The Big Question: Bogs Has Returned but Can He Make It All the Way Back? (Sports Weekly, 1978)

Sports Weekly Magazine

April 28-May 5, 1978

 

            It had been a full seven minutes since the defending champion Crispa Redmanizers shuffled out of the Araneta hardcourt and back to their locker room, the unlikely victims of a jarring upset impressively carved out by Coach Tommy Manotoc’s U/Tex Wranglers in the big game of the 1978 PBA All-Filipino conference’s inaugural doubleheader.

 

            Normally, such a shocking opening day outcome would have been enough to transform the Crispa dugout into local pro basketball’s version of a funeral home, but this wasn’t to be one of those nights.

 

            Not really because an opening day loss isn’t a setback from which the two-time PBA All-Filipino champs can’t recover, but rather the fact that after nearly two years, the ballclub’s most devastating hit man, good ol’ No. 11 himself, William (Bogs) Adornado, has made his way back to the Crispa lineup.

 

            Bogs was, to be sure, a long time coming.

 

            Since he hurt his knee towards the tailend of the first conference of the PBA’s 1976 season, a year when the Redmanizers scored the league’s first eye-popping grand slam, the former UST Glowing Goldie has been on Crispa’s inactive list.

 

            He underwent a series of treatments for his injured knee after that, including a surgery performed around the middle last year at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital at Greenhills, San Juan, Rizal. Still, his return to the game which he has played so well both as an amateur and a pro remained very much in doubt.

 

            And when during the last electoral campaign for IBP seats, during which the Crispa team played exhibition games to boost the candidacy of Crispa owner and founder, Pablo Floro, Bogs continued to remain on the sidelines although he has joined in its sorties for Don Pablo, this further raised doubts about his ability to come back.

 

 

 

            His name, however, was included by Crispa owner and manager, Danny Floro, in the lineup which the ballclub submitted for the first conference. Despite this, no one, not even Floro or Coach Baby Dalupan himself, was sure whether Adornado would take the first step leading to a long-awaited comeback.

 

            Said Floro when asked whether the inclusion of Bogs’ name in the team slate meant he was all set to play. “It all depends on Bogs. Na sa kanya yun.”

 

            A similar view was expressed by Coach Dalupan, who said, “Only Adornado who can decide whether he’s ready or not.”

 

            Both made it clear they were not about to push Bogs back into the hardcourt, because the extent of his injury was such that only he could really decide whether physically and mentally, but most of all, mentally, he is ready for a comeback.

 

            As for Bogs himself, he remained non-committal although he had told friends that physically, he’s about as fit he can possibly be. He was obviously referring to the jogging and scrimmage sessions that he had been doing since he checked out of the hospital following his operation.

 

            Asked on the eve of the PBA opening whether he’ll play in Crispa’s first game, he said, “we’ll see.”

 

            And so game time for Crispa in its first match of the season came and what the fullhouse of some 30,000 at the Big Dome saw as the Redmanizers made their way in for the ritualistic warmup was Bogs garbed in his old No. 11 uniform.

 

            Very quickly, his presence on the hardcourt in Crispa’s full regalia touched off a buzzing in the stands. Later, the buzzing turned to hard claps and then into an explosion of cheers as Bogs made the first ever field goal he has ever attempted in a PBA game since he was sidelined.

 

            He made another field goal after that, and then went 100 percent on six free throws to finish night with 10 points.

 

            The output – two FG’s and six FT’s – wasn’t anything close to the bushelful of points that Adornado used to rack up before he was injured and forced to spend the next two years on the sidelines, but it wasn’t so bad for a ballplayer who was just trying to get used again to the feel of the hardcourt.

 

            As Crispa manager Floro said: “We couldn’t ask for more.”

 

            Crispa certainly can’t. The fact alone that it has got Bogs back ought to make up for that stiff one at the jaw which the Redmanizers took from the U/Tex Wranglers.

PBA '78: Something Old, Something New (Sports Weekly, 1978)

Sports Weekly Magazine

April 14-21, 1978

 

 

            The biggest news in this coming PBA All Filipino is Toyota’s acquisition of PBA’s celebrated number one forward, Danny Florencio. The former Seven-Up Uncola, in an earlier article, admitted his desire to be and to play with a champion ballclub.

 

            By champion ballclub, Florencio meant Toyota or Crispa or U/Tex or Tanduay. For one sure thing though, he cannot go back to U/Tex where he had a stormy stint, nor Crispa, where he was sacked in 1972. Nor with Tanduay which he left during the happier amateur days. So, it is Toyota straight. And there couldn’t be a better choice. Dante’s squad is in dire need of a first-rate forward who can match skill with Jaworski, Arnaiz and Fernandez. A forward who is seasoned, a veteran who can deliver the points if he wants to regardless of the situation.

