What might have been...

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings guard Johnny "The Flying A" Abarrientos
could've made history in the NBA in 1997.

The popularity of the NBA has spread across the globe. The Philippines is just one of the countries the NBA has reached. Being the only "basketball country" in Asia or perhaps the world, we Filipinos are simply basketball crazy. We just love the NBA so much. Many NBA personalities have already visited the country like Grant Hill, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O' Neil, Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce just to name a few. Even the not so popular players from the NBA were treated like royalty here and recent visitor Malik Rose of the New York Knicks is just one of them.

Although the only basketball league being watched all over the world is synonimous to my beloved country, many NBA players have also played here in our pro-league the PBA or Philippine Basketball Association. One of those players in the NBA whom have played here are Chip Engelland, Scott Burrell and Stephen Howard as imports. The PBA may not be as popular as the NBA but it has inspired a lot of Filipino players to play the best basketball the Philippines has to offer. Though there are a lot of International players coming from Europe, South America, Africa, China, Japan and Australia; A Filipino has yet to put the Philippines in the map in the world of basketball.

Back in 1997, there were reports at the time of a Filipino possibly making his mark as the first ever Philippine-born player to play in the NBA. The PBA is loaded with talent and the player who got noticed was Johnny Abarrientos (then playing for the Alaska Milkmen). He's just one of the few in the pool of PBA players to possibly, make history and carry the Philippine flag in the NBA. Then Charlotte Hornets (Now in New Orleans) scout Joe Bettancourt reportedly offered Abarrientos a contract to play for the Hornets and another to play for the Toronto Raptors. He (Abarrientos) declined to sign the offer sheet to concentrate more in his career in the PBA. But there were reports however at the time, that the negotiations for the contract has faltered despite the fact the 5' 10" guard is very much interested in playing for the NBA.

Had Johnny Abarrientos signed the offer-sheet (to play for the Toronto Raptors) years ago, He could've been the first Filipino to ever play in the NBA. He could've been a back-up for guard Muggsy Bogues at the time. He (Bogues) played for the Raptors in the 97-98 NBA Season. Years have passed, there haven't been any offers for a Filipino player to play in the NBA since 1997. The thought of having a Filipino to make a name and don an NBA uniform for the first time in basketball history will just remain a pipe dream.