Happy Birthday, James Walkvist ( July 20 )
Aris Garcia
Happy Birthday, James Walkvist
Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)
1999 PBA Rookie Direct Hire
2000 Philippine Cup champion
5-season PBA veteran
2-team PBA veteran
City College of San Francisco forward
Well, it was one of Danding's boys, Eddie Joe Chavez who thought of bringing in a group of real Fil-American players in one team for a series of exhibition games three years ago and this line-up included now-PBA cager Jeffrey Cariaso of Alaska. It was the same Chavez, who had the opportunity to play against a six foot ten Fil-Swede, not Fil-Am this time, the following year in local Filipino basketball tournaments in San Francisco and invited the same to join the Fil-Am team he was forming for another trip to the Philippines. The cager's name, James Arthur Pangan Wallkvist, son of Arayat, Pampanga native Estrellita Pangan and Swede Bo Wallkvist (who passed away 5 years ago), and he now plays for Oriental Battery in the on-going Philippine Basketball League (PBL). "It was a chance for me to see what my mom and my grandpa were talking about, that's why I readily accepted the offer to to come to the Philippines. In fact, my grandpa, who is a veteran of the Bataan Death March and was the one who brought my mom to the States, is very proud that I am now playing here," said the genial 24 year old giant who leads the league in rebounds with an 11.3 average per game, slightly higher than his 11 points per game production in 8 games, and in the process, helped his team to a 6-2 win loss record to tie 3 other teams for first place after the eliminations (the team made it to the semis). And talking of more stats, he sees action for about 31 minutes per game and on top of his points and rebounds contributions, he also chalks up 2.4 blocks on outing, and almost an assist, .8 per game. Wallkvist, with mostly tip-ins and follow-up has a 49% average for his two points shots, and would you believe, he doesn't hesitate in taking his shot from the rainbow area, trying 12 times with a 25% conversion clip. "Coach Virgil allows me to take 3 point shots when there is an opportunity and I only take it when my guard refuses to come out and leaves me alone," he added with a sheepish smile.
