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    Ken Redfield only has fond memories of PBA and friends gained along the way

    Remember this two-time Best Import? One of the most versatile to play in the PBA
    Jul 6, 2020

    KEN Redfield saw the PBA as a springboard to the NBA. Little did he know that he'll keep coming back again and again again to the Philippines to play basketball.

    Redfield was one of the most unforgettable imports to play in the PBA after stints with Pepsi, Purefoods, Shell, and Sta. Lucia in the 1990s. The 6-foot-4 Redfield won a pair of Best Import awards in the Commissioner’s Cup while playing for Purefoods in 1993 and Shell in 1996.

    Redfield having fond memories of the Philippines is an understatement.

    “We need a grocery list for that,” said Redfield during an interview with the Extra Session podcast, when asked what his fondest memory in the PBA were. “People ask me to this day what’s the best country I played in and my most favorite country to play in. The first country I say is the Philippines.”

    Redfield came to the PBA after a stellar collegiate career with Michigan State where he won the Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten in 1990. He also had stints in the Continental Basketball Association, the forerunner of the NBA G League.

    Redfield, one of the most versatile imports to play in Asia's first pro league, said he heard a lot of things about the PBA and how the league was the perfect preparation for a bid at an NBA spot.

    “I heard that the Philippines was a good league. It kinda mirrored the NBA. The rules were pretty much the same. A lot of great American players playing in the Philippines. We knew about it before coming over. I had to bring my A game,” said Redfield.

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    “The reason I went was to get into conditioning to try to get another shot at the NBA. The months in which the PBA was going on was perfect for me. But once I landed and got my feet wet, I just wanted to keep on coming back,” he added.

    Now, Redfield keeps himself busy with his family while coaching 12-under and 19-under basketball teams in Michigan. But he remembers vividly his time in a basketball hotbed thousands of miles away - and the rockstar treatment he got from fans.

    “As Americans, you go to a Division One college in the States, you are known, you made it to the NBA, you are not known unless you are a superstar," Redfield said.

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      "But in the PBA, you are a rockstar. Once you get off that plane, fans are already at the airport. We couldn’t go out that much. We went to Megamall, we had a big crowd around us. We were treated like celebrities. And for any athlete, for their ego, that’s great."

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      Redfield also has fond memories of the players he faced and the competition he received in the PBA.

      “As far as memories, my biggest memory was playing with all the players that I played with, and playing against the players that I played with. The Allan Caidics, the Abe Kings, the older guys, the Alvin Patrimonios, the Jerry Codineras, Benjie Paras, Magsanoc, Abarrientos, all of these guys, Jojo Lastimosa, I can keep going, Samboy Lim, I can name every player that I played against and played with. It was a great experience because they welcomed me,” said Redfield.

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        Aside from the basketball, Redfield said was glad to fit in and gain friendships along the way.

        “A lot of times, the import would come over and couldn’t mesh with the Filipino players. What I was able to do was right off the plane, they were all great teammates to me and I tried to be a great teammate as well,” said Redfield.

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        “I was a Best Import [awardee] a couple of times, I won championships, but the biggest accomplishments for me was to befriend a lot of the Filipino players, to be able to go to their houses for dinners and spend the night, going to the provinces, and play cards with my shirt off. So I had great memories."

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