Draft sleeper under microscope

SPORTING CHANCE By Joaquin M. Henson
The Philippine Star 07/27/2006

In sports lingo, a sleeper is a potential star, untested and a darkhorse in the race for recognition.

Chris Pacana, 24, fits the description like a glove. He’s one of 56 applicants for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) draft at Market! Market! in The Fort on Aug. 20 and his agent Chris Tan swears the six-foot, 195-pound guard is for real.

Tan used to play in the PBA so he should know what he’s talking about. He’s also coach Norman Black’s stepson.

Last season, Tan got involved in the business of recruiting imports for PBA teams and brought in Omar Thomas, Omar Weaver, Damien Owens and Kwan Johnson. Now, he’s into representing local cagers as a full-fledged agent.

Yesterday, Pacana showed up for the two-hour morning open tryouts conducted by San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra at the Green Meadows gym. He was among 30 players sized up by coaches Joseph Uichico, Siot Tanquingcen, Juno Sauler, Boybits Victoria and Kirk Collier.

Some of the rookie hopefuls were Christian Luanzon, R. J. Rizada and Don Dulay. Veterans Chris Calaguio, Kiko Adriano and Migs Noble also joined the 3-on-3 drills and 5-on-5 scrimmages.

"I think Chris did okay," said Tan who watched from the sidelines. "It’s really difficult to evaluate your skills in an open run because you don’t get a chance to show everything you can do. But I spoke with Kirk who mentioned Chris is fundamentally sound. Chris needs to work on his jumper but overall, he’s ready to play in the PBA."

Tan said the Ginebra coaches were particularly interested in checking out Pacana and Dulay. A Fil-Am guard, Dulay has played in the Philippine Basketball League and National Basketball Conference and is also ripe for the pros.

Tan likened Pacana’s style to Jay-Jay Helterbrand’s. "Chris plays one or two," said Tan. "He makes good decisions on the court, handles the ball well and is solid from medium range. One of the things he’s working on is his shooting from the PBA three-point line."

Pacana was born in the US to full-blooded Filipino parents from Manila. His father Ernani is from San Miguel and mother Elizabeth Mendoza from Sampaloc. An only child, he came to Manila three years ago to look for basketball opportunities after playing at Concordia College in the US Golden State Athletic Conference. Pacana’s father is unemployed and suffering from scoliosis. His mother works for a Honda dealership in West Covina and is the family breadwinner.

"Chris came here to get a job doing what he does best, playing basketball, so he can help out his father who’s in line to receive a pension but hasn’t gotten it yet," said Tan.

Pacana got a Filipino passport in 2003 and qualifies as a local player in the PBA.

In 2004, he went back to the US and played for Purefoods in the Fil-Am summer Dream League in Las Vegas. He compiled 34 points, nine rebounds and three assists for Purefoods in the Class AAA title game but the Bay Area Heads won, 63-57.

Back in Manila, Pacana was spotted playing in pick-up games by St. Francis of Assisi varsity coach Gabby Velasco who recruited him for the Doves. Pacana made it to the league mythical first team in his only year with the Doves last season.

"Coach Gabby would fetch Chris in his uncle’s house in Blue Ridge every morning to bring him to school," said Tan. "Then, Chris would commute going home. He lived on a P40 daily allowance and an athletic scholarship at St. Francis."

Pacana’s uncle, in whose house he stays, is a session guitarist who has worked occasionally in Regine Velasquez’ back-up band.

Tan said he guarantees that Pacana will work his butt off game in, game out because what motivates him to succeed in the pros is a promise to his parents. It’s a promise to give them a better life.