ALASKA held a mini-reunion, as a former colleague who helped the franchise win one of its most memorable PBA championships blew into town for a brief visit.
Former coach Tim Cone, team manager Dickie Bachmann, team captain Jojo Lastimosa, along with some members of the Milkmen welcomed to the country former import Devin Davies by holding a get-together where they reminisced about the good, old days playing for the organization owned by Wilfred S. Uytengsu.
In a number of photos shared on Facebook by another former Alaska import and now-Gilas Pilipinas deputy coach Sean Chambers, Davis, 50, was seen in the company of his former coach and teammates.
Davis, who once sported his famous dreadlocks while playing for the Milkmen, steered the team to the 1998 Commissioner’s Cup championship by beating Lamont Strothers and San Miguel in six games.
The best-of-seven title series pitted Cone against the legendary coach Ron Jacobs, who called the shots for the Beermen in his last PBA finals.
The duel also featured Kenneth Duremdes, who would later win Season MVP, and an emerging freshman in Danny Ildefonso, the Rookie of the Year winner that same season.
Davis for his part, was adjudged Best Import of the Conference.
“Devin is just visiting the Philippines after we were able to reconnect a few months ago,” shared Lastimosa, now-team manager of TNT Tropang 5G, to SPIN.ph.
“We have a Viber group for a while, and we have been talking about him coming over.”
Aside from Cone, Bachmann, and Lastimosa, also present during the mini-reunion were Bong Hawkins, Rodney Santos, Poch Juinio, Kevin Ramas, and former assistant trainer Mike Braga.
Some of players and coaches likewise brought along their respective partners.
It so happened, Davis was bound for Manila to meet a close pal.
“He met his best friend here in Manila after their Vietnam trip, for National Football League Super Bowl champ Duane Starks of the Baltimore Ravens,” said Lastimosa.
The former Alaska great said a bigger gathering by the group will be held down the road.
“He will leave next week and will be back for a longer period of time next year in the summer,” Lastimosa said.
Devin Davis' path to Alaska
A product of University of Miami in Ohio where he finished as one of the school’s top scorers and rebounders of all time, Davis initially played in the CBA before hooking up with the Milkmen.
He also had overseas stints in Russia, Argentina, and Spain where he spent most of his professional career.
It was during his stay in Europe that Davis became a Spanish citizen and can now speak the native language.
Davis also once served as strength and conditioning coach of the University of Alabama and Director of Player Development at the University of Dayton.
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