MANILA, 17 January 2003 — It was supposed to be a big day for would-be stars, but certified superstar Kenneth Duremdes stole the show from them.
The Annual Rookie Draft in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) that heralded Fil-Am sensation Mike Cortez as this year’s top pick was made more memorable by the fact that Alaska is letting go of its franchise player in what could be the pro league’s biggest trade for 2003.
Indeed, the Aces pulled off the biggest surprise during the the draft exercise held at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City before an overflow crowd as they traded Duremdes to Sta. Lucia Realty in exchange for their first and second round picks this year.
Coach Tim Cone and team manager Joaqui Trillo, as expected, welcomed the 22-year-old gutsy playmaker Cortez to the Aces.
The 6-foot-flat Cortez was joined by three more Fil-foreign players, boosting the Aces’ ambitious bid to reclaim dominance in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.
But the day’s biggest shocker proved to be the Aces’ decision to trade one of the best players today, a move that had the Uytengsu franchise yielding the final piece of the Alaska dynasty in the 90s.
Duremdes was one of the remnants of the Alaska ballclub that dominated the league in the 90s.
He joined Alaska in the middle of the 1997 season — a year after the squad completed only the fourth Grand Slam in PBA history — in exchange for Dwight Lago after spending his first two years with then Pop Cola, which picked him third overall in the 1995 Rookie Draft.
Aside from winning four championships with Alaska, the highlight of his career came in 1998 where he bagged the MVP award. He was also a member of the 1998 Centennial Team in the Bangkok Asian Games under Cone and the 2002 squad in the Busan edition last year.
Two years ago, the Aces also unloaded Abarrientos, Poch Juinio and Bong Hawkins to start what Cone said as “a rebuilding process.”
The Aces’ move of naming Cortez as the top pick, its acquisition of Don Camaso from Talk ‘N’Text in exchange for its 10th pick in the first round and its decision to unload Duremdes may well have completed Cone’s rebuilding process today.
Indeed, the surprise move to ship Duremdes, an eight-year PBA veteran with one Most Valuable Player (MVP) award tucked under his belt, hogged the limelight.
The former Adamson Falcon had reportedly asked management to ship him to ther ballclub because he was “no longer happy with the Aces.”
Actually, Cone knew nothing about Duremdes’ plan to move into a new team and only made know by management during the off-season after the Aces lost to Coca-Cola in the All-Filipino Cup finals, three games to one.
Eventually, the Aces settled the issue as they sent the 6-foot-3 forward to Sta. Lucia Realty which agreed to assume the remaining six years of Duremdes’ blockbuster eight-year, 48-million pesos contract running up to 2008 which he inked with Alaska before the start of the 2001 season.
“Everything went so quickly. Kenneth had sent feelers that he wanted to be traded. And with the salary cap going down, we’re having a hard time coping up with it. We found the opportunity to get young players with cheaper price. Time was running short and we had to make the decision. I wish Kenneth stayed with us,” said Cone.
The dramatic move was finalized just hours before the start of the draft.
“He’s our star. But we have to make some sacrifices if we want to achieve our goal. We really had a tough series in the last finals (All-Filipino Cup), we had some problems. We just have to see in the 2003 season if we made the right decision or not.”
Duremdes, the pride of Koronadal, South Cotabato, was informed of the trade a few minutes before the draft and he took it as a true professional.
“That’s life,” said Duremdes. “That’s part of being a professional. I just have to move on. And since I’m bringing along my contract with Sta. Lucia, at least I could support my family. I also want to thank Sta. Lucia management for believing in me, and I’ll definitely be giving my best come the new season.”
New Realtors coach Alfrancis Chua was more than happy to welcome the three-time Asian Gamer, saying he could ably fill up the hole in the team’s small forward position which was visibly affected since losing Johnny Abarrientos.
“We were surprised. We were looking for a player in the No. 3 position. So we were surprised when coach Tim offered Duremdes to us.” said Chua. “I’m excited to have Kenneth. We all know what he can do. I came into the draft hoping to pick a young player and I ended up with a superstar.”
Chua, who assumed the coaching job position from Norman Black just recently, said Duremdes’ amiable work ethics would rub off on his teammates.
“His leadership on the floor will motivate the team to play harder,” said Chua.
In acquiring the services of the high-flying Duremdes, the Realtors gave up their first two picks in the draft that lasted up to the sixth round.
Sta. Lucia team manager Buddy Encarnado said: “Alaska initiated the trade. We took the gamble and never let it go. This will enhance our image as a truly home-grown team.”
Suddenly finding themselves neck-deep in the pay cap, the Realtors promptly cleared room under the salary cap to accommodate Duremdes’ fat monthly salary by trading Omanzie Rodriguez and Marvin Ortiguerra to FedEx for future draft picks.
Duremdes will still receive 500,000 pesos a month even if the PBA had already lowered the cap to 350,00 pesos beginning this season.
