Contrary to what the title suggests, this piece isn’t referring to the classic Bruce Lee film. It is about the Dragons of Pampanga, who ruled the inaugural edition of the Metropolitan Basketball Association 25 years ago.
Headed by Philippine Basketball Association’s first-ever Rookie of the Year awardee Gil Cortez, the group gathered together on 7 December at the Sixty Four Resto Bar of Vista Mall in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Former PBA Most Valuable Player Ato Agustin, a key figure in the Dragons’ title run in 1998, graced the reunion as well as Udoy Belmonte, Long David, Eric Gascon and Noy Pido, who now coaches the General Santos City Warriors in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
Also in attendance was former Toyota star Ompong Segura, Cortez’s former teammate who helped the late Aric del Rosario in coaching the Dragons.
Agustin recalled the glory days of the Dragons and how he needed to get back to tip-top condition after suffering an injury from his previous PBA team, Mobiline.
“We worked on a buyout of my contract as I really wanted to join my hometown, Pampanga,” Agustin said.
“But I knew it’s a lot more challenging as I needed to regain my strength since I was coming off an injury.”
Cortez said the management’s main thrust was to field an all-Kapampangan roster. But later on, he realized that they need to put a balance of homegrown and professional players to become even more competitive.
Del Rosario, according to Cortez, was the most logical choice, not only because he was from Pampanga, but he was also one of the most successful coaches at that time.
Del Rosario, after all, was the architect of University of Santo Tomas’ four-peat from 1993 to 1996 and was part of the coaching staff of Alaska, which was considered as the PBA’s team of the decade in the PBA after winning a rare grand slam in 1996.
“I remember Coach Aric would design plays and he’ll have two pieces missing in the diagram,” Agustin said in jest.
“That’s because he’s used to running the triangle offense.”
Turning serious, Agustin believes Del Rosario was cut out for the job after they defeated John Ferriols and the Negros Slashers in the National Championship.
“We knew what to do as Coach Aric had already drilled us in practice,” Agustin said.
For David, Del Rosario’s strength isn’t in the Xs and Os department.
“Coach Aric may not be the best in Xs and Os, but he was excellent in match-up situations, not to mention that he’s also a great motivator,” said David, who won a championship in Far Eastern University while playing with Johnny Abarrientos, Nestor Echano, Arnold Padaong and Gascon.
For David, Pampanga’s creation had somehow revived his basketball career.
“I was stuck in the bench at Sta. Lucia in the PBA as I have to share minutes with Dennis Espino and Jun Limpot and it’s going to be a lot more difficult for me to play in tournaments with imports,” David said.
“Having a Pampanga team gave me an opportunity to showcase my talent, again, and what’s more important is, I can showcase it in front of my kababayans.”
Memories were rekindled 25 years after the Dragons won the first and only MBA championship and Cortez and the remaining members of that old Pampanga team were able to relish that great experience once again.
It was brief, but sweet for them and their beloved Pampanga.
