THE VIEW FROM RIZAL
Yesterday, Sept. 24, the Philippine Basketball Association Press Corps (PBAPC) was scheduled to honor Philippine Basketball legend Robert “The Big J” Jaworski. The media group announced they would award him the Lifetime Achievement Award during their 30th annual Awards Night.
The Big J would be only the second pillar of the sport in the local scene to receive the award.
We join the Philippine basketball community in congratulating the Big J for this well-deserved and long-overdue recognition. Yes, his contribution to the sport and to the nation is, indeed, an achievement of a lifetime.
My generation entered adolescence and grew up hearing the local basketball community’s chant of “Ja-wors-ki” on evenings when the Big J graced the hardcourt with his tough-and-rough, never-say-die style of play. We recall that when the Big J was on the court, aficionados of the game who were watching the game at the venue or on their TV sets would expect a lot of action. Spectators were always on their feet when the Big J stepped into the court. The PBA legend made sure that everyone -both fans and haters – got their money’s worth with the intensity and passion he brought to the game.
We recall that on Sunday evenings, nearly everyone in the neighborhood would be tuned in on the broadcast of the PBA on their television set or the radio. You would know on whose side your next-door neighbors were by waiting when they would be bursting into ear-busting cheers.
We heard stories that on Monday mornings following the Sunday night games, the basketball fans in the offices, government and private, would be discussing the previous night’s games, analyzing the performance of teams and players like experts – particularly the Big J’s games.
Basketball fans during those heydays cheered for many spectacular hoops stars who graced the hardcourt. Many of them are now part of the local basketball Hall of Fame. The list includes names like Adriano “Jun” Papa, the master of the set shot; Danny Florencio, whose expertise at penetrating the lane and taking under-the-goal stubs was legendary; Big Boy Reynoso, who, when he guarded the shaded lane, made it practically impenetrable; Samboy Lim, the famous “skywalker”; the “triggerman” Allan Caidic; and, the sweet-shooting Bogs Adornado.
The biggest cheers were, of course, reserved for the Big J.
He played with such intensity that his presence in the hardcourt made every person in the venue remain standing from the initial jump ball to the final buzzer.
In our column published earlier this year, we shared that we asked our elders why the basketball community and our countrymen, in general, had held the Big J in high regard throughout the years – even after he had hung up his Number 7 jersey.
They explained: “As far as the Big J is concerned, you had to make a choice — you either loved him or hated him; you were either for him or against him.”
“You could not be indifferent about him; he divided the world of Philippine basketball between Jaworski fanatics and Jaworski haters,” they added.
“But one thing is sure — everyone respected the Big J,” they pointed out. “You may not like him but you would always respect him,” they underscored.
I asked them why the Big J commanded such following and respect. Their explanation was inspiring. They said it was because the Big J gave his all to the game he loved. He was always 100 percent. He played his games like there was no tomorrow. He combined skills with passion; tactics with intensity; and strategy with wit.
We have one more great memory of the Big J. In May of 2003, we remember watching a reunion game that featured the Big J in a sentimental “rematch” between his Toyota Team and the rival Crispa Team. The Big J had already retired from basketball then. Araneta Coliseum was filled to the brim. The crowd had waited with bated breath for his entrance to the hardcourt. As soon as he checks in at the official’s table, the crowd comes alive and that famous chant “Jaworski! Jaworski!” starts to fill the air.
He was past his prime, but his fame and the public’s adulation had not faded. As they watched his every move on the hardcourt, the public’s reaction to him showed everyone he was the star.
There was an unforgettable moment in that game. The ball was passed to the Big J with just a few seconds left on the game clock. He took one step back to clear the shaded lane. He jumped and released the ball from the three-point area. He made the shot in vintage Big J fashion, and the crowd erupted in jubilant cheer. To this day, it baffles many how one basketball star player and one three-point shot could make a country go into such a joy-filled frenzy.
There has never been another cager like the Big J.
As the press corps salutes him for his lifetime achievement, we join the millions of fans in thanking the Big J for the lifetime of joy and excitement that his passion for the game had given to his fellow Filipinos.
(The author is the mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, DENR assistant secretary and LLDA general manager. Email: [email protected])