Rain or shine, Alex is the man

by Robbie Pangilinan

Popular and quite controversial PBA player Alex Crisano does not mind whether the rain is pouring or the sun is shining. He does his act in all kinds of weather, even in the midst of a storm.

After playing for Barangay Ginebra and Red Bull, Crisano expressed interest in being part of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters as a center. Currently, Rain or Shine has no center player whose body is as powerfully built and whose professional basketball skills are as suitably apt as Crisano’s.

The 6’7” PBA star’s 10-year stint at the country’s professional ball game will be an asset to Rain or Shine, as well as his three- championship experience in the PBA. Crisano, with a perfectly buffed and conditioned body, sound mind and excellent training, believes that he can help the team win a title.

“Rain or Shine would be needing a great spark, and I believe I can give them that,” the man with the superb moves says. Crisano wants to win one more championship before he retires, which is still far in the future.

The New York-born Crisano is friends with Rain or Shine’s Fil-Am players, guard Sol Mercado and guard/forward Gabe Norwood, who are both shorter in height than the towering Crisano. The three Am-boys can easily be the local counterpart of Miami Heat’s dream team of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. The three NBA stars have been called the power trio, probably the most powerful in the history of the NBA. James, Wade and Bosh were teammates in the Beijing Olympics who took home gold medals for the US.

“We can be the PBA’s dream team,” Crisano says, comparing himself to the five-time NBA All-Star Bosh who remains to be Toronto’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, double doubles, free throws and minutes played. Both Crisano and Bosh also have a big heart for people in need. Bosh founded his Chris Bosh Foundation for the youth in Dallas and Toronto, while Crisano helps a foundation for street children.

Lately, Crisano is seen with boxing icons Manny Pacquiao and Gerry Peñalosa. Many speculate that he is already going into boxing and leaving basketball. Early this year, it was reported that the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) offered him to join the national team as a heavyweight boxer but Alex wanted to stay in basketball then. He says he might go into boxing if he did not get back to the PBA this season.

“Gerry is my Rocky Balboa. He is a legend. I idolize him because he is a humble and funny guy like me. We are both entertainers,” Crisano shares. Of course, he looks up to Manny Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king, and would want to be part of the People’s Champ entourage. The three are considered sports icons, sharing the same principles in life. #