Mahigit 27 taon simula nang ma-ban sa Philippine Basketball Association matapos mahulihang mag-positive sa paggamit ng marijuana kasama ang isa pang import na si Ronnie Thompkins, humingi ng dispensa si Derrick Hamilton, ang reinforcement ng Alaska Milk noong kasagsagan ng grand slam campaign ng naturang koponan noong 1996.
Naglaro bilang import ng Alaska si Hamilton ng dalawang sunod na season mula 1995 at 1996 at siyang naging sandigan ng Milkmen noong Commissioner’s Cup, pero napatunayang nag-positive si Hamilton sa paggamit ng marijuana na naging dahilan para mapatawan siya ng sanction na banned for life.
Inamin ni Hamilton ang pagkakamali, pero hindi niya nagustuhan ang ipinataw sa kanya na banned for life na parusa ng PBA na siyang dahilan kung bakit hindi na siya muling nakabalik at makapaglaro sa Asia’s pioneering professional basketball league.
“It’s no big deal, it’s already 2023,” ang sabi ni Hamilton na isa sa apat na panauhin ng Down To The Wire Podcast kung saan sinamahan siya ng dating Alaska teammate na sina Jojo Lastimosa at Sean Chambers, na siyang umokupa ng kanyang puwesto bilang import matapos mapatawan ng banned for life sanction ng PBA.
Naroon din ang pinsan ni Hamilton na si Tony Lang, isa ring dating import sa PBA na nag-champion sa Red Bull noong 2001. Magkakasama silang apat sa Las Vegas kung saan nanood sila ng NBA Summer League kung saan naglaro dito si NBA aspirant Kai Sotto.
Humingi naman ng dispensa si Hamilton sa kanyang mga dating teammates sa Alaska na sina Lastimosa at Chambers gayundin sa iba pang mga kasapi ng koponan.
Pero matapang na binalikan ni Hamilton ang alaala ng mapait na karanasan.
“This is the way I really, really feel about this, and it’s first time for me to talk about this ever.”
Ayon kay Hamilton, batid niya na takot ang ibang koponan sa kanila kung saan kapapanalo pa lang ng Alaska ng back-to-back championships ng 1995 Governors’ Cup at 1996 All-Filipino.
“They thought we’re going to be too good,” ang sabi ni Hamilton. “We got the All-Filipino, we have Sean in the Third Conference and then you get me (in between). I have a lifetime contract, just like Sean did. Wilfred (Uytengsu, the Alaska owner) knew what he was doing and Tim (Cone, the Alaska coach) knew what they were doing.”
“I smoked the joint, marijuana during that time, was legal around the world, so what country do you smoke a joint and got banned for life? A two-week ban? Yes. A month ban? Yes. But banned for life? That doesn’t make sense to me.”
