LEO AUSTRIA Today's generation will find it difficult to reconcile Leo Austria, the coach, to the Leo Austria who once upon a time terrorized the PBL hardcourt with his booming triples and gutsy playmaking.But Austria was all that. The former Lyceum Pirate, long before bad eyesight and good coaching skills set in, was a certified PBL superstar who, despite his 5-8 frame, was perhaps one of the finest quarterbacks to ever dribble a basketball.The pride of Sariaya, Quezon, Austria started out as a varsity cager from the Lyceum of the Philippines, playing for the now-defunct MUCAA before moving on to the PABL, the precursor of the PBL.Austria immediately made an impact in the league, and was voted Most Valuable Player in the Ambassador's Cup back in 1984Today, Austria has come back full circle as a coach of Welcoat in the PBL. And just like in his playing days, "coach Leo" remains a winner, having steered the Paintmasters in the recent Challenge Cup.
SONNY CABATU He's knownto break into a smile once in a while, but that's the only concession he will give you inside the hardcourt.That sums up Sonny Cabatu when inside the floor. He's muscle and brawn, but unlike other behemoths, Cabatu knew how to position himself near the basket - and score unmolested, defenders be damned.Notwithstanding his reputation as a bruiser on the defensive end, Cabatu scored enough points to shine and win two MVP plums while playing for ESQ Marketing in the PABL, even outglossing equally-talented teammates such as Ricky Cui, Jojo Villapando, Adonis Tierra and Glenn Capacio. Cabatu broke into the league via the Bank of Rizal, which he helped steer to a runner-up and a championship in its first year back in 1984. When the team disbanded, Cabatu was acquired by ESQ Marketing, which won three straight championships. Like several others during his time, Cabatu went on to play in the PBA, but wasn't as successful as he was in the PBL. Still, Cabatu gave PABL fans plenty of memories - that of a banger who is as merciless on defense as he is as prolific on offense.
ALLAN CAIDIC Shooters litter the face of Philippine basketball, but few of them are as prolific as Allan Caidic - the lefty hotshot who had posted records as a three-point shooter and who, just last year, reinvented himself as a PBA coach. Caidic came to the PABL fresh out of college, shortly after the University of the East won back-to-back titles (1984-85) with him and Jerry Codinera on the firing end. His shooting prowess also made him a shoo-in the Danding Cojuangco-backed national team, which won the Jones Cup in 1985. In the PABL, the future PBA superstar plied his wares with CF Sharp and Magnolia, among others, and continued to wreck defenses with his long bombs, averaging double digits in almost every game.His consistency from the long court earned for him a place in PBL history, and set a benchmark almost impossible to surpass, much less equal.
DONDON AMPALAYO A true-blue Cebuano, Dondon Ampalayo was a player way ahead of his time. At 6-3, Dondon was a deadshot from the three-point range and a turnaround shot artist - a deadly combination that endeared him to basketball fans.Dondon came in board the PABL back in 1985 and suited up for ESQ Marketing. His friendly disposition and winsome smile masked his intensity inside the court. He left the PABL after one year, but his popularity even soared when he joined the never-say-die Ginebra team in the PBA. Like a meteor, Dondon was like a flash of light in the PABL, but he has left enough memories for basketball fans to cherish for years to come.
JOJO LASTIMOSA When Jojo Lastimosa, a product of University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu, brought his act to Manila, his Visayan fans came in droves from all over the city to watch him electrify the crowd. Soon, his hardcourt exploits - and a pair of legs to die for - had the fans packing the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium to the rafters, shouting themselves hoarse as Mama's Love, Lastimosa's team, gave the Manilans a lesson in Visayan brand of basketball - bold, gutsy and fast.Game after game, Lastimosa did not disappoint his fans, and while his reticence kept him from winning an MVP award, he endeared himself to lovers of pure, unadulterated basketball. His quiet leadership and intensity brought him glory as a member of various national teams, and later as a professional player in the PBA.
JERRY CODINERA In the PBA, Jerry Codinera was christened the "Defense Minister." But long before that, the 6-5 slotman was already a force to reckon with in the PABL. The son of a former baseball great, Filomeno Codinera, Jerry was an immovable force in the PABL during his stint with Lagerlite and Magnolia. Even back then, Jerry's strongest suit was his umbrella-like defense, a skill he brought with him in the national team of 1986 and eventually, in the PBA. Jerry's teammate in Magnolia include Jong Uichico and the electrifying BongAlvarez, but he more than held his own on offense. His deadliest weapon is a jumpshot from the perimeter, usually a high banked shot, and a putback off an offensive rebound.