In Sta. Lucia, Duremdes will join a star-studded lineup bannered by 6-foot-9 beanpole Marlou Aquino and 6-foot-6 power forward Dennis Espino, his former teammates with the national team that played in the Asian Games in 1994 and 1998.
Likewise, Duremdes will give the Realtors an added scoring threat that would definitely make them a powerhouse team when the season-opening All-Filipino Cup opens shop on Feb.16.
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Cortez, Adducul lead bumper crop
During the draft, Alaska and Barangay Ginebra picked true to form from a bumper crop of rookies who were picked up by the 10 participating teams in the league.
The Aces made Cortez the top overall pick while the Gin Kings, armed with the No. 2 choice, grabbed the 6-foot-6 slotman Rommel Adducul from the pool of 62 rookie aspirants.
Both prized players went to the teams that have expressed every intention of acquiring them.
“I’m very happy that I was the No. 1 pick. Alaska and its fans have a lot of expectations from me. I hope to do good on my rookie year and with the help of my teammates I could achieve that,” said the 22-year-old Cortez.
“I will try to bring the winning tradition that I brought to La Salle to Alaska,” said Cortez, who helped the Green Archers win four consecutive UAAP titles.
Actually, the selection of the flamboyant guard from San Jose, California, did not come as a surprise because Cone has been consistent with his pronouncements saying he needed a good decision maker on the hardcourt and Cortez fitted the description aptly.
Cone said Cortez may well bring Alaska back to the days of old.
“We missed Johnny (Abbarientos) so much. That’s why we picked Cortez. He’s an MVP caliber player and he’s also a champion player, having won several titles with De la Salle,” said the multititled American mentor.
The 6-foot-6 slotman Adducul, the best big man in the draft, was equally excited after being tapped by the league’s most popular ballclub that ended a three-year wait to join the league.
Gin Kings coach Allan Caidic said the Tuguegarao, Cagayan native would help beef up their frontline.
“We lack a No. 5 man and Romel can fill that up,” said Caidic.
A many-time national team member and the most bemedalled cager from the amateur ranks, Adducul will join Eric Menk and Jun Limpot in forming up probably the most dominant frontline in the league today.
With some unexpected picks and moves in the first round, the draft went on as it was predicted with a total of 40 of the 62 applicants getting the nod of the 10 teams. The draft went on as far as the sixth round.
In a pair of stunning developments, Shell opted for a forward instead of a center it so sorely needs and Talk ‘N’ Text took in an untested forward.
The Turbochargers, badly needing a big man, instead picked Eddie Laure, an all-around talent from Adamson who was instrumental in leading the LBC-Batangas Blades to the 2001 Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) National title, as third overall. Laure was also named the 2001 MBA MVP.
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The Phone Pals, who traded away their starting point guard Gilbert Demape to move up in the draft, picked Fil-foreigner Harvey Carey — a 6-foot-3 forward as fourth pick overall.
“We’re impressed (by Carey) during the pre-draft camp and we invited him to practice for us,” said the Phone Pals team manager Frankie Lim of the 6-foot-3 Carey, a holder of a degree in sociology at Sonoma State.
The wide-bodied Carey was obviously caught unaware by being picked so high and burst into tears while going up onstage.
“There’s so much that happened the past month or so before the draft. My lola died and it really changed the whole plans for my family. They were supposed to be all here for this,” said the 6-foot-3 Carey, who is built like Alaska’s Ali Peek.
Carey played for several seasons for the Senona State College in North California, the same school attended by Coca-Cola Tigers forward Jeffrey Cariaso several years back.
“One of the things the team needs at the end of the season was toughness, and I believe Harvey could provide the toughness we needed this year. He’s going to be a big help to Asi and my other big guys,” said Phone Pals coach Paul Woolpert, who spotted the 225-pound inside banger.
Carey is said to be a do-it-all type of player who works hard on both ends of the court.
The Aces plucked another point guard in 6-footer, Hawaii-raised Brandon Lee Cablay as the fifth overall selection.
Purefoods then selected 6-foot-5 John Billy Mamaril, who has all the tools to become another Rey Evangelista, as the sixth pick.
“I already saw him play and I’m sure he can be a big help.” said Hotdogs coach Eric Altamirano.
Mamaril, son of former PBA player Romulo Mamaril, will be a welcome addition to the already formidable Hotdogs frontline which includes 6-foot-9 Andy Seigle, 6-foot-6 Kerby Raymundo, 6-foot-5 Chris Cantonjos, Evangelista and four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio.
Sensational Enrico Villanueva, who steered the Ateneo Blue Eagles to the UAAP championship, was a disappointed seventh selection, taken in by the Batang Red Bull Thunder.
Villanueva expressed little disappointment despite his low wind-up that was contrary to pre-draft expectations.
“I was expecting that I’ll be drafted earlier. I was really surprised. But coach Yeng (Guiao) is one of the best, and Red Bull is a very good team,” said Villanueva.
The Turbochargers coach Perry Ronquillo said they opted to get Laure over the 6-foot-6 Villanueva when the Gin Kings picked Adducul at No. 2.
