CHRIS Jackson, one of the best PBA defenders in history, caught up with former teammates and colleagues on Saturday after a rare visit in the country this week.
The heavily-built Fil-Am who made a career holding down the best players in the league in the mid-90s until the 2000s playing for Formula Shell, was at the Commissioner’s row of the Mall of Asia Arena and watched the featured doubleheader pitting Converge against NLEX, and TNT versus san Miguel.
He was later acknowledged inside the venue for being a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, one of only three players to achieve the feat along with Arwind Santos and Marc Pingris.
The 6-foot-4 Jackson had a grand time reconnecting with former Shell teammates Joey Guanio, now part of the PBA technical staff, and Jolly Escobar, who called the television coverage of the game between the FiberXers and Road Warriors.
Jackson also got to see former coaches Chot Reyes and Adonis Tierra, as well as Jong Uichico, who was the Philippine men’s basketball coach when he played as an alternate during the 2002 Asian Games.
"It was coach Chot who drafted me," he recalled of the 1995 rookie proceedings, where he was picked no. 4 overall and Reyes still then at the helm of the team.
But he didn't get to play for the franchise as he was later traded to Sta. Lucia for the late veteran Jack Tanuan.
"I did get to play for coach Chot at Sta. Lucia. I think that was my third year," said Jackson as Reyes went to the Realtors from the Hotdogs.
It was with Formula Shell that Jackson's career blossomed, winning two championships with the Turbochargers and winning the Defensive Player of the Year in 1998, 1999 and in 2001.
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