MANILA, 23 November — One sportswriter has carelessly described Ginebra’s rookie sensation Mark Caguioa as the second coming of Robert "Sonny" Jaworski, the acknowledged Living Legend of Philippine basketball and now a proud senator of the republic.

To the jaded observers, obviously, it is grossly exaggerated. A blatant lie.

A honest mistake. Or simply, a typographical error.

But the way the electrifying Fil-Am sends the crowd into frenzy every time he sees action on the hardcourt, the way he stirs up a sometimes sleepy audience and then turn them to his side like thousands of raving Hulkamaniacs, you would think the description may be perfectly right after all.

No doubt about it, Caguioa is one of the hottest cage stars today in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

But then again, does the soft-spoken 22-year-old rookie deserve such attention and admiration fit only for heroes, if not legends? One thing is for sure, though. Caguioa’s rise to prominence is phenomenal, and still, his game is steadily on the rise. Slowly but surely, he’s carving out a name for himself.

In other words, everything’s looking great for him.

While it took Jaworski more than three decades to earn the accolades and the adulation of the Filipino basketball republic, Caguioa has instantly won the hearts of a big legion of fans where his team’s reputation is synonymous with when he made his debut in the PBA this year.

He has become one of the darlings of the Ginebra crowd. A certified crowd-drawer. He has gained millions of fans who regularly chant his name like he is one revered cult leader, or a Hollywood star.

"I never thought it would be like this. But I’m enjoying every minutes of my stint in the PBA. I am very thankful I’m getting this attention. Of course, the pressure is always there so you have to come up with good performances all the time because the fans expect a lot from you," he said.

In less than a year, his name has become a byword among basketball fanatics, especially the young ones. Maybe his blond-colored hair may have something to do with it for he is easily recognized anywhere when he takes his cap off, but more than the hair color is the heart that never says die, the performance where he gives his all, and the brand of play that never surrenders - no matter what.

"I’m lucky to be with Ginebra San Miguel. I know that this is a popular team, and I love the way the fans have cheered for us. I’d like to admit that the cheers, the fans, the screams that we get, that are the things that fire us up and raise our adrenalin. You surely play better when you know that a lot of people are looking up at you and praying that your team would win," he said.

They love watching him play, or his mere presence alone matters most for them. His arrival has helped the PBA earn more not just from the gate receipts but also from its TV earnings because almost everyone is intrigued, wanting to see a glimpse of the man who has earned the nickname "The Spark", and how he performs each game.

Player of the Week

At the rate he is playing right now, there is little doubt that Caguioa will bag the PBA Rookie of the Year award.

So far, his biggest claim to fame is his being a vital cog in helping a rag-tag Ginebra team reach the finals of the All-Filipino Cup this season in his maiden appearance in the league.

True to Ginebra coach Allan Caidic’s bold prediction when he watched him play during a team’s scrimmage before the start of the All-Filipino Cup, Caguioa has become a big-time player in the league.

For that, he has cornered a lucrative deal to be the official endorser of No Fear - an apt description to his devil-may-care style of play.

He has won several Player of the Week citations - an award being handed out by sportswriters who are regularly covering the PBA beat.

In the All-Filipino Cup, in particular, Caguioa earned the distinction as the first player to win that award in three consecutive weeks.

And in the ongoing Governor’s Cup, he grabbed the last one. He has done it again.

The Mandaluyong-born Caguioa who was raised abroad, became the hands-down choice for Player of the Week from Nov. 5-11. He reaped the big dividends after leading the Kings to the quarterfinals of the import-laced, season-ending conference.

In a game that typified the character of the spitfire guard who sports dyed-blonde hair, Caguioa sent the Kings to yet another quarterfinal stint.

Caguioa, along with backcourt partner Jayjay Helterbrand, with whom he forms a tag team partnership known as the "Headband Brothers," rallied the Kings from double-digit spreads past Tanduay 88-85 for an outright slot to the next round.

"The second unit really did it for us. Guys like Mark, Jayjay and Elmer (Lago) came off the bench and gave us the energy. We were really flat going into the third quarter so I decided to just take the starters off and put in our second unit," said Caidic.

Led by Caguioa and Helterbrand, the Kings came charging mightily back from a huge 19-point deficit and turned the virtual knockout game into a staring match down the most decisive stretch.

And true to form, Caguioa never blinked.

"What can I say? Mark’s determination is really laudable. He doesn’t care about being a hero or a goat. He just wants the ball in his hands and he wants to take the big shot," said Caidic.

Even after missing on a looping short stab that could have given the team the lead, Caguioa never lost the nerve to take the biggest shot of the game.

He’s, after all, known for that ever since - aggressive and daring.

Isolated against veteran Bong Hawkins in the left baseline, Caguioa made a crossover dribble, put a step forward and then pulled up for a jumper that swished the net.

All hell broke loose and the foundation of the PhilSports Arena almost gave in.