ALVIN PATRIMONIO Even past his prime, Alvin Patrimonio is difficult to stop, especially around the paint. With this in mind, just imagine him some 18 years ago, at a time when he ruled the perimeter like a tiger on a prowl, scoring off bigger men with his difficult pivots and turnaround jumpers. A former volleyball player, Patrimonio saw action for Lhullier and Yco Paints, a stint which triggered the much talked about rivalry with Codinera. That rivalry ceased when he and Codinera ended up together in the national team in 1986 and in the star-studded Purefoods team beginning in 1988.While his most memorable achievement is his winning four MVPs in the PBA, Patrimonio will be most remembered as the first PBA millionaire, earning P25 million in five years in 1984 with Purefoods, sparking the skyrocketing of player contracts in the years to come.
ATO AGUSTIN Renato "Ato" Agustin belongs to that rare breed of small players who can score almost at will. As a player fresh out of college, Agustin first strutted his stuff with the Golden Rice Cereals back in 1985, before moving on to Masagana 99 and Hope Cigarettes. But it was during his stint with Swift in 1989 when Agustin blossomed into a bigtime player who can outsmart and outscore bigger players.And back when one-on-one players were difficult to come by, Agustin was already losing his man with his "shake-and-bake moves. His loyalty to the RFM franchise in the PBL paid off, as he became a part of the Swift team that joined the PBA in 1991. A year after, Agustin's efforts were rewarded with a Most Valuable Player Award.
BENJIE PARAS Before he discovered his flair for comedy, Benjie Paras was already a hit -- in basketball. Paras began his basketball career as a UP Maroon where he won the Maroon's only collegiate title under coach Joe Lipa, and like a dutiful son, Paras followed his coach when Lipa handled Philip Sardines in the PABL. As a UP Maroon, Paras was already a force at the paint, but in the PBL, Paras blossomed into a slam-dunking, shotblocking monster. His Mutt-and-Jeff partnership with the cat-quick Ronnie Magsanoc produced two championships for the Sardine Masters. Those two championships lined up Paras for a stint in the PBA, but right in his first year, he won both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors, a feat unmatched until today.
JOHNNY ABARRIENTOS Even before the crossover dribble became a buzzword in basketball, there was one player who did it with amazing regularity. His name - Johnny Abarrientos. Abarrientos burst into basketball prominence when he teamed up with Victor Pablo to lead Far Eastern University to the championship in 1991. But even before then, Abarrientos was already a household name as a PABL player with Crispa under cage legends Bogs Adornado and Atoy Co. After Crispa disbanded, Abarrientos joined Triple V, where he helped lead the team to back-to-back championships. That eventually led to a stint in the PBA with Alaska Milk, where Abarrientos was a part of a championship dynasty in the 90s. In 199
VERGEL MENESES Nowadays, one-on-one players are a dime a dozen. But back when basketball in the Philippines was still young, there was Samboy Lim. And then there was Vergel Meneses. When he first played in Magnolia in the PABL, Vergel was tagged as Samboy's successor in the high-wire act department. Vergel more than lived up to that tag. Like Samboy, Vergel was a superb one-on-one player, But unlike Samboy, Vergel proved to be more durable. After a short stint with Magnolia, Vergel transferred to Burger City. A year after, in 1989, he was named to the RP Youth team. It was only a matter of time before Vergel will be drafted in the PBA, and in 1990, he joined Pop Cola as one of its pioneers.
ZANDRO 'JUN' LIMPOT Tall, athletic and a deadshot from the perimeter, Zandro "Jun" Limpot took to basketball as a duck to water. A former tennis player, Limpot turned to basketball at the urgings of his uncle, the late Gov. Jose Sering. That decision proved to be wise, as it opened many doors for the young Limpot. After leading De La Salle to the championship, Limpot followed coach Derek Pumaren to Magnolia in the PBL, where he stayed for four years, and won an MVP award in the process. The rest, as they say, is history.Like most of his peers, Limpot made the jump to the PBA, and today, he continues to be one of the most prolific scorers in the league.
