In the nine years that he has spent time in various parts of the globe playing professional basketball, American forward Charles Rhodes had never tasted the addicting sweetness of winning a championship.
From the small town of Galveson, Texas to Spain; from Turkey to South Korea, he wandered, searching for that feeling of being on top of a podium and celebrating gold.
And after traveling halfway across the world, he finally found it in the Philippines.
The six-foot-eight big man erupted for 30 points and 11 rebounds, helping the San Miguel Beermen win the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup crown, 115-91, over the TNT Katropa. Finally, he can now be called a champion.
“It happened in the Philippines. I’m just lost for words,” said an overwhelmed Rhodes.
“I just want to thank San Miguel for choosing me. Thanks to boss RSA [Ramon Ang] for always giving me encouraging words; my bosses, my teammates.”
Rhodes was just one of four imports that stayed for the entire course of the conference. And it paid off in the Finals, as he averaged 22.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in the Finals series.
Making his first-ever championship experience sweeter were the teammates he had around him, and he could not be more thankful for the generosity that his new-found brothers have shown him ever since he set foot in the country.
“We went through a little adversity, but these guys, they’re great teammates. They welcomed me as family from day one, and I came to a parade in my first day here,” said Rhodes, recalling San Miguel’s 2017 Philippine Cup championship party.
“I’ll be having my own parade soon.”
