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Friday, March 29, 2024

Jawo hints at PBA return

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IS Robert “Sonny” Jaworski making a long-awaited comeback to the Philippine Basketball Association?

The former basketball player, coach and senator did not give any details of his plans, but reading between the lines, he just made himself available for a coaching job in the country’s premier professional basketball league.

Robert “Sonny” Jaworski

“Mahal ko ang sport na ‘yan. Ang susunod du’n, ay mahal mo ang mga kasama mo, ganu’n lang ‘yun,” Jaworski, also known as the Big J and the Living Legend, told a small group of media people on Tuesday.

The only coaching vacancy available in the PBA now is that of new team Phoenix Petroleum, which acquired Barako Bull’s franchise.

Jaworki’s friend and confidante Reli De Leon did not confirm it, but he said: “Basta meron.”

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Jaworski has been out of the limelight after serving as a Philippine senator for several years and electing to focus on his family business afterwards

But he still loves basketball.

“I don’t know if you’re watching football, I think basketball is far more exciting than football. I like it (football). Ang ayaw ko lang doon, may nakatalikod na player tinamaan ng bola tapos pumasok, tayuan lahat nga tao at hiyawan. Wow,  aksidente lang ‘yun ha,” he explained.

“Basketball is poetry in motion. Guys can have different characters (inside the court) and it can be amusing sometimes. May rock, classic, may maganda at may sweet. 

‘Yung walang kahirap-hirap pumapasok ang tira. Minsan naman, ile-lay up na lang, idadakdak pa, kaya hayun tumba.”

During his heydays in the PBA, he earned the moniker Living Legend as a tribute to his larger than life persona and the way he steered his Ginebra team to always play the game as if it’s its last. 

It was in his time as player-coach when his never-say-die Ginebra team became the PBA’s crowd darlings. Jaworski was the league MVP in 1978 and had his last game in March of 1997 in Dumaguete City, owning the record as the oldest player to ever play in the PBA at 50 years old.

As playing coach, he was piloted a rag-tag Ginebra team devoid of stars to four championships.

A couple of years back, Jaworski was reported to be negotiating with San Miguel Corp. executives for his return as coach of Ginebra.

While talks were not confirmed, Jaworski, in the middle of his Ginebra comeback reports, made a rare appearance in PBA game at the Araneta Coliseum. He visited the Ginebra locker room and made a short pep talk to the Gin Kings, who incidentally, won the game against San Mig Coffee Mixers to force a Game 7 in the finals.

Insiders said Jaworski priced himself so high that Ginebra management deemed it unfeasible to acquire his services at the time.

This time, Jaworski sounded more pragmatic in making himself available for a coaching job.

“Tayo ay cool lang, nag-oobserve lang. Wika nga, mahal ko ‘yang sport na ‘yan. Wala pa ring tatalo sa blood type ko na AB, All Basketball,” he said.

 

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