Allan Caidic may have been outside the basketball limelight for some time, but the PBA legend was beaming with excitement as he prepared to suit up for Team Heroes in the GMA NCAA All-Star Basketball Game on Saturday.
Caidic admitted that this will be his first competitive endeavor after so many years, but the iconic sniper is thrilled nonetheless to just play the sport again.
“At this magnitude, at this level, oo first time ko ulit maglaro. Na-invite naman kami to play sa exhibition games abroad and sa probinsya but it’s just fun games most of the time,” Caidic shared.
“I’m happy and syempre excited to be a part of this All-Star game. Hindi ko na-imagine na mapapasama ako ngayon, because I think I’m too old for this.”
“But sabi ko nga kanina, hangga’t kaya kong maglaro then I will just enjoy the game and have fun.”
Caidic, a five-time PBA champion and who was known for his moniker “The Triggerman”, is also excited to reconnect with his former players with the Heroes.
Current Lyceum team captain Enzo Navarro used to play under Caidic during his assistant coaching gig in La Salle while Pirates head coach Gilbert Malabanan used to play for Ginebra when Caidic was the Gin Kings' mentor.
Navarro will play alongside Caidic for Team Heroes while Malabanan will serve as their coach.
“Well, dito sa team namin may isang player na na-handle ko sa La Salle nung nasa coaching staff ako, si Enzo Navarro tapos ‘yung head coach nila dito, si Gilbert Malabanan, used to be my player sa Ginebra,” Caidic added.
“Nakakatuwa, more than the players, mas na-excite akong makita ‘yung old friends ko dito sa NCAA.”
—JMB, GMA News
