On the cusp of today's Adamson vs FEU win-or-go-home tiff, I stumbled upon some old videos and pictures of one of Philippine Basketball's most prolific scorers, Allan Caidic, better known to Pinoy hoops fans as "The Triggerman".
Caidic played for the UE Red Warriors in 1981. A year after his arrival, the lefty shooter led the Red Warriors to a championship-clinching win over the UP Fighting Maroons by scoring 30 points. Consequently, Caidic also won that season's MVP award. This game augered well for the Pasig City native, signaling greater hardcourt achievements which lined his the National Team, and to the professional ranks. In 1984-1985, alongside future Purefoods hotshot Jerry "The Defense Minister" Codinera, Caidic led UE to back-to-back UAAP titles. UE, despite later managing to recruit talented players such as James Yap, Paul Artadi, Nino Canaleta, Paul Lee, and others, has yet to win a UAAP plum since the Caidic/Codinera days.
Allan was later placed in Danding Cojuangco's National Hoops Development Program, where he was placed alongside other young hopefuls such as Tonichi Yturri, Samboy Lim, Elmer Reyes. In the penultimate game of the 1985 Jones Cup against the Gene Keady coached USA squad, Caidic netted 21 points to help lead the Philippines to the championship. He would also later help the Philippines to Asian Games crowns, and a FIBA Asia title.
Upon entry in the PBA, Caidic continued to shot why his shooting hand was made of gold. A 68 point, 15 trifecta, ball game in 1989 against Alaska, a single season record of 160 treys in 1990, nabbing critical treys in an invitational ballgame versus Japan, despite playing with a broken hand- and I could go on and on. The Triggerman, at that point, could have rivaled anyone in the world with how he was shooting the rock.
For my money, one Caidic game I'll always remember is a 79 point, 17 trey, ballgame in November 1991 against Ginebra. To that point, never had I seen a player knock down shot after shot after shot. It didn't matter if it was Jaworski, Ampalayo, or Distrito in his face. It's like Allan and the aura that night at the ULTRA were one. After taking a huge bite out of the PBA history books on that November evening, Caidic didn't even have time to do a "postprandial", celebratory, routine. He left the ULTRA that night hurriedly, or so I've heard, to tend to his wife at a local hospital, who at the time, was in labor.
Wow. Talk about compartmentalizing what you've got to do during the day.
1995 Governor's Cup Best Player of the Conference, 1998 Asian Games Team Member, and now, current Assistant Coach of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. Growing up, I once asked my dad if it was possible to consistently shoot jump shots with my left hand even if I was right handed, in simplistic homage to good ol' number 8. When I used to play pick up hoops with friends as a youngster, I'd insist on wearing the number 8 on my jersey, not because of Kobe Bryant, nor was it because of any other player, save of Allan Caidic.
Fast forward to the present day. Manny Pangilinan has setup the Smart Gilas Pilipinas program in the hopes of fielding a team to the Olympic Games in the very near future. You have leagues like the NCAA, the UAAP, and yes, the PBA, still trending in the collective consciousness of many people. With the coming in of Phil-American cagers, plus the development of more versatile, and physically imposing big men, we have indeed grown by leaps and bounds since the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Ironically, the rest of Asia, and the rest of the world, has blossomed, too.
I feel that the key to our basketball success lies in our local shooters. Filipinos tend to be vertically challenged. The lack of height, however, is not a deterrent to being an outstanding gunner. Such, then, seems to point to our meal ticket towards rekindling international basketball glory.
We have a glut of talented point guards and shooting guards in the country. What we tend to lack are mentors that put a premium of shotmaking. A shift in strategy, and the tweaking of mindsets, equals tangible results. The Knicks of the 70s had teams wherein everyone could hit the jumper. The NBA's Phoenix Suns have, in the past, compensated for the lack of size through crisp rotations and deadeye shooting. A similar gameplan needs to be employed by Philippine contingents sent to international tourneys. I feel that such is already in effect to a certain extent, but that it will take some more polishing before we can reach the next level.
As for Allan Caidic and his sharpshooting exploits, those are already etched in the annals of history as some of the most amazing performances of all time. Whether it was in the crunch, as an amateur player, as a pro baller in his prime, or as a retired cage star, The Triggerman always knew how to put on a show- and bring home the bacon. His "game" ought to serve as an inspiration to many future generations of hoopsters with dreams of tattoing their names upon the edifice of the game, and of life.
MC
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