Danny Seigle, Jimmy Alapag and Erik Menk. Photo by Mark Giongco
PBA legends Jimmy Alapag, Eric Menk and Danny Seigle never got to play for one team during their celebrated PBA careers.
But what never happened during their playing years eventually came to fruition in the next chapter of their basketball careers as part of a star-studded coaching staff for San Miguel Alab Pilipinas.
“We always used to talk about that. I think the three of us were to have worked very, very well on the court. We couldn’t form a dream team while playing but hopefully we can form a dream team while coaching,” said Menk, who joined Seigle and Mac Cuan as assistant coaches.
“Not a bad team. They would’ve made my job pretty easy. I’ll just give the ball to them,” said a smiling Alapag, who is now in his second year as head coach of Alab Pilipinas in the Asean Basketball League.
Menk, who played his best years as a member of Ginebra, and Seigle, the former cornerstone of San Miguel Beer, entered the PBA the same year in 1999, four years after Alapag was drafted 10th overall pick by Talk ’N Text.
Between them are 18 championships and nine Finals MVP awards in the PBA.
But that was then and Menk is now looking forward to celebrating his first as a coach after already winning one as a player for the San Miguel Beermen in the 2013 ABL Season.
The 44-year-old Menk is still trying to get himself accustomed to his new title as coach although Alapag always knew the bullstrong big man had always had in him.
“From all of our times competing against each other and even our brief time playing for the national team, he was always one of the players who I had n incredible amount of respect for, for what he did in the league and his work ethic and how he carried himself as a player,” Alapag said.
“But I think what a lot of people don’t know is he’s a great basketball mind and he’s very, very knowledgable about the game and I think his ability to not just work with our big guys but really, our entire team and share his experience and what he knows about the game.”
Menk bared he turned down Alapag’s offer last year and it was tough for him to refuse again.
“They asked me last year and I was busy with some things. It was a bit of a tough decision but I can only say no to Jimmy so many times,” he said.
“So when management asked me as well, I was happy to join their team, I was just scared that I might jinx them a bit, cause they won last year and I wouldn’t want to be the jinx.”
Alapag thinks otherwise.
“I feel as a coach, you can never have enough great basketball minds around to Mac, to of course Danny and now Eric. He is just another piece to hopefully win another championship this season.”