PBA legend Bong Alvarez fondly looked back on the highest of highs and lowest of lows both inside and outside the basketball court.
For 16 years, Bong Alvarez dazzled the Pinoy basketball fans with his high-flying, captivating dunks.
The third overall pick of the talent-laden 1989 PBA Draft, the six-foot Alvarez rose to superstardom in the early 1990’s, becoming a scoring dynamo for the then-young Tim Cone-led Alaska Milkmen. That included a 71-point outing against the Formula Shell Zoom Masters in 1990.
However, an unfortunate Achilles injury suffered in Game 3 of 1990 PBA Third Conference Finals against Purefoods derailed his exciting start.
And Alvarez vividly remembered that unfortunate moment.
“Pag ganun ko [talon], naramdaman ko na. Hindi ko na maigalaw. Lupaypay na ‘yung paa ko. Diretso na ko ng hospital,” the former San Sebastian Stag said in an interview with veteran journalist Julius Babao.
Mr. Excitement added that he immediately went to surgery after the game.
He was able to come back to the PBA. He won his first and only title in the pros in 1991 when Alaska, bannered by six-time champion Sean Chambers, defeated the Wesley Matthews Sr.-led Brgy. Ginebra 1991 Third Conference Finals.
“Awa ng Diyos, karamihan ng naputulan ng Achilles na players sa Pilipinas, hindi nakabalik [sa paglalaro]. Buti naman, na 3-1 namin [ang Ginebra]. Same conference [na nainjure ako] nagchampion kami,” Alvarez added.
But he still had plenty of struggles off the court.
It’s also well-documented how the two-time PBA Comeback of the Year awardee struggled with a dark past ranging from family struggles to drug-related incidents.
“[Na-introduce ako sa drugs] nung nahiwalay ako sa asawa [ko]. Hindi mo rin minsan matanggap ['yung nangyari]. Very close din kasi ako sa mga anak ko tapos biglang ganoon ‘yung nangyari. One year akong halos 'di lumabas ng bahay,” Alvarez revealed.
“Parang tumigil na yung mundo sa pag-ikot.”
Alvarez got his act together and continues to raise his three daughters, including Alyssa Muhlach, who once served as the muse of the San Miguel Beermen in the opening ceremonies of the PBA Season 45.
"May plano ang Diyos sakin. Nakikita ko kasi 'yung naexperience ko, hindi naexperience ng kahit sinong player. Kapag inuna mo yung Diyos, lahat madali,” Alvarez shared.
Exciting times or not, whether in his pro basketball or personal life, Alvarez leaped over and is probably tnavigating on the he most exciting path of his life.
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