THOSE who had the pleasure of witnessing the Aerial Voyager take flight can definitely attest that he could hardly be grounded by anyone or anything.
Not even a hangover.
Vergel Meneses recalled the time when he and a Philippine Centennial team that was then preparing for the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok played a PBA selection in a two-game series during the All-Star weekend in Cebu and Pasay.
Flying to Cebu for the first leg, the national team high-flyer decided to unwind after practice on the eve of the All-Star game at the Cebu Coliseum on July 10, enjoying a few drinks along with pal and PBA All-Star Bong Hawkins and two others.
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“Ayaw kong baguhin yung routine ko kasi,” Meneses said about his rituals during road games in the Locked Down podcast on Sports Beat PH. “So nagkwentuhan kami nila Bong Hawkins, inom ng konti. Di naman talagang totally na madaming nainom.”
“Kwentuhan lang kami about basketball. Kasi si Bong Hawkins, barkada ko talaga yan. Mag-kumpare talaga kami noon. Napagkukwentuhan namin yung about sa mga Presto days namin.”
“So naghiwalay kami. Pumasok na ako sa room ko,” he added.
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Meneses’ roommate and national teammate Jojo Lastimosa had stayed behind.
“Si Jolas kasi ‘di naman umiinom yun,” Meneses said.
“Around 2 a.m. na yun eh. Natutulog na pala si Jojo. Dahan-dahan pa akong pumapasok.”
Meneses still woke up Lastimosa, who worried about how his teammate would perform as the national team began its buildup for the Jones Cup a month later and the Asian Games in December.
“Pagpasok kong gano'n, sabi niya, ‘May laro tayo mamaya. Hindi ka ba maihirapan niyan?’ Meneses said.
“Biniro ko lang. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Jo, malamang best player ako mamaya,’” he added with a chuckle.
True enough, Meneses, despite waking up even earlier than Lastimosa at 7 a.m., still ended up playing well enough to stand out in the Cebu game as well as in the Pasay leg at the Cuneta Astrodome to grab his second All-Star MVP trophy, in the process becoming the first player to win the award multiple times.
“Sanay ako sa ganun,” Meneses continued about road games. “After noon, sabi niya (Lastimosa), ‘Saan ka kumukuha ng lakas?’ Natawa lang din kami.”
“Kasi si Jolas talagang very ano 'yun, yung leadership nun iba talaga,” he continued.
“Kaya lang, iba yung way ko din,” he was quick to add. “Kung saan ako comfortable, yun ang gagawin ko. Kung anong ginagawa ko sa bahay bago mag-game. Pag out of town, ganun ang ginagawa ko.”
“Konti lang,” Meneses added about drinking alcohol. "Para ma-lessen lang yung pressure sa paglalaro…Beer, ganun lang. Naghahanap lang ako kakawentuhan…Tapos pahinga.
“Kailangan konting tulog lang,” he joked. “Pero may mga players na ganoon. Pag sumobra sa tulog, pangit ang laro.”
But looking back, Meneses would’ve done things a bit differently in terms of being better-conditioned, making his reflection in this age of basketball where players prioritize taking care of their bodies to last longer in their respective careers.
“Eventually, at my age na yun, parang nandun na ako sa 32 na, pa-33 na, minsan naiisip ko, dapat pala hindi (mag-puyat).”
The pride of Malolos and Bulakan, Bulacan managed to sneak in lifting weights at the tail-end of his prime.
“Sa bagay, nung around 31 na ako pataas, doon na ako nahilig mag-gym,” Meneses said. “Kasi hindi naman uso gym noong araw, di uso weights nung araw. Doon na ako nahihilig talaga, nagpa-train ako kay Dan Rose. So hinawakan niya talaga ako."
Under the renowned trainer, Meneses religiously went to the gym five times a week and implemented a strict diet.
“Sabi ko, dapat nung araw pala, ganoon na pala talaga dapat,” Meneses thought. “Pero hindi naman ako nanghinayang kasi nag-Most Valuable [Player] ako sa ganung way.”
The 1995 PBA MVP and three-time Best Player of the Conference is simply telling the younger generation that there’s a better way.
“Sa akin, sinasabi ko para sa mga bata, dapat ang conditioning is number one talaga. Para tumagal ka sa PBA.”
Eventually coaching his alma mater Jose Rizal University, Meneses actually didn’t mind if his Heavy Bombers would have a drink or two – as long as they came to practices and games prepared for the grind.
“Ako kasi sinasabi ko, basta wala akong pakialam after practice kung ano gawin ninyo. Maglasing kayo or ano, basta importante pag nasa practice kayo, one-hundred [percent] kayo, ibigay niyo todo.”
Like the Aerial Voyager glided through hangovers.
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