Happy Birthday, Stevenson 'Bong' Solomon! ( Mar 28 )
Aris Garcia
1.
Happy Birthday, Stevenson 'Bong' Solomo
Source : Assorted Magazines/ SWM April 14 1989 (PBA Archives Collections)
5-season PBA veteran
San Sebastián Stag
1991 SEAG gold medalist
STEVENSON SOLOMON
Stevenson Solomon, they say, is the next important big man in amateur caging after Paras moved over to the pro ranks. The 6-4 Solomon, who turned 20 last March 28, has the moves, the build, and perhaps everything it takes to be a star. Bong, as he is fondly called, is the fourth of seven kids (Generoso, Daniel, Judith, Bong, Ma. Luisa, Elena and John Paul) born to Stevenson Solomon, Sr., a contract worker in Guam, and the former Rosario Comora. He completed primary education at the Rafael Palma Elementary School and then finished high school at the Villamor HS. It was during a tournament at the Manila YMCA that he was spotted by then San Sebastian skipper Eton Navarro and later referred to coach Francis Rodriguez. However, because the senior squad was already complete, Solomon was placed on the junior team despite having finished high school. This anomaly was spotted by NCAA offiicials and he was banned for life from the league after seeing action in 1985. "Akala ko sa juniors lang ako banned. Yun pala pati sa seniors. So ang nangyari, puwede lang akong maglaro sa National Inter-collegiate at National Open para sa SSC. Sa NCAA hindi puwede," said Bong. Last year, he made his way to the FilChinese League, PICAA, and played for Concrete Aggregates. Despite minimal exposure, Solomon still caught the fancy of coach Edmundo Badolato when he was still forming the RP Junior squad that eventually finished third in the 10th staging of the 19and-under tournament. Solomon made the 15-man line-up but was later dropped when he missed several practice sessions after suffering a sprain. "Hindi ako nakapag-paalam ng maayos. May sprain kasi ako. Nang bumalik ako, sabi nila sa akin, pinalitan na ako," he recalls. Ironacially, the man who replaced him, Alejandro Lim, Jr., is now his teammate at Burger City. "Hindi naman masama ang loob ko dahil kasalanan ko naman talaga. Pero siyempre, nanghihinayang ako," said Solomon who weighs 185 lbs. "Si coach Rodriguez talaga ang nagpolish ng skills ko. Marami akong natutuhan sakanya. Binigyan niya ako ng confidence," he said.
