How the MICAA stayed relevant beyond 1975

When the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) was formed in 1975, not a few experts felt that the MICAA would immediately fold up. The prognosis wasn't without basis as almost the top 108 players of the then top league of the country left to turn pro.

The bonafide basketball superstars, including 11 members of the victorious 1973 Philippine team in the ABC, turned pro. Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Francis Arnaiz and Big Boy Reynoso of Toyota, Bogs Adornado and Abet Guidaben of Crispa, Manny Paner, Dave Regullano and Yoyong Martirez of San Miguel, Jimmy Mariano of Concepcion Motorolas and Joy Cleofas of YCO all joined the PBA on its pioneer season. Only Rogelio "Tembong" Melencio was the holdover, opting to stay behind to coach for the Concepcion squad. 

Somehow though, the league survived for another 6 years. It was the PBA who directly benefited from the setup as there were several pro teams that opted to have farm teams in the MICAA. Tanduay had YCO, Crispa had Crispa 400's / Paul Jordan, Toyota had Crown / Frigidaire / MAN Diesel, U/Tex had Solid Mills and Great Taste had Presto. 

In the absence of a draft system, PBA teams were allowed to secure amateur players directly. The only requirement for players to turn pro was a clearance from the BAP, headed by Lito Puyat, whose family owns a team that was also playing in the MICAA - Manilabank. The more talented players obviously had greater difficulty securing their clearance - Arnie Tuadles, Bokyo Lauchengco and Ramon Cruz were some of the big names in the amateur ranks that were not immediately cleared as they had to serve national team duties. 

MICAA Champions

In 1975, YCO won the title at the expense of the Golden Bankers. Manilabank, though, had their comeuppance the year after, turning the tables on the Painters. In 1977, Crown Motors snared the championshp at the expense of Solid Mills, but the textile firm took command in 1978 by demolishing the Painters for the championship.

In 1979, YCO won another MICAA title, beating Frigidaire to make them the undisputed kingpins of amateur basketball and newbie coach Freddie Webb as the toast of the coaching world. Webb was eventually appointed national team head coach in the 1979 Nagoya ABC. On the other hand, his counterpart at Solid Mills, Turo Valenzona, who steered Solid Mills to the 1978 title, was the biggest name in youth basketball as he also steered the FEU Tamaraws to a 3-peat in the UAAP from 1979 to 1981. Valenzona also mentored the Philippine Youth team as they defended their crown held in 1978 here in Manila. 

Valenzona was also secured by new team, APCOR (Asia Pacific Finance Corporation), owned by crony businessman, Herminio Disini. As such, Valnezona was able to bring in a his wards from Solid Mills and FEU to form a super team that eventually won the last 2 MICAA championships in 1980 and 1981.

PBA Recruits

It's noteworthy to mention that the MICAA remained relevant to the fans. Not just because their top players formed the various national teams - whether it was for the ABC, the Pesta Sukan, the SEA Games or the Asian Games - it was also because they were able to heighten their mainstream awareness with their games aired on slightly delayed basis or live (during the championship) at the government-owned GTV-4 network. 

At the same time, the MICAA was able to churn in relatively popular names that made them attract the attention of the PBA teams. Freddie Webb and Mike Bilbao decided to stay in the MICAA in 1975 to help the Elizalde franchise win their first championship since 1964. They eventually turned pro in 1976. The other big names who turned pro in 1976 were former national team members, Gil Cortez (the PBA's Rookie of the Year), Tito Varela and Rudy Hines. 

In 1977, a battery of players brought fresh faces in the Toyota lineup that went 0-3 against Crispa in the 3 conferences of the 1976 PBA season. Joining the Tamaraws were their players from their farm team, Crown Motors - Abe King, Emerito Legaspi, Pablo Javier and Nic Bulaong. Tanduay also brought in a set of new players as part of their own rebuilding efforts. Joining the Distillers were Vic Sanchez, Bert dela Rosa, Gil Catacutan, Virgilio Santos and eventual ROY, Jimmy Taguines.  

In 1978, the highly-touted pair of Renato Lobo and Anthony Dasalla, who just led Solid Mills to the MICAA championship, reinforced the Wranglers in the PBA. Not to be outdone, Tanduay continued with their rebuilding efforts, bringing in hotshot Jimmy Manansala and Abe Monzon. It was SMC though that injected the most number of amateur players - elevating 6 of their stalwarts from the Braves. These were Jess Migalbin, Rudy Lalota, Tony Torrente, Leo Paguntalan, Marlowe Jacutin and Ric dela Peña. Crispa recruited Jimmy Javier and Willy Tanduyan while Filmanbank scored a coup by bringing in another super scorer in Amang Ladores. Manansala eventually won ROY honors.

