Eric ‘Major Pain’ Menk is back, for today

PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — It’s flashback Friday for one of the PBA’s greats.

Eric Menk, one of the best big men of his generation in the PBA, might just have drunk his decade-old rhum from his Tanduay closet of his career’s past and put on a show with 14 points and 13 boards.

“I felt good and I never complain about the minutes, I always want to be out there, I’m very thankful that I had the opportunity,” Menk said after his current team, the Alaska Aces, best up Blackwater Elite 69-56 during their recent outing of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum Friday evening.

Menk, who has been playing in the PBA since 1999 said that it’s proper nutrition that helped his longevity, and his significant other for pushing him harder than any coach he’s had.

“Over the years, I’ve learned about fitness and nutrition if you want to play in your late 30s and 40s,” said the 40-year-old Major Pain. “I really attribute that to my wife, she’s great and she always makes sure that I have the right food and enough rest.”

“She’s helped a lot.”

Playing alongside hot shot youngster JVee Casio and the Beast Calvin Abueva, Menk said that what his younger teammates do have been a great help for him.

Abueva, who has been running rampant in the glass had 13 points and 18 boards for Alaska, was the running mate of Menk in the Aces paint.

“He really does all the work for me. It takes two guys to contain him so I’m free a lot down there. It’s really nice to play with good players and I’m liking playing with Calvin,” Menk said. “Him and JVee, they do most of the work. I’m just picking up the scraps really.”