 

            Jaworski and Florencio could there be a better combination?

 

            Toyota’s acquisition of Florencio will test anew the stiff rivalry of the Crispa and Toyota teams, and will gauge the duo’s drawing power at the box office.

 

            The fans who were denied of a dream contest between Toyota and Crispa last All-Filipino, where Baby Dalupan’s boys faced Mariwasa for the championship, might be in for another thriller, Crispa having bolstered its slot with returnee Philip Cezar and newcomer Jimmy Javier. Bogs Adornado and Rudy Soriano however are still in the injured list.

 

 

 

            Crispa’s old reliables Atoy Co, Abet Guidaben, Bernard Fabiosa, Freddie Hubalde, Joy Dionisio, Tito Varela, Cris Calilan, Bong Dela Cruz, Rey Franco, Rey Pages, and Mando Torres will still be around.

 

            Toyota, on the other hand, aside from Jaworski, Florencio, Arnaiz and Fernandez, have sophomores Abe King, Emer Legaspi, Nick Bulaong, Ambo Javier and Fort Acuña, Rino Salazar, Jess Sta. Maria and Oscar Rocha.

 

            Not to be outdone are perennial threats U/Tex and Tanduay. U/Tex, fresh from an invitational tournament in Hongkong, has acquired two of the best amateur players in Etok Lobo and Anthony Dasalla.

 

            Aside from its prized catch, U/Tex still has Lim Eng Beng, Boy Kutch, Ricky Pineda, Jimmy Noblezada, Romy Cabading, Rudolf Hines, Ed Camus, Roy Deles, Boy Mora and the comebacking Romeo Frank.

 

            Tanduay has the same team, Freddie Webb, Rene Canent, Joy Cleofas, Abet Gutierrez, Dave Supnet, Jimmy Taguines, Mike Bilbao, Ace Moreno, Ric Catacutan, Vic Sanchez and Bert Dela Rosa.

 

            Newcomers to grace Tanduay’s team this season is top amateur player Jimmy Manansala, Abe Monzon and Ver Santos.

 

            Honda, with new coach Alberto Reynoso, formerly the country’s number one center, is the team to watch this season. It has remained intact except for some old names recruited from the other teams like Orly Bauzon, Tino Reynoso and Caloy Rodriguez.

 

            Retained in the team are Epoy Alcantara, Mark Arriola, Manny Chan, Luke Dacula, Mariano Figuracion, Jun Papa, Jesse Sullano, Mario Marasigan, Ompong Segura, Gil Cortez, and Renan Pablo.

 

            It has lost its big difference, Billy Robinson, who is back in the United States.

 

 

 

            Presto came up with a tentative list of Manny Paner, Ernesto Morales, Johnny Revilla, Danilo Pribhdas, Lory Tolentino, Dante Ritualo, Bien Alenton, Danny Basilan and Boy Clariño.

 

            Royal Tru Orange has the most number of rookies in the team. The squad is beefed up by former amateurs Leo Paguntalan, Marlowe Jacutin, Paul Velasco, Tony Torrente, Richard dela Peña and Rudy Lalota.

 

            Its maintays are Yoyong Martirez, Molet Pineda, Norbie Rivera, Max Baguio and Marte Samson.

 

            Botchok Delos Santos is another addition to the team.

 

            Seven-Up’s lineup reads Jaime Mariano, Roberto Salonga, Jacinto Chua, Alfredo Enriquez, Romulo Palijo, Ernesto de Leon, Lawrence Mumar, Orlando delos Santos, Jaime Otazu, Renato Sidamon, and, hold your breath, Estoy Estrada!

 

            Yesiree, the former hotshot of Tru Orange and considered one of the best pointmakers in the PBA, has joined Seven-Up to fill in the gap vacated by Danny Florencio.

 

            That’s the PBA’s rigodon de onor.

 

            “The All Filipino title is a prestigious one. We always try hard in this conference,” said Coach Baby Dalupan.

 

            “I think we will be better off this year. My boys are physically fit and I am confident we will make it this time,” Coach Dante Silverio said with all optimism.

 

            Words indeed from mentors of PBA’s leading ballclubs which are expected to clash anew and resume rivalry as to who’s who in the PBA.

 

            But then, don’t count U/Tex out. And Tanduay, too. They could play the bride’s role this year, who knows?

 

            On Sunday, after the opening ceremonies, Toyota will face Tanduay while U/Tex test their wares against defending champion, Crispa.