Newly designated Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano is no slouch on the basketball court. He plays a mean game and is able to hold his own against tough opposition.
Last March 29, Yano and five other generals saw action on the Philippine Army team that lost a 96-94 squeaker to the PBA Legends at the Wellness Center in Fort Bonifacio. The goodwill game was the culmination of a month-long celebration of the Army?s 111th anniversary.
Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro, who was at courtside with wife Rep. Nikki Prieto-Teodoro (Tarlac, 1st District) and their son Jaime, said the exhibition was not only in honor of the Filipino soldier but also a tribute to the Army?s support system ? the family and friends of those who put their lives on the line for the country.
Yano, 54, was joined by PMA superintendent Lt. Gen. Pol Maligalig, Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, Brig. Gen. Nestor Ochoa and playing coach Brig. Gen. Charly Holganza on the squad.
The PBA Legends were Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Alvin Patrimonio, Chito Loyzaga, Pido Jarencio, Jimmy Santos, Ryan Gregorio, Siot Tanquingcen, Joseph Uichico, Biboy Ravanes, Peter Martin and Art de la Cruz. Samboy Lim, recovering from a recent knee surgery, was in civvies on the bench. The team was sponsored by San Miguel Corp. and organized by Robert Non.
The regulars on the Army team were ex-pro Ato Morano, Gregorio Malapit, Neil Cabili, Armando Mendoza, Sonny Manucat, Jeffrey Quiambao, Ferdie Go, Archer Calacar and 6-5 center Erecson Araman. Listed in the lineup but no-shows for the game were PBL veteran Eugene Tan and Welcoat sharpshooter Allan Salangsang.
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Guest player for the Army was WBC superfeatherweight champion Manny Pacquiao who is Yano?s good friend. They became close when Yano was based in General Santos City in 2004. Pacquiao, a master sergeant in the reserves, attended the turnover of command rites that formalized Yano?s designation at Camp Aguinaldo last Monday.
Yano clearly leads by example. His recent call for the military to stay fit and trim is a timely reminder to shape up or ship out. No officer is more credible than Yano when it comes to championing the cause of physical fitness.
When Yano played against the PBA Legends, he kept pace with the younger cagers on the floor. He was a picture of a well-conditioned athlete in his jersey with a trim waistline, a flat stomach, broad shoulders and head held high.
But Yano didn?t only look good. He let his playing do the talking. That was the proof of the pudding as Yano led the Army scorers with 16 points.
Yano, newly appointed deputy chief of staff Maclang and Pacquiao conspired to make it close down the stretch. After Caidic hit a triple to push the Legends on top, 88-86, time down to 3:29, Maclang hit a jumper to equalize. Caidic rifled in another triple and Santos got a little help from the referees to pad the cushion to 93-88. Pacquiao knifed his way inside the paint for a reverse layup but Caidic knocked down his seventh trey of the game to give the Legends a 96-90 advantage.
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Yano broke away for a running shot and Pacquiao did a Kobe Bryant by bouncing the ball off the backboard then catching it in mid-air to bank in a reverse hook to inch closer at 96-94. Pacquiao stole the ball in the dying seconds and let loose a triple that was short of the mark at the buzzer. If he had connected, Army would?ve won by a point.
Yano hit shots from different angles but was particularly unstoppable driving to the hole for bicycle layups, reminiscent of how the late Charlie Badion did it.
Pacquiao finished with 14 points, six in the fourth period. The Legends led, 41-36, at the half but the Army was in the driver?s seat, 70-64, starting the final quarter. Caidic wound up with 33 points, including the Legends? last 13.
Santos, 56, provided comic relief and had the crowd in stitches. In the first half, he was the Army?s ?spy? on the Legends squad and even passed the ball to Pacquiao for a wide-open shot on an assist. Santos made up for it later by triggering a fastbreak that resulted in a referee scoring a layup for the Legends a-la Harlem Globetrotters, bringing the house down in the process. By the way, Santos played 13 games for 7-Up in the PBA?s inaugural season in 1975. The popular movie and TV comedian often joins the Legends in friendly games.
The highly entertaining exhibition will be shown in its entirety on sportsman Hermie Esguerra?s Makisig channel soon.
