold myself to certain standards. When it comes to a point where I cannot
sustain that level of play that I am accustomed to; when the time comes that
the game is no longer fun, then I know it’s time to call it a career.
Rick: Now that I told you that Alvin Patrimonio played for
17 years for one club, will you try to catch him or break his record?
Jimmy: (laughs) No.
Honestly, I am not thinking about that. I am looking at our next game and
defending our championship. But I’d love to finish my career with Talk ‘N Text.
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