PBA: Emman Monfort's improbable professional debut

Emman Monfort, all 5’6" of him, made his PBA debut in the game between the Barako Bull Energy Cola and the San Mig Coffee Mixers last Sunday. The rookie who was selected 16th in the 2012 PBA Draft checked in to the game with little fanfare. Only a handful of fans who knew him from his Ateneo days cheered him on.

[Related: Barako snaps six-game skid with win over San Mig]

He proceeded to score on a couple of free throws and dished a nifty pass that Even Brock turned into a two-handed slam. He even got a steal off Denzel Bowles.

Monfort was all over the court as usual. He has always played this way, so it wasn’t a surprise for those who knew him. For those who haven’t seen him, it was like watching the Tazmanian Devil play basketball.

What was surprising, both for those who knew him and those who didn’t, was the fact that the diminutive guard was a vocal leader on the court.

“You got help! You got help!” Monfort shouted at import Evan Brock, as the latter defended Bowles. “Don’t give him the baseline,” Monfort added as Brock closed in on Bowles. A help defender then trapped the Commissioner's Cup's reigning Best Import awardee, which forced him to turn the ball over.

This was Monfort’s first game as a PBA player as he missed the entire first conference due to a broken hand. Yet, when he was thrust under the spotlight, Monfort didn’t shy away from it. He took the reins that were handed to him and proceeded to direct players who towered above him.

With about four minutes left in the game, Monfort was subbed out to allow Jonas Villanueva and Josh Urbiztondo to finish the game strong, but when San Mig mounted a comeback, Monfort was brought back into the game.

With 24 seconds left, Monfort was fouled. Barako Bull was up 102-100 and two free throws would seal their upset win. He zoned in at the task at hand, calming himself with the thought that he’s been here before. But it wasn’t the same. This was the PBA, not the UAAP. He hurriedly released a shot that bounced off the rim. Monfort then took a deep breath before scoring on his second free throw.

Monfort’s Barako Bull defeated San Mig to stay alive in the Commissioner’s Cup. In the game, Monfort tallied three points, two rebounds, five assists, and a steal. His numbers for this game might have been modest but the story of how he got here is immensely proud.

“Mga grade 3 ako nung mag-umpisa akong maglaro ng organized basketball,” Monfort said. “Maliit talaga ako compared dun sa ibang ka-age ko pero yung linalabanan ko mas matanda at mas malaki sa akin kasi di naman ako gagaling kung puro ka-height ko lang yung mga kalaro ko.”

A 5’6’’ point guard from Iloilo was not supposed to play in the UAAP, but you couldn’t tell Monfort that. When he got news that the Ateneo Blue Eagles would be visiting Bacolod, he hopped on a boat to try his luck.

When the fun-sized player made it to the UAAP, even Ateneo fans were not sure if he would be a good player. With a 5’7" Jai Reyes already in the line-up, the last thing the Blue Eagles needed was someone smaller, but that’s exactly what they got in Monfort. During his first year, Ateneo lost to UST in the Finals. They were booted out by DLSU during the stepladder postseason the following year. Monfort then watched Ateneo win a UAAP championship from the sidelines as he was relegated to Team B.

At that point of his career, Monfort could have given up. He could have accepted that he would never earn back his Team A slot. He was supposed to spend another year with Team B but a late scratch opened up a spot for him.

Three years later, Monfort spoke in front on an adoring Ateneo crowd at the Church of the Gesu. It was October 4, 2011. He played his last UAAP game by leading Ateneo to a fourth straight title.

“This is your end product right here,” he told Ateneo head coach Norman Black as he sheepishly grinned. “It pains me to leave you and that we won’t go to battle anymore but I’ll play for you any time. Just give me a call, maybe for Talk ‘N Text.” Even after all he accomplished, the idea of Monfort playing in the PBA felt like a pipe dream even for his most avid fans.

He was already too small for the UAAP and he’ll be even smaller against the behemoths of the PBA. But again, you couldn't tell Monfort that.

After he was drafted, the jury was still out on whether Monfort was really PBA material. But after his first game, all that doubt is gone. The fact that he was in the Barako Bull line-up ahead of much bigger guys like Woody Co, Reil Cervantes, and Jason Ballesteros is a proof of his tenacity. The fact that he played more minutes than his Ateneo seniors Doug Kramer and JC Intal is proof of his resolve.

Monfort walked out of the SM MOA Arena with his mother Nemia by his side. As he stepped out of the door, fans rushed to him for pictures and autographs. “Grabe, wala naman ito kanina pagpasok ko,” said a surprised Monfort. His mom, witnessing how the PBA fans accepted her son, was on the verge of tears.

“Di ko inakalang mangyayari ito sa anak ko,” Nemia said as she looked on. “Nung kinausap kami ni coach Norman nagulat talaga ako. Sabi ko sa kanya ‘Are you sure? My son is so small.’”  

As the crowd thinned a group of three kids approached Monfort, the tallest of which was almost as tall as the PBA player. They made him sign their shirts and even their shoes. When they posed for pictures, they didn’t look like three kids posing with a PBA player. The scene was more like four friends having a picture together.

These kids were his target market. None of the kids looked exceptionally tall for their age. None of them have former professional basketball players for fathers but they all love the game just the same. With Monfort, they see a PBA player they could really connect with, whom they can really idolize.

“Sana kahit papano magtagal ako sa PBA,” Monfort said. “Gusto ko na mas marami akong ma-inspire na mga bata kasi wala naman talaga sa height yan, nasa puso.” - AMD/OMG, GMA News