Quite interesting to note that despite Tanduay's effort to bring in new talents every season, they couldn't seem to find the right chemistry. Their best performance though, happened in the Invitational conference of the 1978 season where they finished runners-up to Toyota, losing in the Finals, 3-1. Another set of rookies joined their stable in 1979 - the likes of former national team players Ely Capacio and Nat Castillo, as well as Gideon Peregil, Rolando Evangelista and Rolly PIneda. Expansion team Gilbey's GIn also brought in 6 rookies to complete its roster. These include Bien dela Cruz, Bing del Rosario, Ric Mallari, Jesusito Martin, Porfirio Rodriguez and Javier Garcia. 

But the biggest winner turned out to be Toyota - who only got one rookie but turned out to be the biggest gem of all. Arnie Tuadles, who played for the SMC Braves before being traded to MAN Diesel in 1979 for Ramon Cruz, was already being eyed as early as 1978 by then Toyota coach, Dante Silverio. Upon securing his services at MAN, Silverio encouraged Tuadles to join the team at the start of the season. Puyat initially balked at the idea, but eventually relented and released the Cebuano star. Tuadles later became the first rookie to crack the PBA Mythical Five as he immediately saw himself being inserted in Toyota's vaunted starting lineup.

The year 1980 saw the domination of the APCOR Financiers, winning practically every national amateur tournament that was held. It's also the year when at least 29 rookies joined the PBA - led by no less than the eminent Jojo de Guzman. De Guzman, who has been playing for Manilabank since the pre-PBA and was already one of the top scorers of the league that time, was obviously the biggest name in his batch, his services being secured by expansion team, Tefilin. Other major names in the batch included former national team players Romy Mamaril and Joy Carpio (both of whom were secured by Crispa), Pol Herrera, Greg Gozum, Cesar Yabut, Dodie Ramas, Ricky Mariano and Biboy Ravanes. Other big names included APCOR player Gary Vargas, the high-leaping forward from PSBA who was obviously the most exciting cager in the group, Willie Generalao from Cebu who eventually won the ROY honors, and UST's Frank Natividad. 

The MICAA held its last tournament in 1981 with APCOR winning the last title. With Danding Cojuangco serving as the new sheriff in the amateur basketball realm, coupled with Disini's financial collapse brought about by the Dewey Dee caper, APCOR eventually disbanded with 4 of its key players being snagged by Crispa after the first conference - Yoyoy Villamin, Bay Cristobal, Cruz and Padim Israel. Two other APCOR players - Alex Clariño and Rey Lazaro joined their 4 teammates in the PBA mid-season - Clariño with Gilbey's Gin and Lazaro with Tanduay. 

But it was Great Taste that profited most by elevating 7 players to their team. Their biggest acquisition happens also to be the tallest guy - the 6'5 Manny Victorino. Joining him at the Discoverers' camp were multi-national team player Joel Banal, Woodrow Jaymalin, Joey Mendoza, Eddie Boy Mendoza, Ric Roces, Jose Roslin and eventual ROY winner, Cho Sison. Tanduay continued to bring in fresh faces, acquiring, aside from Lazaro, the likes of Chuck Barreiro, Alex Marquez and Chito Loyzaga. Unfortunately, Loyzaga only suited up for Tanduay for one game before leaving for Australia, only to return in 1983 to don the Toyota jersey.

With the MICAA disbanding after the 1981 season, there was an expected surge of players that would have turned pro. While there were more than 25 players who went to the PBA, several others also stayed behind, opting to be part of Cojuangco's national training team. The biggest name in that group would be Hector Calma. The other veteran names who could've easily turned pro in 1982 were Elmer Reyes, Lauchengco and Leo Austria. Still, there were those who opted to turn pro - with Toyota getting the best deal by hiring 4 young players in their desire to secure their future - Ed Cordero, Tim Coloso, Ricky Relosa and Terry Saldaña. Tanduay ushered in NCC sentinels Frankie Lim and JB Yango as well as Melvin Martin and APCOR's Zaldy Latoza. San Miguel Beer also took advantage by bringing in 3 players - Kenneth Yap, Bambi Kabigting and ROY Marte Saldaña. 

One can conclude that the MICAA, despite losing its top superstars to the PBA in 1975, remained relevant. Sure, there were the pain points like the country losing its reign in Asian basketball, or the inability of any of the players who suited up in the MICAA from 1975 to 1981 to win a PBA MVP award. The MICAA continued to draw crowds though, particularly during championship games, that filled up the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and generated excitement from the fans' rabid support. At the same time, they served a purpose, unplanned though, to provide a pipeline of streaming talents who will eventually emerge in the pro ranks.