ALLAN Caidic has a lot of wonderful memories when it comes to the national team and the Jones Cup in Chinese-Taipei.
'The Triggerman' was part of Ron Jacobs' Northern Consolidated team that carried the banner of San Miguel Beer in 1985 and ruled the Jones Cup, beating a US side led by future Phoenix Suns draftee Kenny Gattison in the final.
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Thirteen years later, Caidic was the most senior player but still as deadly as ever when the Asian Games-bound Philippine Centennial Team of Tim Cone lifted the trophy in one of Asia's longest-running basketball championships.
One particular memory came racing back for the Philippine legend on Wednesday when news that Strong Group Athletics' bid for a title hat-trick at the Jones Cup was railroaded by a format change that seeded the host team to the Final Four.
That happened during the 1998 finals when the Centennial Team battled the home team in downtown Taipei, which is home to thousands of overseas Filipino workers.
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From their first game on, the Centennial Team played as if it was at home, enjoying loud support from overseas-based countrymen. But that changed in the final when local fans were 'prioritized' in the ticket-selling.
“Hindi ko na gaano maaalala 'yan pero natatandaan ko ganun nga nangyari. Ang daming Pilipino sa labas ang hindi makapasok,” the former PBA MVP recalled.
Upon its arrival in the venue, the Philippine team was greeted by the sight of dozens of disenfranchised fans desperate to get in.
So what some of the Centennial Team players and staff did was bring in some Filipino fans through the players' entrance as 'companions.'
“So ang ginawa namin ng mga teammates ko, nagpasok kami ng mga Fipino fans sa players entrance. Otherwise, puro Taiwanese ang audience talaga nun,” he said.
“Napakadaming Pinoy ang gustong manood. As in punong-puno 'yung labas kaya nga nag-decide kami na ipasok sila kasi kawawa naman,” Caidic added.
Those who got in became witnesses to a thrilling 82-72 Centennial Team win over the hosts - only the second time a Philippine side won the Jones Cup.
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