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Forgive and forget: Abarrientos wants to move forward


Johnny Abarrientos, the smallest man to win the Most Valuable Player award in the Philippine Basketball Association, and Bong Hawkins shared the spotlight Tuesday night in Alaska’s celebration of its 25th anniversary in the pro league. Both Abarrientos and Hawkins’ jersey numbers were retired at the height of the celebration by the second oldest active franchise in the PBA. In one special evening, Abarrientos, Hawkins and some of the members of the Alaska squad that established a PBA dynasty during the '90s were there in one big function room of the Dusit Hotel and reminisced all the great times they had. It was a special moment for Abarrientos, who bitterly parted ways with Alaska in 2001 as he and veteran slotman Poch Juinio were traded for the Pop Cola Panthers’ Ali Peek and Jon Ordonio. But has The Flying A already forgiven Alaska? “It takes time for it to heal," Abarrientos told GMANews.TV. “I must admit, the lowest part of my career was when Alaska traded me. I was hoping to start and end my career with Alaska, then the trade happened." “But at least I’ve moved forward and learned my lessons. That everything that’s happening in the PBA is business. Any player, no matter how good he is, can be traded," added Abarrientos. Since being traded, Abarrientos recalled that every game against Alaska turned into a personal challenge for him. “I remember during Game 1 of the 2002 All-Filipino finals against Alaska, I went 11-of-11 from the field in the first half, but I was prevented by the doctor to play again, so I missed the rest of the games of the series," said Abarrientos, one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players. Abarrientos had suffered a fractured cheek bone, but the Coca-Cola Tigers went on to beat the Aces in four games of their best-of-five series. But how did it feel to be in the company of Alaska coach Tim Cone, team manager Joaqui Trillo, owner Wilfred Uytengsu and the rest of the members of the 1996 grandslam team for one special night? “It was nostalgic. This is a very special group. You can never find such a group again — composed of Coach Tim, Jojo Lastimosa, Hawkins and import Sean Chambers working together as one unit and solely dedicated to winning," said Abarrientos. It takes another 25 years or more to find a special team Cone and the new-generation Aces received their championship rings, one of the highlights of the night’s celebration. The multi-titled mentor who has won all his 13 championships with Alaska said he felt so special while going back in time. “I was having goose bumps being in the company of Jojo, Johnny, Bong, Sean and all the past members of the Alaska team again for a very special night," said Cone. “But that 1996 grandslam squad was so special, and I believe you cannot find another group like that even in the next 25 years." Sean Chambers, who played for the Aces in different generations – be it as a Milkman, an Air Force or an Ace – flew in all the way from the United States to join the reunion. Chambers doesn’t mind coming back here to join the only team he played for as an import in the PBA. “I was a member of the Alaska team and played for the squad in different generations. I joined in 1989, the same year when Coach Tim became the head coach. I played for the '90s squad, became a member of the team’s first championship squad in 1991, suited up for the grandslam team in 1996 and then played for them until the next decade," said Chambers. “It was indeed a long journey for all of us and it’s nice to be back here." Chambers works as a scout for possible imports for Alaska. In fact, it was he who recommended Diamon Simpson to Cone. Chambers was discovered while playing for the IBA squad in the 1987 Invitationals in Manila. He acknowledged that he's keeping an open mind about joining the Alaska coaching staff, if and when Cone and the management ask for his services. -- KY, GMANews.TV

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