Leave it to Robert S. Jaworski, the living legend of Philippine basketball, to break the ice as only he can, comment on a burning issue as only he dares, and leave listeners chewing on bits and pieces of information as only he is wont to.
Answering an invitation from PBA commissioner Renauld 'Sonny' Barrios to become part of an advisory group requested by national coach Yeng Guiao, Jaworski was in his elements Monday night at EDSA Shangri-La just after the landmark meeting.
Asked what he and Guiao talked about initially, Jaworski deadpanned: "Tinanong ako ni Yeng kung puwede raw akong maglaro. E sabi ko…"
When the sportswriters broke up in laughter, Jaworski smoothed in: "Tatawa-tawa kayo, e di hawakan nyo muscle ko."
Looking fit and in shape, and striking in light yellow jacket and green collared shirt, the man known as the 'Big J' thanked Guiao for the invitation, calling it "an honor" to be asked to "contribute in our own little way some positive experience, additional knowledge, and insights from past tournaments."
Jaworski, who led the first PBA-backed national team to a silver medal finish in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, was joined by 1984 RP-Hiroshima Games coach Norman Black, 2002 RP-Busan Games mentor Jong Uichico, and 2007 RP-Tokushima Olympic qualifier coach Chot Reyes.
An emergency that arose kept Tim Cone, the 1998 RP-Bangkok Asian Games mentor, from being with the council of national coaches which Guiao sought preparatory to forming the RP team for the FIBA-Asia World Championship qualifier in September 2009.
"I understand that we'll be asked to drop by the practice from time to time, and also to list down our so-called Dream Team for Yeng's consideration," Jaworski said.
"We'll probably look at it together and maybe come up with a team that everybody believes is the right group."
Jaworski, whose charismatic persona and aggressive brand of play stirred fan adulation like no other basketball player in the country, said he might attend PBA games every now and then to scout candidates for his list.
"That's not a bad idea," he said. "But I want you to know that I've been present in the games, mentally and in my soul."
Jaworski was apparently alluding to the Ginebra-Air21 Fiesta Conference Finals last season where Express governor Lito Alvarez revealed Jaworski had played a role in as a behind-the-scenes coaching consultant.
"I know what's going on. I saw those game. Gusto ko ngang pumunta non kaya lang wala kasi akong upuan e...dahil punong-puno."
Two recent issues – the planned acquisition of a naturalized 7-footer for the national team and the unconfirmed hiring of foreign national coach – drew passionate reaction from Jaworski.
Instead of naturalizing a foreigner which would "always involve a question of law," Jaworski suggested that a search be made for a tall player with Filipino lineage that would make him eligible to "vote and play basketball" under the Dual Citizen Law.
"We have so many overseas Filipino workers. Spread the word around for a 20-, 25-, 30-year old half-Filipino player who didn't qualify, say, for the German national team. Then have him come over."
Jaworski also is not keen on the hiring of a foreign coach to handle the national team.
"It's a little way off. Honestly, I hope you don't mind, I don't have anything against foreign coaches, but we have to have some degree of pride at the right time," he said.
"What if you have a foreign coach and the national team wins? What do you achieve? 'Champion kami!' Who's your coach? 'A Scaramooch.'"
A two-month seminar where the foreign mentor can pass on his "best attributes and best messages" to local coaches who already have international experience, Jaworski believed, "can produce very, very good results."
Stories about him making a comeback in the PBA as coach of the Air21 Express, Jaworski said, will have to be left as stories – for now.
"They (Express owner Bert Lina and his family) are good friends, wonderful people," the former Ginebra playing-coach said. "But it's just that at this time of my life, there are a couple of small things that I'm putting together and so… But I'm not closing the door to anything."
Is preparing for the 2010 national elections one of the small things he is putting together?
"If there's going to be honest-to-goodness electoral reforms and I can pull off my athletes and sports people together, I will venture," Jaworski said.
"But at the moment, lest we see that, I do my humble things like this one – being invited and coming over to see what help I could extend to the sport that has been my life."
