Arnie Tuadles reflects on his revived play in the 1980 PBA All-Filipino title series for Toyota against Crispa and the firing of coach Fort Acuna in a Sports Weekly Magazine feature.
ARNOLD TUADLES SIZZLES ANEW
(Or, the rebirth of Arnold T.)
By Pyke F. Jocson
Sports Weekly Magazine
Dec. 19-26, 1980
It's been a seesaw affair.
Yes, from that time he made a sensational debut in the PBA which paved the way for his earning the 1979 PBA Rookie of the Year up to the end of this season's All-Filipino, Arnulfo “Arnold” Tuadles’ caging has been characterized by ups and downs, but mostly ups, thank God.
Sensational was the best word to describe Tuadles last year for he was just that with a capital S. No other newcomer in the pro league could lay claim to the word other than him A graphic proof of this was his being named to the mythical five, dislodging the veteran Freddie Hubalde.
Right after the All-Filipino last year, Tuadles game slipped. Some said he’s gone swellhead. Others said he was too hot to handle. Some insiders insisted he was acting like a spoiled brat.
To these accusations, Tuadles could only exclaim in disbelief.
“Me? Never!”
“Ano naman ang ilalaking ulo ko. I’m still the same. I still have the same friends. The only change in me now is my growing-up. Naniniwala kasi ako na as you grow, there should be a change in you, a change for the better. So, what’s wrong with this?”
Tuadles first caught the eyes of cage buffs when he made it as alternate in the RP team which represented the country in the 1975 Pesta Sukan. The same year, he made it as a regular to the national team in the ABC held in Bangkok. Tuadles was 19 then, and still very much in the process of learning the harder tricks of basketball.
“Laro lang tayo noon. There was not much seriousness in my playing although my ambition was to become popular in the game. Pero sabi ko sa sarili ko noon, sa dinami-daming players, paano ka sisikat dito.”
In 1977, politics cost him a berth in the national team. He was almost a shoo-in in the tryouts after having displayed great form as a Brave of San Miguel in the MICAA. It was a heartbreaker. But Arnold's interest in the game took a new twist when he was talked to by Dante Silverio to beef-up the Toyota quintet in the PBA. It was a hard process Tuadles and Silverio took. First, he was “legally” with SMC, and this was problem enough. It was solved after quite sometime, and soon, he played with Frigidaire, Toyota’s amateur club in the MICAA.
“I knew all along that I could survive the trial. I was confident it would be over. I’m glad. I’m happy that I’m in the PBA. I’m happy that I have joined Toyota.”
Early this year, had another chance to talk to Tuadles.
“Maliit lang ang kita ko, sana naman mabigyan ako kahit konting incentive,” he was complaining then.
After the Rookie of the Year award, Tuadles certainly deserved a bonus, a raise. There was none.
“Hindi naman yun ang reason kung bakit bumaba ang lara ko. Siyempre kung nasa laro ka naman, hindi mo naiisip yan. You always try to play your best. Yun bang, pukpok lagi. At least, in my case, ganoon. Pero kahit konti siyempre, may influence sa laro mo ang incentive. At sa palagay ko, kahit sa anong bagay, Pampasarap yan eh. And I’m no hypocrite. Hindi ako exception dito. Wala naman atang exception dito.”
Tuadles, undeniably, is one of the most popular cagers today in the country In the office alone, he is one of the top receivers of fan letters requesting for autographs and pictures.
“|Okay ang fans. Mas marami ka nito, mas okay. In a way kasi, public figure na kami. You cannot do away with them. At saka nakakainspire din sila. In fact, ngayong Christmas season, I’ll be spending some days with them. Yung ibang player minamaliit sila. Ako, hindi. In fact, I like them.”
About his suddenly-revitalized caging in the last games with Crispa in the just-concluded championship, Tuadles said:
“Ibang klaseng push ang ibinibigay sa amin ni Mr. (Pabling) Carlos. He doesn’t talk much. Pero siyempre, you are obligated to do your best ba. Pag-ipinasok, bigay-todo ang laro. Hindi puwede yung medyo alalay ka. Dahil mahihiya ka rin. Manager mo siya ata, and I think all the players in the team feel this way. Si Dante okay rin. Ang motivation na ibinibigay niya sa amin, parang yung kay Mr. Carlos din.”
About coach Fort Acuña, Tuadles was quick to admit that there was a time when they were not on speaking terms.
“Wala. Basta walang kibuan. Pag-dating sa practice, practice lang ako. Kung ano ang sinasabi niya, ginagawa ko. Pag sa laro lang yon. Pero off court, kahit siguro magkabanggaan kami, walang kibuan. Ewan ko ang reason niya. Pero I just found out na ibini-bench na niya ako.
Halos hindi na niya ako gamitin. At kung gamitin man, at the wrong time. Wala naman akong maisip kung saan talaga ako nagkamali. Sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko: sige, if you think na by benching me, mapapaigi ang team, okay lang. Tutal, responsibility mo naman yan, yung mag-pasok ng tao. Kung hindi mo ako gamitin for no reason, ikaw din and mapupulaan ng tao.”
So, it was like that. They were like that.
Until Acuña was asked to leave the team by the Toyota management. Tuadles felt he was finally freed.
“Malungkot din. Sana hindi na umabot sa ganoon. But what can I do? What can we do?”
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