The Final Score: Uncle Yancy is unlikely mentor for San Mig Coffee’s Denzel Bowles

Denzel Bowles is not playing like an import. It’s a strange thing to say about a player who has helped San Mig Coffee win three straight games in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. To say an import is not playing like an import is usually stinging criticism. But in Denzel’s case, it’s a revelation of his advantages. An import in the PBA is usually new to a team and burdened with need to adjust to, well, everything. New league. New coach. New teammates. New country. For Bowles, everything seems the same. It’s as if Denzel blends in with San Mig Coffee, instead of standing out. He’s just one of the guys. He’s happy to follow the same unwritten rules. Follow the coach. Trust each other. And learn from the vets. “I think I’ve learned the game a little more just by playing basketball with the older guys on the team,” Bowles shares. “They are like my mentors, my uncles. They look out for me out there. The big guy who really helped me out behind the scenes last year was Yancy.” Did you see that coming? Uncle Yancy! De Ocampo and Bowles, however, don’t go out on bro-dates. They don’t have coffee or watch movies like best buds. Yet during practice, they’re inseparable as scrimmage partners and aim to push each other into submission. “Last year kasi nung bago pa siya sa team, lagi siya tumutumba. Hindi pa niya masyado alam paano bumangga ng tama noon. Bata pa kasi kaya gigil,” De Ocampo explains. “Tinuturuan ko lang siya paano gamitin mga advantages niya. Pero siyempre sa ensayo, hindi ko siya pwede sobrang saktan. Import namin yan eh. (laughs)” What a concept. Denzel Bowles is the Karate Kid. Yancy De Ocampo is Mr. Miyagi. “Yancy taught me where to be. Yancy taught me how to play physical,” Denzel says. “It’s just me and Yancy everyday. We battle. Yancy is very physical with me so he gets me ready for the game. I’m just glad I only need to go through that in practice. So in learning how to play better, tougher in the paint, Yancy really helped me out.” Denzel is 23. Yancy is 32. In Yancy’s words, “Parang elementary to college ang age gap.” Yet the age gap makes all the difference. Yancy, the 2002 PBA number one over-all pick, has every reason to teach. Denzel, the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup Best Import, has every reason to listen. It was Game 7 of the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup Finals. Denzel was about to take two nail-biting free throws to send the game into overtime. Yancy approached Denzel, who already had tears rolling down his cheeks, and said, “B, it’s your chance. It’s all you. It’s in your hands to win the championship.” Bowles made both free throws. They won the championship in overtime. In the locker room afterwards, Denzel looked for his Uncle Yancy. The Karate Kid and his unlikely Mr. Miyagi, soaked in beer, hugged. Then, Denzel proudly declared, “You’re my man!” - AMD, GMA News