KENNETH DUREMDES A lean, fighting machine from Koronadal, South Cotabato, Kenneth Duremdes came to the PBL with solid credentials. One of Adamson U's finest, Duremdes immediately gave basketball fans a glimpse of his talent, earning Rookie of the Year honors with Burger Machine back in 1993. Under the tutelage of coach Perry Ronquillo, Duremdes turned from a raw cager into a fearless slasher, and was instrumental in giving Burger Machine a championship in 1994. After two years with the PBL, Duremdes moved on to the PBA and was picked third in the Draft in 1995.
MARLOU AQUINO They call him The Skyscraper, and he is, in more ways than one. At 6-9, Marlou Aquino is one of the tallest Filipino players to ever play the game. He is also one of the most creative centers ever, as he can vary his shots to frustrate the defense. Together with Kenneth Duremdes, Aquino was player no. 1 in Adamson's 1-2 punch. In the PBL, Aquino immediately made an impact, and with no taller player to challenge him, Aquino ran rings around his defenders at the paint.He saw action for Magnolia, Otto Shoes and Stag, and along the way, he strung up five MVP awards, the most by any player in the PBL.
DANNY ILDEFONSO When Danny Ildefonso entered the PBL, he "raised the roof" of amateur basketball, so to speak. Ildefonso's impact was immediately felt when he first played for Burger Machine for two conferences in 1994, before moving on to Red Bull. A bull-strong player with fancy moves around the perimeter, Ildefonso got away from his defenders and scored by the buckets. His athleticism and natural talent paved the way to a place in the PBA, and in 1998, Ildefonso was taken in by San Miguel Beer.
ERIC MENK Questions about his nationality persists, but when it comes to his basketball skills, few can question Eric Menk's capability.As a testament to his basketball talent, Menk became the PBL's first rookie and MVP awardee, and helped lead Tanduay to the 1997 Mayor's Cup title. Two more MVP awards came Menk's way, and along the way Tanduay also won two more titles. When the Rhummasters moved up to the PBA in 1999, Menk was one of those who came on board with coach Alfrancis Chua to continue where Tanduay left off in the PBL.
ROGER YAP Like Jojo Lastimosa and Dondon Ampalayo before him, Roger Yap honed his craft in Cebu. A run-and-gun type of player, this former Southwestern University star was just as explosive as the other Visayan superstars who came before him.Yap plied his wares with Shark Energy Drink under Leo Austria, and soon enough, he was running and gunning with reckless abandon, piling up the points and winning a second crown for Shark in the 2001 Challenge Cup.That year, Yap also won the MVP award, a fitting ending to a colorful career in the PBL before he moved up to the pro league.
YANCY DE OCAMPO A product of St. Francis of Assisi College, Yancy de Ocampo was as tall as they come at 6-foot-9.He started out as a back-up to Don Allado in Welcoat, and when Allado moved up to the PBA, Yancy immediately took on the starting center role. The role fitted Yancy to a T.With no real threat from the opposition, Yancy led Welcoat to two straight championships, picking up an MVP award in 2001. Last year, Yancy achieved the crowning glory of his career in the amateurs after he was picked no. 1 in the PBA Draft.
REN-REN RITUALO Basketball pundits describe Ren-Ren Ritualo as the second coming of Allan Caidic - only thinner. His lean frame notwithstanding, Ritualo didn't let this get in the way of achieving several milestones in his career. After leading De La Salle University to three championships, Ritualo set out to conquer a bigger stage - the PBL. Together with Yancy de Ocampo and Jojo Manalo, Ritualo helped steer the Welcoat Paintmasters to a basketball dynasty in the late 90s up to the early 2000s. Ritualo, a deadshot from practically every corner of the hardcourt, capped his rise to the basketball firmament when he was drafted in the PBA.
ROMEL ADDUCUL Like Gen. Douglas McArthur, Romel Adducul made a comeback - in basketball. And like the American hero, Adducul was a general to his troops at Welcoat. Adducul first came into the PBL in 1995 as Chowking's main man at the paint. Although his team failed to win a title, the former San Sebastian standout won an MVP award a year after. Late last year, after a three-year tour with the now-defunct MBA, Adducul returned to the PBL fold for his second - and last - stop. It was a valedictory worth a toast, as Adducul timed his return with the comeback of Welcoat. Fittingly, Adducul capped his return with his second MVP award, before he turned pro as the second pick in the PBA Draft.
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