IBA talaga si Big J.

Tulad ng inaasahan sa basketball world, nag-umapaw sa dami ng mga pagbati kay PBA “Living Legend” Robert Jaworski, na nagdiwang ng kanyang ika-78th birthday nitong nakalipas na March 8.

Bagamat matagal na ding hindi nakikita ng publiko dahil sa kanyang kasalukuyang karamdaman, dama ng lahat ang pagmamahal ng bayang basketbolista kay Jaworski kung pagbabasehan na din ang madaming magagandang well wishes para sa long life at good health para sa sikat na dating Barangay Ginebra playing coach.

Hindi din pinalagpas kahit pa ng kanyang mga kapwa PBA legends, mga sikat na players at coaches, pati na ang mga ordinaryong basketball fans, ang pagkakataon upang makiisa sa pagdiriwang sa birthday ni Jaworski.

Isa na nga dito sa madaming sikat na players na bumati kay Jaworski ang kanyang kapwa PBA legend at four-time PBA MVP na si Ramon Fernandez.

Sa kanyang social media post, pinapurihan ni Fernanez si Jaworski sa kanyang husay at galing sa basketball pati na din sa kanilang mahaba at makulay na pagsasama bago pa man magsimula ang sikat na Toyota dynasty sa PBA nung 1975.

“For many basketball fans, ours was considered the most enduring rivalry in the pro league. But if there is one thing I’d wish our new generation players learned from it, it is the value of TEAMWORK. During our time, kaming mga players, kalaban, kakampi, maski hindi kami nagkakausap-usap, there was already that built-in relationship, especially with Sonny. We were teammates for 10 years at the beginning of our PBA career with Toyota. We knew each other’s attitude. It wasn’t hard to really play with each other or work together as a team. It wasn’t really hard to do it, especially for a cause like playing for the national team. In that 10 years with him in Toyota, we won 9 Championships. I played with him as our team coach in the Asian Games in Beijing.

And yes, who would forget that 1989 All Star Games (Veterans vs. RSJ/Rookie-Sophomore -Junior)? With the game tied at 130 and time down to 4 seconds, Coach Baby Dalupan, sued for time, devised a play for me and Sonny. Sonny lofted an inbound pass to me at half court and I did the rest…led the Veterans to a 132-130 win over the RSJ Team.

Just too many fond memories to share.

And today, allow me to honor that great rival, the very person who made my pro league stint truly colorful; to one, at the end of it all, I can call my friend and my partner in my years in Philippine basketball. HAPPY BIRTHDAY , SONNY!

Thank you very much for all those great action in the court! I sincerely pray for your good health, peace and happiness.”

Mula sa isang PBA legend para sa kapwa PBA legend, isang malaking inspirasyon ito hindi lamang para sa mga kasalukuyang players mula sa PBA, na itinuturing na Asia’s first play-for-pay league, kundi pati na din sa mga players ng iba pang mga bagong liga.

Happy birthday, Big J.

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Naging matagumpay ang kauna-unahang ERJHS Alumni Sports Club 3×3 basketball tournament, na ginanap bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng ika 72nd Foundation Day at Grand Alumni Homecoming ng E. Rodriguez Jr. High School sa Mayon Ave. nitong nakalipas na Feb. 23-25.

Tinanghal na kampeon ang Team 2000 sa two-day competition na itinaguyod din ng ERJHS Alumni Association, sa ilalim nina President Jess Asistin at Vice President Zeny Castor, at Barangay N.S. Amoranto Chairman Ato de Guzman.

Sa pangunguna ng magkapatid na Mark at Jeff Caguisa, pinabagsak ng T2000 ang Batch 98, 14-10, para masungkit ang sa kampeonato sa winner-take-all game na ginanap sa Barangay N.S. Amoranto covered court sa Malaya St. Quezon City.

Ang Team 2000, na pinamunuan ni playing coach Jerome Nell, ay una ng nagwagi laban sa Team 80s sa semifinals ng 10-team tournament.

Ang iba pang mga miyembro ng T2000 ay sina Kelvin Pantaleon at Chris Santiago.

Pumangalawa ang Batch 98 nina Art Marino, Chris Mallari, John Bucat at Allan Aguilar habang pumangatlo ang Team 80s nina Mike Gomez, Voltaire Penaga, Adonis Geolin, Rodrigo Sabando at Arnold Tanare.

Ang iba pang mga kalahok na teams ay ang Batch 96, na pumang-apat na pwesto; Batch 2000, Batch 93, Batch 89, Roberto Castor Rover Scouts at Batch 94 A at B.

Ang mga trophies at iba pang prizes ay iginawad ni incoming ERJHS Alumni Association president Ramon “Monchie” Ferreros ng Batch 73, katuwang sina Asistin at Castor.

Ang naturang kumpetisyon ay sinuportahan din nina PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial at Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro, Barangay Paang Bundok Chairman Maca Chua, Batch 85 Sports Club president Jo Aldana, Batch 93 president Lizette Mariano, Czyra’s Pizza, Bookizzling Plates ni kagawad Mara Linsangan at Ping Ping Lechon.

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