CURTAIN CALL | JARED DILLINGER

If I had to compare Jared Dillinger’s game to an NBA player, the closest name that comes to mind is Cooper Flagg.

And yes, I know how that sounds.

Am I insane?

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Absolutely.

That said, I’m still not wrong.

Dillinger was a true multi-position baller. He had deep range, solid defensive awareness, and the versatility to slide anywhere from shooting guard to power forward. If you watched him back when he suited up for the Pampanga Buddies in Liga Pilipinas, you’d immediately understand why he was the kind of player you had to draft early. And that’s exactly what happened.

Since 2005, the PBA Draft has essentially become the playground of Filipino-Americans. By 2008, it was already assumed that Gabe Norwood would go first overall to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Yes, there were citizenship concerns at the time, but Norwood had already proven his value with a strong national team stint, and the former Welcoat Dragons clearly envisioned a Joe Devance–Norwood one-two punch.

That never materialized since Devance was traded to Alaska for Solomon Mercado on draft day, but Norwood still turned out exactly as advertised.

Anyway...

It was also a given that Dillinger would go second. After all, the reason he was even on the radar was that he had been discovered by Chot Reyes. If Reyes couldn’t get both Norwood and Dillinger, he’d settle for one.

And here’s where things get complicated.

Dillinger entered the league as a big-time stud.

Unfortunately, Talk ‘N Text had the resources to build an entire army of studs.

The Phone Pals were coming off a 19–20 season and had just traded franchise cornerstone Asi Taulava to Coca-Cola for Ali Peek and a first-round pick. Their struggles led to the dismissal of Derrick Pumaren, with Chot Reyes stepping back in as head coach. That move gave TNT the second and fourth picks in the 2008 PBA Draft, a setup that would eventually spark their absurd championship run of six titles in five seasons.

But TNT wasn’t done.

Enter Jayson Castro.

Before the draft, Castro was set to play for the Singapore Slingers in Australia’s NBL. Financial issues forced the Slingers to withdraw from the league, which made things messy. Singapore wasn’t exactly a basketball hotbed, and the logistics of flying to Australia for home-and-away games didn’t help. When the ASEAN Basketball League was formed, staying within the region made more sense, but Castro never signed on as an ASEAN import.

When he applied for the 2008 PBA Draft, the former PBL MVP was viewed more as a long-term insurance policy than a sure thing. This was perfect for TNT, which had two first-round picks.

But they were also looking at Rob Reyes to shore up their frontline. Ali Peek may have been a bulldozer, but he was still six inches shorter than The Rock.

Anyway, Castro was on track to become the first Filipino to play in the NBL, but there was still debate on whether teams were buying into his talent or the novelty of that distinction. Once the Slingers approved his release, though, TNT didn’t hesitate. They flipped former 2005 top pick Jay Washington to San Miguel in exchange for the third overall pick.

The result? Dillinger at No. 2, Castro at No. 3, and Harbour Centre big man Rob Reyes at No. 4. TNT also grabbed Pong Escobal early in the second round, reuniting him with former San Beda running mate Yousif Aljamal. On the sidelines, Chot Reyes was already reshaping the roster in his image. Macmac Cardona, Renren Ritualo, Yancy de Ocampo, and Don Allado were shipped out. In came Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, and Aaron Aban. Later, Peek, Aljamal, and Escobal were used to land Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes, with Peek eventually returning to reinforce the rotation.

Hell, they even had Japeth Aguilar, and they barely used him.

The result? An almost grand slam and a slew of championships and finals appearances during Dillinger's tenure with the squad.

On paper, this should’ve been the perfect situation for Dillinger. In reality, it was tough to become the guy when you were part of an ensemble cast stacked with veterans and rising stars. Around this time, Gilas Pilipinas was also taking shape. Dillinger had his moments with the national team, but he was often among the last cuts. Even if he wanted more touches or a bigger role, he was surrounded by players who had already learned how to sacrifice.

Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey were still in their early 30s. Kelly Williams, the former MVP and Sta. Lucia’s primary scorer, willingly shifted into a defense-first role. Alapag ceded minutes to Castro. If former MVPs were adjusting for the system, what more an up-and-comer like Dillinger?

Injuries didn’t help either. Credit to Daredevil for playing through pain, but it definitely disrupted his development. When he was traded to Meralco, it felt like his chance to finally reclaim star status. Dude had one conference where he did serious damage. Unfortunately, the same issues followed him. By the time he moved on to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, he was already nearing the end of his career.

Dillinger’s skill set was both a blessing and a curse. He could play shooting guard, but he was best at small forward. He had the size for power forward, but the quickness of a wing. In conferences where imports were 6’6 and below, he suddenly became too small to play PF and too slow to be a full-time SG. His ideal spot was at SF, which meant spelling the import, and imports rarely get much rest.

Still, Dillinger had a damn good career. He didn’t rack up individual awards, but he was a one-time All-Star and a nine-time PBA champion. After a few years away from the game, he officially retired to focus on his business ventures, which might be the best indicator that he walked away on his own terms. Now he gets to chill with guys like Gabe Norwood, Sol Mercado, Joe Devance, and Tin Gamboa, talking hoops on a podcast.

And honestly?

That’s how you know he got it made.