JEFF Cariaso had a lot of high moments during his illustrious 15-year playing career in the PBA, including eight with Alaska.
There were also low points, the most painful of all that of becoming the unlucky 13th player cut from the RP Centennial Team in the 1998 Asian Games.
The pool of 13 players all made the trip to Bangkok for the Asiad, with the understanding that one won't make the final roster.
Unfortunately for Cariaso, it was him.
“Honestly, very, very hurt and disappointed,” said Cariaso during a recent Hoop Coaches International webinar . “I remember after him telling me that, I went for a long walk. But that initial feeling, crying, I didn’t want to see the guys."
Him was Tim Cone, who was even his coach at Alaska including in 1996 when the Milkmen completed a historic grand slam in the PBA.
“We were already there [in Bangkok] when it happened. We brought along the 13 guys knowing that we get there, there would be one guy that will be left in the lineup. Of course, everyone was kinda hoping that it wasn’t them.”
Unfortunately for Cariaso, he was relegated to being a scout for the Centennial Team that eventually won the bronze medal in the Asiad.
Three members of the final Centennial Team lineup were from Alaska, namely Jojo Lastimosa, Kenneth Duremdes, and Johnny Abarrientos. The others were Alvin Patrimonio, Andy Seigle, Dennis Espino, Allan Caidic, Jun Limpot, Vergel Meneses, EJ Feihl, Olsen Racela, and Marlou Aquino.
Looking back, Cariaso said the cut inspired him to even become a better player.
Cariaso got into the national team again during the 2002 Asian Games in Busan. Domestically, he won four of his eight PBA championships, a Finals MVP in the 2003 Reinforced Conference, and a Best Player of the Conference award in the 2002 All-Filipino Conference after the Asiad cut.
“I was very hurt but again, it’s one of those things where you use it to inspire you even more," Cariaso, now the head coach of Alaska, said. "That’s really what I did. I can look back and say I handled it okay."
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