Remember the famous line of Captain America in the record-smashing movie Avengers: Endgame – the final installment of the blockbuster Marvel film series?

“Whatever it takes.”

Well, that is what ‘Captain Lion Heart’ Alvin Patrimonio – the four-time MVP – is doing to help Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok even from outside the “bubble” in the PBA restart.

Patrimonio, now the team manager of the basketball club, is providing assistance with the needs of the squad, even the essentials of players, coaches and everybody on the team in Clark, Pampanga.

“We bring the usual needs of the team, we started Wednesday and we came back again Friday. Maski na mga personal na needs nila na galing mismo sa mga pamilya sinasabay dinadala namin,” said Patrimonio when contacted by Manila Bulletin Sunday.

“Maski doon makatulong tayo sa team, sa players, coaches, utility ng team. Kahit papaano nandoon pa din tayo as part of the team and tulong pa din maski na nasa labas tayo ng PBA bubble,” said Patrimonio, known in the league with his shortened moniker “Cap”.

From the company’s own products of Magnolia Fresh Milk and Magnolia Chocolait, as well as San Mig Coffee, boxes of these items were brought by Patrimonio, liaison officer Jojo Peralta and team corporate PR Reena Dimaculangan del Mundo.

From the San Miguel Corporation office where they get the company items, Patrimonio said they go to the team’s practice facility in Ronac, San Juan where they pick up the personal needs from the families.

Another pick up point is the Petron Gas Station in Marilao, Bulacan.

Before the players, coaches and team members get their respective stuff, Peralta said health and security personnel disinfect all the items at the "Drop Off” area of the Quest Hotel.

“Ang ginagawa namin ni Cap binababa namin yung mga gamit sa Drop Off then sanitized lahat ng mga dala namin bago ibigay yung mga kahon at iba pang mga gamit sa team,” said Peralta.

Patrimonio said that since they can only do such things, and not mingle with members of the team, players still do communicate with them by looking from their hotel rooms.

“Nakaka-tuwa din kasi pag alam na nila na nasa area na kami, aabangan na nila kami… naka-abang then yung iba kakaway, iba naman sisigaw ng kumustahan mula sa bintana ng rooms,” he said.

“Nakaka-tuwa din kasi pag alam na nila na nasa area na kami, aabangan na nila kami… naka-abang then yung iba kakaway, iba naman sisigaw ng kumustahan mula sa bintana ng rooms,” he said.

“Mararamdaman mo din yung pagka-miss ng players sa amin, para din silang nakakulong sa ‘bubble’ biro mo two months sila sa loob. Kaya kami kung ano ang puwede namin magawa para mapasaya sila.”

According to Patrimonio, who played in the PBA from 1988 to 2004, all involved inside the bubble – from players to coaches and personnel – need to be mentally tough in this setup.

To be away from their respective families, he said, is a tough thing to do.

Patrimonio said he too had this same experience to be away from family while playing for the national team in the 80s and 90s, times when communication was hard to do.

“Noong panahon na yun wala namang cellphone, walang internet, sulat or telegram… yun pa ang available, saka long distance call. So napakahirap din noon, two, three weeks, to one month,” he said.

“Hindi gaya ngayon na video call na makikita mo na yung mga mahal mo sa buhay. Pero naiintindihan natin na iba pa din yung malayo ka sa pamilya ng ganun katagal, mahirap pa din for them.”

“Kaya nga dapat sa PBA restart hindi lang physically prepared, dapat mentally strong ka kasi mami-miss nila ang pamilya. Kaya nga naisip namin na isabay yung mga needs nila na galing mismo sa families,” said Patrimonio.