Although there were still eight seconds remaining, enough for Tanduay to fashion out a reversal, it was clear the Rhum Masters were left for dead after Caguioa’s basket.

"That was a big win for us. I’m really speechless. I don’t know how we won that game. I guess it’s really all heart and the fact that the players never gave up," said Caidic.

The fact that the Kings won against a Tanduay team that was complete for three games for the first time this season made the win sweeter.

After all, this was the same Tanduay team that rallied from 19 points down to beat the powerhouse San Miguel squad.

And Erik Menk was virtually unopposed in the shaded lane, considering the Kings played without star center Alex Crisano.

But Caguioa and his band refused to give up. That’s why despite the fact that Ray Tutt, Askia Jones and Poch Juinio were strong candidates for the Player of the Week citation, it was Caguioa who won the award.

You see, the 6-foot-2 Fil-Am player was the surprise first round pick in the 2001 Annual Rookie Draft. He was an obscure entry, and his selection to the glamorous La Tondena team bothered some die-hard Ginebra fans.

When Caguioa’s name was called as the No. 3 pick by Ginebra, not a few raised their eyebrows.

For no one knew who he was then and from where he came from. No one knew about his credentials. Some even doubt if he could show glowing credentials to deserve a place in the Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

No one knew how he plays - and no one cared to take a second look at him.

But after several performances, he stormed into the PBA like a speedy bullet train and came perfectly at the target - the hearts of the local basketball fans.

He knocked at the door of the pro league as a virtual unknown. Lady Luck smiled at him and Ginebra management readily acquired his services.

And he has been a revelation this season far from the mysterious player who was drafted third overall in the annual rookie selection. Ironically, he was the last player to submit his application for the draft.

Shell’s Perry Ronquillo had the second pick in the draft, but passed on Caguioa and, instead, took another Fil-Am, Michael Hrabak, who’s turning out to be a bit overrated.

With the next pick, Ginebra grabbed Caguioa. It turned out to be a precious catch for the Kings.

"Mark has the guts," said Caidic. "The guy really steps up to the challenge." Caidic revealed that he knew Caguioa since last year. Prior to the draft, he had been receiving tapes of Caguioa’s games from his manager Chiqui dela Rosa, who has sometimes been responsible for sending imports to the Kings.

Paul Howard, a close friend of Ginebra consultant Ron Jacobs, was asked to watch Caguioa play in actual games in the US.

Howard was impressed with what he saw and immediately told Ginebra officials Caguioa was a prized find.

Caguioa is one of those being given credit for reviving a team that has lurked in the doldrums the past couple of years. He is one key factor for the Kings’ march to the All-Filipino finals.

His spark is shining so bright right now so that the first time you see this young fellow with a honey blonde hairdo, you’d think he is from another planet.

He said he just dyed his hair and even if he has been away from the Philippines for almost a decade, it didn’t mean that he couldn’t speak the Tagalog language. As a matter of fact, he speaks his mother tongue fluently, far better than other fellow Fil-Ams.

‘The Spark’

Sure, he can play, although apparently he performs best coming off the bench. He has all the superstar-caliber moves: a lightning-quick first step, exceptional range on his jumper, quickness and agility, and a keen defensive pair of eyes. And, oh yes, a big heart. What’s more: he is not afraid to take over the game at crunch time and take the big shots during crucial games - a sure sign of a winning attitude only great players are blessed with.

No doubt Caguioa can shoot the three or drive strong to the basket; it doesn’t matter, he almost always gets his points. On several occasions, a miss would have almost certainly cost his team the game.

His demeanor projects coolness and poise. His facial expression is rather intense but not too emotional. As a matter of fact, he always wears the decent smile surrounding his nice attitude.

He wants the ball in his hands, and he almost always delivers. To do that is amazing enough, but to do that in just his first year in the tough professional league playing against established superstars is downright improbable.

Rookies aren’t supposed to do this, right? But Caguioa does it - always.

His heart-and-fire type of play is so appealing to the Pinoy fans. He is blessed with an athletic frame, a killer crossover, a deft touch from the perimeter, an explosive first step, and a vertical leap that almost seems to defy gravity. Fans like it even more when he goes for strong moves inside the paint defying bigger men.

Every time his mentor sends him in, he would deliver and unleash performances which sparks the adrenalin of the rest of the team. That’s why he is called ‘The Spark’ in the "basketball-landia".

The man, who left for the US at age nine to give in to his parents’ wish to be with them and returned to his land of birth at age 21, enjoys this monicker as he is now one of the most popular cagers in the league.

This young man has caught the league by surprise as he comes up with above-the-rim performances each game which easily makes him as one of the most colorful and yes, most admired PBA players this year.

But like the other superstars who have come in and out of the league through the years, it is hoped that his phenomenal rise to stardom wouldn’t make his head swell.

Caguioa smiled.

"It won’t happen for since birth I think I already have a big head," he said in jest.