Known as The Big J and called The Living Legend during his playing days, Robert Jaworski was a former playing coach—the first ever in the PBA—for Ginebra San Miguel. In 2000 he was honored as one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players of all time. He was also the 1978 PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was elected senator in 1998 but lost in his reelection bid in 2004.
I always been a Jaworski fan, from his college days in UE (his closest rival then was Danilo Florencio,a great forward of UST), then suited up for YCO, Meralco in the amateur league - MICAA days and with Toyota, Anejo and Ginebra in the PBA. His high level of intensity, ruggedness in the court and his never-say -die attitude endeared him more to his fans. Its either you love him or hate him. The introduction of professional league or PBA in 1975 ushered in the fierce rivalry of Crispa Redmanizers and Toyota Tamaraws. It's Adornado, Cezar, Guidaben, Co and Fabiosa of Crispa against Fernandez, Arnaiz, Jaworski, King and Tuadles for Toyota.
But besides sports and politics, did you know that Jaworski also entered showbiz via "Fando," a FPJ starrer in 1970 and later doing comedy sitcom in television.
--------------------------------------------
He starred in two more movies under FPJ Productions, 'Bugoy' and 'Dimasupil Brothers', both released in the early 1970s. Note that 'Bugoy' was directed by a certain D'lanor (D'lanor is Ronald spells backward, the real name of FPJ- Ronald Alan Poe)
Another trivia: Playing for Meralco, in the amateur MICAA league, Jaworski and his teammate Alberto "Big Boy" Reynoso were given a lifetime ban for punching referee Joe Obias during a league game by the BAP (Basketball Association of the Philippines). After a year, the sanction was lifted, Jaworski and Reynoso returned to the hardcourt playing for the Komatsu Comets in the same league. Both Jaworski and Reynoso starred in the movie, 'Dimasupil Brothers,' with another basketball superstar Freddie Webb.
3 comments:
since we're on the topic of ballplayers turned actors, or moonlighting as actors...both paquito and romy diaz were also pretty good ballplayers in their own right. paquito played for ateneo in the NCAA and FEU in the UAAP, as well as a few MICAA teams. romy had the better MICAA career, though...and was also a top UAAP player with FEU.
Robert Jaworksi had another film with FPJ Pictures, BERDUGO, with Andy Poe and Paquito Diaz. A localized adaptation of GODFATHER, Jaworksi played the equivalent of the Michael Corleone character.
There is another basketball player there in Dipasupil Brothers. The actor billed as Jumbo is none other than Ramon "Jumbo" Salvador, who is Philip's half-brother and Jaworski's teammate in Meralco. When Meralco disbanded, Jumbo Salvador, Francis Arnaiz and Larry Mumar transferred to Utex. In the PBA, Jumbo suited up for Seven Up and is the only player to wear jersey # 97.
Post a Comment