Encarnado Offers Help to Amateur Caging

BANGKOK – With an extended hand and an offer to help, Buddy Encarnado hopes to reconnect with the past in coming to the rescue of amateur basketball – the discipline which jumpstarted his managerial career and launched Sta. Lucia Realty from obscurity to prominence as a real estate giant.

And Encarnado, former chairman of the Philippine Basketball Association and the Realtors’ representative to the PBA Board of Governors since 1993, the year Sta. Lucia bought the Presto Tivoli franchise, is looking back – way back – as far as 26 years ago when his team – ESQ Marketing – reigned supreme in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League.

Three years later, in 1987, Sta. Lucia bought the ESQ franchise, going on to wage torrid battles in the league whose name was shortened to PBL after FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, removed the distinction between amateur and professional players.

Six years after, the Realtors made the huge leap to the big league.

But with the present now on hold for him following the recent sale of the 17-year-old Sta. Lucia, Encarnado has more time available and plans to go back to his roots to lend a hand in whatever capacity.

“If I can be the catalyst to its formation, then so be it,” said Encarnado of the proposed PBA Developmental League, a project undergoing a wait-and-see process as leaders of the PBL and Liga Pilipinas continue their joint effort to make a shaky merger work through the Tournament of the Philippines.

“We need to fill the void,” he added.

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud and league chairman Rene Pardo are both monitoring close the outcome of the PBL-Liga partnership, indicating that whatever decision they will make regarding the formation of a D-League will depend largely on the success or failure of the merger.

Encarnado’s vision isn’t confined to just the formation of a D-League, however.

“Whatever amateur league that comes out, we will definitely be a part of it because we don’t want to have a vacuum between collegiate basketball and the PBA,” he said. “The PBA needs a transitory league where the emotions and mental preparedness of the young players can be tempered.”

Sending out a verbal invitation to leaders of the PBL for exploratory talks, Encarnado said he is willing to “initiate” moves to revive the once vibrant league where PBA superstars like Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Bong Alvarez, Jerry Codiñera, Vergel Meneses, Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abarrientos, Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, Kenneth Duremdes and Eric Menk perfected their craft.

“We can’t go wrong if we follow the PBL formula. And I consider it a mission [to make it work],” he said. “Whether it be the DLeague or the PBL, we cannot let amateur basketball go unattended.
It will be a disservice to Philippine basketball if we do. So send out the word that I’m willing to sit down with them and be of service.”

Is anybody from the PBL willing therefore to take up the offer of the man who loves Western movies but is apparently not quite ready to quietly ride off to the sunset just yet?