PBA Legends USA News > PBA Legends

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA—I first noticed the chinky-eyed fellow at the San Francisco airport. He was with Abe King, chair of the PBA Legends Foundation USA, and the other Filipinos who were there to welcome the legends arriving from Manila.

He must be a big fan of the PBA, I thought to myself. The fellow greeted all the players, as if they were old-time friends.

Marte Saldaña, who has been based in Frisco for 17 years and now works for LBC, was also there to welcome his former colleagues. Now 49, Marte sported a different hairdo, that’s why I did not recognize him. He had to introduce himself to me.

Except for Samboy Lim and Johnny Abarrientos, the cast from Manila was complete. Samboy had to go under the knife some weeks before departure while Johnny had to attend to a business emergency involving a pyramid scam. The news here in California is that many PBA cagers who invested in the enterprise lost a considerable amount of money.

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I felt better when I learned during dinner at Gerry’s Grill, Union City branch, that it wasn’t only me who had failed to recognize the chinky-eyed fellow—former PBA cager Bokyo Lauchengco, who is now 52. Even his colleagues Hector Calma and Bong Alvarez, who even spoke to him, did not recognize him.

“Have I really changed that much?” Bokyo couldn’t help but ask as we took in the chilly, piney air outside the restaurant.

At least, I immediately recognized Anthony Dasalla, also 52, even if he had been gone from the Philippines for 21 years. In contrast, Bokyo left the country only three years ago.

Anthony works with United Airlines.

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After feasting on a wild combination of Filipino food that included pancit molo, pancit bihon, pancit malabon, bulalo, pork and chicken adobo, fried lumpia, grilled chicken, grilled pork liempo, pakbet, chopsuey and sisig, the Legends prepared to return to the Crowne Royale Hotel where they are billeted.

“I remember when I was here with the national team in l974, after participating in the World championships in Puerto Rico,” Manny Paner waxed nostalgic. “Converse shoes were in vogue then and my teammate Yoyong Martirez bought 10 pairs in assorted colors. When he got home and had time to scrutinize the labels, they all read “Made in Marikina.”

Bogs Adornado, Yoyong’s teammate in the 1972 Munich Olympics, also had an anecdote about Yoyong.

“Athletic shoes were on sale at the Olympic Village and Yoyong just had to buy a pair,” said Bogs. “He didn’t believe us when we told him that what he was buying were wrestler’s shoes.”

Incidentally, there are three Olympians on the PBA Legends Grand Reunion Tour: Robert “Sonny” Jaworski (’68 Mexico Olympics), Adornado and Paner (’72 Munich)

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Paner, who became the object of controversy in the ’70s when his PBA salary soared to P8,000—the highest then, was shocked to hear reports that he had been seen sleeping on the pavement in Cebu because he was dead drunk.

“Where could all that malicious talk have come from? I have been working with the Bureau of Immigration in Manila as a special agent for five years now,” said Manny who had been christened Antonio Banderas by Atoy Co because of his hairdo.

“Antonio Banderas” declined to comment when I asked him to confirm reports that he is now estranged from his movie actress wife Daisy Romualdez.

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Saturday morning, the US-based ex-PBA cagers started arriving from Los Angeles and from the East Coast: Abet Guidaben, Bernie Fabiosa, Yoyoy Villamin, Onchie dela Cruz, Tim Coloso, Cris Bade, Noni Robles, Etok Lobo, Yves Dignadice, Elmer Lago, Jun Jabar, Django Rivera, Romy de la Rosa, Rey Yncierto, Jerome Cueto, Boyet Francisco and, last but not least, the Living Legend himself Sonny Jaworski, who was accompanied by his wife Evelyn and children.

The Jaworskis flew in from Los Angeles, where Sonny was bestowed a special award by Shell, if I’m not mistaken.

Frankly, I have never seen the cagers so excited to see each other. Abe successfully blended three generations of PBA cagers—from the Big J to Alvin Patrimonio to Olsen Racela, who is still active and felt out of place on the tour.