WHAT IF | AL SEGOVA WAS REALLY A FIL-AM?

I have no clue why former Purefoods player Al Segova’s stat page suddenly blew up. I checked Google for answers, but the most likely explanation is that someone recently shared his stats. For the record, I compiled the numbers simply because I thought they were worth documenting.

If you're looking for a more complete snapshot of his PBA career, you can check out this link:

https://pbaannual1999.neocities.org/pba/profiles/alsegova.

Al Segova's short-lived PBA stint is an odd chapter. Beyond the murky details of his citizenship—he allegedly returned to the U.S. due to an off-court issue (not my story to tell)—he was being groomed as the next go-to guy after Alvin Patrimonio. By 1997, after winning his fourth MVP, Alvin's numbers had started to dip. Jerry Codiñera’s production declined around the same time. For over a decade, Alvin, Jerry, and Dindo Pumaren kept Purefoods in the championship conversation. Segova had the tools to take over, but he entered the league already in his late 20s.

His sudden exit may have triggered a rebuild. Codiñera, then 32, was shipped to Mobiline for 27-year-old Andy Seigle. A couple of years later, Dindo joined his brother Derrick in Tanduay. The exodus of Segova and Sta. Lucia’s Rob Parker, both caught in the Fil-Sham crackdown, left Purefoods scrambling. While other teams boasted Fil-Ams like Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Danny Seigle, Sonny Alvarado, and later Davonn Harp, Rudy Hatfield, Dorian Peña, and Mick Pennisi, Purefoods lacked the firepower to match up.

Imagine if Segova had stayed—and had the paperwork to back up his claim. He never really fought to prove his "Pinoy roots," but had he stuck around, with mentors like The Captain, The Bullet, and The Defense Minister guiding him, Segova could’ve carved out two to three solid years of accolades and impact in the league.