Saturday, August 25, 2007 Eman, the humble giant By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
AT SIX-foot-nine, Samigue Eman is no doubt a standout.
This must be what the San Miguel Beermen thought when they picked him as early as round two in the recently-concluded 2007 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft at the Market! Market! in Taguig.
The tallest among 44 draftees, Eman can literally be a dominant figure in the pro league.
But his feet remain on the ground. Not a tinge of an airhead or arrogance. He took the San Miguel jersey during the Draft without much hype as some would have done in his position.
“Of course, I'm happy. My nervousness was gone at last. I really didn't expect that San Miguel will have me or that I will be picked No. 2. I was thinking all the while that what matters is I get drafted at whatever round. But I'm very thankful to the Lord for making this possible," Eman said through a phone conversation Friday.
While waiting for his contract, Eman said he has started practicing with the Beermen last Monday.
"I hope my basketball career will go on smoothly after the contract signing. It's been my long-time dream to be able to play in the PBA since I started playing basketball in college," the unassuming Eman said.
Eman, who hails from Sasa, is the second child in a brood of five. He was born to parents Evangeline and Fernando Eman on March 12, 1982.
It's interesting to note that he was named after San Miguel where his father was a panel truck driver for the company in about 10 years.
"My father also used to drive a taxi but I had him stop already," he added.
Eman recalled he never was into the sport until his good friend Augusto "Tata" Banzali, then point guard of the UM Wildcats, encouraged him to try basketball considering his towering height.
"I started playing basketball at age 19. Mine is not the usual story you hear from players who got involved in the game since childhood. It's really funny how I got into this (basketball)," he said.
He then played for the Wildcats with lawyer Manny Nitorreda as headcoach.
He also had a short stint with the John O team in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) in 2003 before joining Rain or Shine in 2005 and playing for Henkel Sista in 2006 until he was drafted.
Eman, despite his busy schedule, still managed to get a bachelor's degree in Management in 2005 saying education is still a top priority.
"Makahuman gyud dapat sa pag-eskwela. Mao na dapat ang priority sunod nalang ang basketbol (It's very important to finish your studies. That's the first priority, basketball is only second)," he said.
He thanked UM top executive Willy Torres for the tremendous support to him and his teammates.
He went on saying, "I also thank my teachers at UM, Coach Manny, Coach Roderick Conda, my teammates and all those who supported me while I was still playing in Davao."
He said any other Dabawenyo player can get into the PBA.
"Patience and discipline are very important. We need to have both to achieve something for ourselves and for the people we love. We need to be determined to grab our dreams in life," he said.
San Miguel Beer manager Hector Calma, in a recent statement in national papers, said they will offer Eman with a two-year term and not the maximum three-year contract given to every player drafted.
At the most, a rookie can expect a three-year offer from the ball club that drafted him, and receive a maximum salary of P8.544 million in three years spread out at P150,000 a month salary that he will get on his rookie year, P225,000 on his second, and finally, P350,000 in the final season.
The contract signing is reportedly set next week.
Whether Eman gets a two-year or a thre-year contract, he is still likely to make it big in the PBA in the years to come. His humility to learn the ropes of basketball and dedication to improve himself, with his formidable height, will make him go the distance. No doubt about that.
Notes: Eman won a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the Gaisano South Cup in 2003. He was also a recipient of the outstanding athlete for basketball in the So Kim Cheng Sports awards in 2006. He had a brief stint with the RP-Cebuana Lhuillier team.
