It didn’t seem like too long ago when I first interviewed a fresh-out-of-college, clean-cut, good-looking lad named Wilfred
Steven Uytengsu about his company’s entry into the country’s play-for-pay cage league.
Fred said he was only 23 years old then and, as I recall, was just starting his corporate career with still so much to prove.
In his keynote speech during Alaska’s 25th anniversary celebration in the PBA last Tuesday, Fred waxed nostalgic as he mentioned some of the people who had initially touched his PBA life more than two decades ago.
One of them was former deputy commissioner Tommy Manotoc who had given him an invaluable tip when seated on the negotiating table. “Always ask for more,” Tommy had told Fred.
I never would have guessed what was coming next. Fred shifted his sights toward the direction where I was seated with some members of the media and said that I was the very first scribe to interview him about Alaska buying a PBA franchise in 1986.
“I have the memory of an elephant,” Fred assured me later when I expressed doubt about the dependability of his memory.
* * *
Alaska had cause to celebrate its silver season in the PBA last Tuesday at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati, having collected 13 championships, a grand slam and 25 finals appearances in all those years. The team produced three MVPs in Johnny Abarrientos (1996), Kenneth Duremdes (l998) and Willie Miller (2007-08).
In the last 25 years, Alaska has become the winningest team in the PBA, with most crediting this achievement to the fact that the Aces are one of the best, if not the best-run team in the PBA. It is also the second oldest franchise in the league next to San Miguel Beer.
Tim Cone, who had engineered all of Alaska’s championships, including the grand slam, is now the second most-titled coach next to The Maestro Baby Dalupan. Given two more seasons with three conferences each, Tim is well on the way to catching up with The Maestro’s record.
There were many quotable quotes in Fred’s speech that night, but what I remembered most was the advise he gave to the cagers.
Aware that the playing career of a cager is short, he advised them to “enjoy it for as long as you can, and to give the best that you can,” or words to that effect.
That night the Alaska Aces got their championship rings for winning the second conference title of the 2009-2010 season.
As the evening’s ceremonies were nearing the finale, the waiters made an appearance carrying trays of Alaska Milk-filled wine glasses.
It was Fred’s cue to end his speech and offer a toast:
“To another 25 years in the PBA!” he said.
* * *
If Fred had sounded sentimental and nostalgic during Alaska’s grand 25th anniversary celebration, he was a different Fred the following night at the PBA Press Corps Awards night.
While Fred expressed gratitude over the “Executive of the Year “award he received from media, his tone changed in the speech that followed. He was very serious and somewhat belligerent as he talked about “lopsided trades in the league, violation of salary caps, Fil-shams and “poseurs.” He challenged the teams to “think league” as he concluded his speech which was followed by a wave of deadly silence falling over the audience composed mainly of PBA team officials, governors and players.
“I know the comments were not what a normal acceptance speech would be like, but nevertheless, I felt they were statements that needed to be made since they have been whispered about, discussed on blogs and felt by many,” Fred said the morning after.
“I hope media will now talk about the elephant in the room and help make the PBA an institution we can be more proud of.”