PBA: Ali Peek flexes muscles, stands firm against Extra Rice Inc.

As Game 1 of the Philippine Cup Finals drew near, players from both teams were introduced one-by-one the the stadium announcer. Most of the players ran to their side of the court, giving out high fives to their teammates who were already there.

 

Ali Peek, the third overall pick of the 1998 PBA Rookie draft, walked. Coming in to little fanfare from the 14,000 strong crowd, Peek took his sweet time heading into the floor. He walked slowly, conserving every bit of his energy. A gargantuan match-up against Extra Rice Incorporated awaited him; a battle against the outside-shooting, lane-driving, banging, and bruising duo of JR Quiñahan and Beau Belga. Peek prepared to face more than a combined 450 pounds of mean concentrated into two wide bodies. 

 

It was a study in contrast, this center position battle. The old school toughness of Peek against the new-school skillset of Belga and Quiñahan. Peek believed in staying inside the lane, taking mid-range shots, and giving help defense. Extra Rice Inc. was all about mixing raw physicality with three point shooting, no look passes, and driving to the hoop for lay-ups.

 

Belga and Quiñahan have been the talk of the town over the past few months mainly because they differ from all PBA centers. Extra Rice Inc. is one of the more popular duo names in the PBA and Peek was about to take them head on.

 

During shoot-around, Peek steered clear of the unnecessary. No fancy lay-ups or three-point shots. He passed the ball to himself at the post, unleashed a variety of moves before spinning and launching a one-hander. He then took sort jumpers from the baseline and elbow. 

 

Peek didn’t start the game but when he finally made his way on to the cout halfway into the first quarter, he did damage. His first basket was an elbow jumper at the 4:31 mark of the first. A minute and a half later he sank a baseline jumper. Peek added an undergoal stab with a little over one minute left in the first period to give the Tropang Texters a 21-15 lead. 

 

He only scored two points after that point. Peek totalled eight points, a rebound, and a block, but most of his contributions to TNT's win didn’t appear in the box score. He hustled for loose balls and altered shots. He helped on defense and cheered his teammates on. But amidst all these contributions, one thing was undeniable. 

 

At almost 38 years of age, Peek should not being doing this anymore. While guys like Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey are already regarded as “elder statesmen” on the team, Peek actually has five years on them, as those two were drafted in 2003.

 

“I just want to cement my legacy. In the end, it’s all about championships,” said Ali. “At the end of my career, I want people to remember me as someone who got it done.”

 

I asked if he felt a bit jealous about the attention that Extra Rice Inc. is getting. He quickly brushed it aside.

 

“Not at all, man,” he said. “I’ve been blessed. I’m alive.”

 

Ali Peek knows there will come a time when Quiñahan and Belga will carry the cudgels for PBA centers. Kids learning how to play basketball now will start wanting to pattern themselves after the play of Extra Rice Inc. Time will come when old school centers like Peek will ride off into the sunset of their careers. 

 

“I was there. I was in their position before, Peek said. “They are hungry. They want to prove themselves against us, against me.”

 

The 15 year PBA veteran knows a lot can still happen in this series. Rain or Shine can come back from a 1-0 deficit. Quiñahan and Belga can actually take the lofty position Peek has right now.

 

But it sure as hell won’t be easy. Not with a Man Mountain trying to make history blocking the way. - AMD, GMA News