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Turning point for Guidaben
By Mel Trinidad
September 1990
Two-time MVP Abet Guidaben considers the PBA Third Conference as the most important in his colorful 16-year pro career.
"This could be the turning point for me." revealed the 6-5 league pioneer who is now donning the colors of expansion franchise Pepsi-Cola - his seventh team since the fabled Crispa Redmanizers disbanded six seasons ago. Guidaben claimed that if he failed to perform creditably for the Hotshots in the next three months, then perhaps it is high time to hang up his sneakers for keeps.
Guidaben admitted that his game hasn't been the same ever since he was swapped by San Miguel Beer for then-Purefoods playing coach Ramon Fernandez back in 1988. From a frontrunner in the MVP derby, he drastically deteriorated down to the level of a second stringer culminating in his being traded by former team Alaska Milk to Pepsi in exchange for Anejo discard Harmon Codinera.
"Bale in-assumed lang ng Pepsi 'yung remaining three months ko sa Alaska tapos malamang magiging free agent ako for the first time in my career. Pero hindi ko rin sila (Pepsi) masisisi dahil aminado naman akong walang pruwebang naipakita the last two seasons kasi six months din akong na-sideline because of a slipped disc injury," expressed Guidaben with a sigh.
"Balik sa zero ang conditioning ko dhail doon sa nangyari sa Alaska. Pero through sacrifice and with the help of the Lord ay unti-unti na akong makakabawi. Huwag lang sana magka-injury, pipilitin kong maipasok ang Pepsi sa semifinals." he vowed.
Pepsi recently had a tune-up match against Shell Rimula-X and although the Hotshots lost to the Bobby Parks-led squad, Guidaben came through with nearly 30 points to cut the deficit down to only six points at the final buzzer. 6-1 import Jeff Hodge defied a host of Shell defenders that also included Parks to lead all scorers with 50 points.
Start of something good
October 1990
Our runner-up finish in the recently-concluded Asian Games basketball competition is not so bad. the All-pro national quintet nevertheless lived up to realistic expectations.
However, certain quarters, on hindsight, are now vocally questioning Robert Jaworski's hand-picked choices for the final lineup. Instead of so-and-so, they claim that the Big J should've considered instead Alaska Milk's Paul Alvarez, Yoyoy Villamin, Purefoods' Nelson Asaytono, Pepsi-Cola's Abet Guidaben, Presto's Manny Victorino and even Anejo Rum 65 spitfire Rudy Distrito.
Far from signalling the end of the country's dream to regain our former dominance in the sport closest to every Filipino's heart, Jaworski was right in assessing that their Beijing campaign was a good beginning.
The Realization by BAP's Lito Puyat that the PBA is not the sole culprit for the country's decline in international basketball can indeed be the start of something good.
***
Victorino, the Tivolis' gentle 6-5 tower of power, admitted that he was extremely disappointed not being named to the RP team after his inclusion in an unofficial roster sent by the POC to the Asiad Secretariat.
A veteran of the World Junior Championships during his amateur days, Victorino has accepted to take the sad matter in stride and harbors no bitterness towards what many felt was an injustice by Jaworski.
"Nobody's perfect. A lot of those selected were worthy but there were some who were not so deserving," observed Victorino.
By Mel Trinidad
September 1990
Two-time MVP Abet Guidaben considers the PBA Third Conference as the most important in his colorful 16-year pro career.
"This could be the turning point for me." revealed the 6-5 league pioneer who is now donning the colors of expansion franchise Pepsi-Cola - his seventh team since the fabled Crispa Redmanizers disbanded six seasons ago. Guidaben claimed that if he failed to perform creditably for the Hotshots in the next three months, then perhaps it is high time to hang up his sneakers for keeps.
Guidaben admitted that his game hasn't been the same ever since he was swapped by San Miguel Beer for then-Purefoods playing coach Ramon Fernandez back in 1988. From a frontrunner in the MVP derby, he drastically deteriorated down to the level of a second stringer culminating in his being traded by former team Alaska Milk to Pepsi in exchange for Anejo discard Harmon Codinera.
"Bale in-assumed lang ng Pepsi 'yung remaining three months ko sa Alaska tapos malamang magiging free agent ako for the first time in my career. Pero hindi ko rin sila (Pepsi) masisisi dahil aminado naman akong walang pruwebang naipakita the last two seasons kasi six months din akong na-sideline because of a slipped disc injury," expressed Guidaben with a sigh.
"Balik sa zero ang conditioning ko dhail doon sa nangyari sa Alaska. Pero through sacrifice and with the help of the Lord ay unti-unti na akong makakabawi. Huwag lang sana magka-injury, pipilitin kong maipasok ang Pepsi sa semifinals." he vowed.
Pepsi recently had a tune-up match against Shell Rimula-X and although the Hotshots lost to the Bobby Parks-led squad, Guidaben came through with nearly 30 points to cut the deficit down to only six points at the final buzzer. 6-1 import Jeff Hodge defied a host of Shell defenders that also included Parks to lead all scorers with 50 points.
Start of something good
October 1990
Our runner-up finish in the recently-concluded Asian Games basketball competition is not so bad. the All-pro national quintet nevertheless lived up to realistic expectations.
However, certain quarters, on hindsight, are now vocally questioning Robert Jaworski's hand-picked choices for the final lineup. Instead of so-and-so, they claim that the Big J should've considered instead Alaska Milk's Paul Alvarez, Yoyoy Villamin, Purefoods' Nelson Asaytono, Pepsi-Cola's Abet Guidaben, Presto's Manny Victorino and even Anejo Rum 65 spitfire Rudy Distrito.
Far from signalling the end of the country's dream to regain our former dominance in the sport closest to every Filipino's heart, Jaworski was right in assessing that their Beijing campaign was a good beginning.
The Realization by BAP's Lito Puyat that the PBA is not the sole culprit for the country's decline in international basketball can indeed be the start of something good.
***
Victorino, the Tivolis' gentle 6-5 tower of power, admitted that he was extremely disappointed not being named to the RP team after his inclusion in an unofficial roster sent by the POC to the Asiad Secretariat.
A veteran of the World Junior Championships during his amateur days, Victorino has accepted to take the sad matter in stride and harbors no bitterness towards what many felt was an injustice by Jaworski.
"Nobody's perfect. A lot of those selected were worthy but there were some who were not so deserving," observed Victorino.
