Black looks forward to coming season
There are at least three good reasons why Meralco coach Norman Black looks forward to the coming Philippine Basketball Association season with great optimism.
One, ace point guard Jimmy Alapag has come out of retirement.
Two, his team will get two first round draft picks—fourth and seventh—and his plan is to beef up his lineup with players with size and height.
Black said this year’s crop of rookies is abundant with talents and he’s quite certain he will get the cagers he needs.
Three, with the return of prodigal player Rabeh Al-Hussaini, half of Black’s problems regarding the lack of big players is solved. The Filipino-Kuwaiti is 6-foot-7 and weighs 240 pounds. Black is the only coach who can get the best out of him.
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Over a year ago, Al-Hussaini took a leave of absence from his team to attend his father’s funeral in Kuwait. While there, Al-Hussaini discovered that he was getting a big inheritance, far more than he had ever imagined.
I don’t know what the real story is, but the short leave of absence requested by the cager turned longer until he was considered absent without leave by Meralco management.
But just when he has all but vanished from Black’s consciousness, Al-Hussaini touched base and said he wanted to play again.
Al-Hussaini explained that it took long to process his papers and his inheritance. He pleaded for understanding from Black and the management, who were both quick to forgive him.
Al-Hussaini is back in Manila and you might catch him in practice with the Bolts at the Meralco gym.
According to Black, Al-Hussaini “is surprisingly in good shape.”
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The invitation extended to Elmer and Esper Yanga was for the birthday celebration of one of their granddaughters.
But when the couple arrived at the penthouse of Discovery Suites in Ortigas last Saturday, they were surprised to find the place filled with adults, not children the age of their granddaughter.
It turned out to be a surprise birthday party planned by their children Emilou, Jerwin and Jomer for their parents who are both turning 70.
Most of the guests were former officemates at RFM-Swift where Elmer and Esper met and worked for decades. One of them was Rene Pardo, the Purefoods governor who is a close friend of Elmer.
Elmer was PBA governor and team manager for RFM-Swift from 1990 to 2002, the year the franchise was sold to Purefoods.
Former pros Alvin Patrimonio and Zaldy Realubit were at the party, along with Joe Concepcion, owner of the franchise.
