IT was the PBA’s 50th anniversary celebration, and for Elmer ‘Boy’ Cabahug, it was time to hook up and reminisce with former teammates and colleagues.
The now dual citizen – he’s set to turn 61 two months from now – walked down memory lanes as he set foot anew at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and then had a tete-a-tete with fellow PBA players during the league’s 50th anniversary celebration last April 9 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Along with two-time champion Jimmy Noblezada, Cabahug was among the ex-players who served as special guests of the league when it hosted the doubleheader between Magnolia and Converge and San Miguel against Meralco on its golden anniversary.
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The Cebuano gunner at least still has former teammates who are currently part of the Magnolia and San Miguel organizations like four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, now team manager of the Hotshots.
“Happy ako na nakita ko sila. Kami nga ni Ato (Agustin) nag-atian. Teammate ko siya dati sa Swift,” said Cabahug of the former MVP and San Miguel deputy coach with who he played with at the RFM franchise in the old Philippine Amateur Basketball League.
“Si Biboy Ravanes naman teammate ko sa Alaska. Si Peter Martin sa Pepsi,” he added of the two other San Miguel assistant coaches.
Coming from the famed Cabahug clan of Cebu, the former University of the Visayas star was a second-round pick by Alaska in the talent-laden 1989 PBA draft led by the only MVP-Rookie Benjie Paras.
He played two seasons with the Milkmen before being traded to Purefoods for former Rookie of the Year Jojo Lastimosa in a blockbuster one-on-one deal.
It was with the Purefoods franchise – then still owned by the Ayala family – where Cabahug won two championships playing alongside Patrimonio and Jerry Codinera.
Chot Reyes was his coach when the Hotdogs bagged the 1993 All-Filipino Conference.
He also suited up for Pepsi and Sta. Lucia before retiring from the PBA in 1998.
Until now, Cabahug holds the distinction as the first All-Star MVP who came from a losing team during the 1989 edition of the annual spectacle after the Rookies/Sophomores/Juniors team lost to the Veterans in that famous Jaworski-to-Fernandez game-winning play.
“It’s a nice feeling na nagkita-kita na naman kami. You get to share the experience before until now. Talagang basketball is my first love,” said Cabahug, who was also reunited with former manager Danny Espiritu at the sidelines.
READ The year Mama's Love team of Cebu's finest players took Manila by storm
“Kami namang mga players kasi pag laban, laban kami sa laro because we want to win. “Pero after the game, magkaka-ibigan na lahat.”
At the same time, stepping inside the historic Rizal Coliseum also brought back memories to him.
“I’m very honored na napunta ako ulit dito (RMC) because ang una ko talagang laro (dito) sa Inter-Secondary (Basketball Championship) in 1981. Nag-champion kami rito. High school ako and I was playing for UV. Kalaban namin nun San Beda against Dindo Pumaren,” he recalled.
Four years later, the now 91-year-old venue again gave spark to his then budding playing career.
“Ito ang nag-open sa mga provincial na teams. Naglaro ako sa Mama’s Love,” he said of the popular Cebu-based team in the 80s which was considered as the Ginebra team of the PABL.
“Pumunta kami ng Maynila kami nila Jojo Lastimosa, (Zaldy) Realubit, Ricric Marata, Larry Villanil. Those were my teammates na nag-PBA,” added Cabahug, now a sports consultant of the Mandaue Sports Commission under Mayor Jonas Cortes. “Doon kami na-expose kaya kinuha kami ng Swift hanggang sa nag PBA na ako.
“So it’s a very big honor for me na bumalik ako rito especially sa 50th year celebration ng PBA.”
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