Missing the Big J

Last Thursday, Carlos (Bobong) Velez celebrated his 64th birthday with a private dinner among close friends in a Greenhills restaurant. One of his birthday wishes was to witness the re-emergence of the PBA as a major TV attraction. When Velez held the PBA’s telecast rights through Vintage Enterprises in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the pro league enjoyed an extremely wide viewership.

Today, the PBA is still reaping the benefits of Velez’ vision – its audience cemented over time, season after season. But with the advent of more and more entertainment options, viewership isn’t as wide-spread as before. Now, there are soap operas, reality series, interactive game shows, TV movies and the cable networks crowding the PBA for ratings.

Velez said he’s optimistic that a “millennium” breakthrough is just around the corner. Newly designated PBA commissioner Chito Salud, who attended the dinner, has the vision to put the league back on track with a commitment to make the core product – the game itself – a more exciting proposition for fans. That means instituting rules to lay the foundations of parity and competitive balance. Of course, the players must do their share in the effort – they’re the hardcourt heroes whom fans look up to.

Former commissioner Sonny Barrios, one of Velez’ guests, said the PBA could use another charismatic torchbearer like Sonny Jaworski. Former PBA chairman Honey Boy Palanca, previously owner of the Ginebra San Miguel franchise, sat across the dinner table from Barrios and nodded in agreement. It was Palanca who, recognizing the Big J’s mass appeal, signed up Jaworski as coach, player and manager – all rolled into one. Palanca never regretted the decision to build Ginebra around Jaworski who delivered two championships during his ownership in 1986 and 1988.

Jaworski played 24 seasons in the PBA from 1975 to 1998. Officially, he hasn’t retired and now at 64, remains the standard for all PBA cagers. The Big J was MVP in 1978 and is in the record books for compiling at least 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists and 500 steals. Jaworski still holds the record for most career assists with 5,825.

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Barrios shared some anecdotes about Jaworski, if only to prove why he’s so conspicuously missed today.

“I remember Ginebra played a game in Dagupan and the stadium was packed,” said Barrios. “I was surprised to find out the fan sitting beside me was a member of the NPA. He told me the NPA and the military have an understanding of a truce when the PBA comes to town, especially Jaworski. Then, after the game, I saw an old lady come up to Jaworski to ask if she could pose with him for a photograph. Sonny asked his man Friday, Turo, carrying his sports bag, to take the picture so the lady’s relative holding the camera could join in the picture. I heard Sonny speak with the lady, asking about her life, her children and grandchildren. That’s why the fans loved Sonny. That’s why the fans loved the PBA.”

Another example was when Jaworski appealed to then commissioner Rudy Salud to void a suspension for a punching incident involving Ginebra player Sonny Cabatu. Salud agreed to watch a replay of the incident with Jaworski beside him.

“The commissioner ruled that if Cabatu threw a punch, the suspension was automatic,” said Barrios. “So as they watched the replay in slow motion, over and over again, it became increasingly clear that Cabatu threw a punch. But Jaworski, trying to convince the commissioner, explained that Cabatu only clenched his fist because in his own words, ‘nanggigil.’ Only Sonny could try to justify it that way. Of course, the suspension stuck but that’s how Sonny was – he fought for his players until the final decision.”

In another instance, TV broadcaster Andy Jao – who was also at the dinner – recalled that Jaworski played 58 straight minutes – regulation and two overtimes – in a game during the 1986 Third Conference finals between Ginebra and Manila Beer. Ginebra wound up taking the title, 4-1.

“If I remember correctly, it was Game 2 with imports,” said Andy. “It really blew my mind.” Andy sat on the Manila Beer bench with the coaching staff and was mesmerized by Jaworski’s no-relief job.

Barrios remembered in the post-game press conference, a reporter asked Jaworski if he was exhausted. The Big J looked at the reporter, dropped to the ground and made several push-ups. No more questions.

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Throughout his playing career, Jaworski never turned down a request for an autograph or a picture from fans. He spoke with them, asked how they were and didn’t just do it because it was an obligation. Jaworski was genuinely connected with the fans.

By the way, only seven players have seen action in the PBA in their 40s – Jaworski, Abet Guidaben, Yoyoy Villamin, Terry Saldana, Ramon Fernandez, Norman Black and Olsen Racela. That’s about as exclusive as you can get in a players’ club.

Among today’s PBA stars, B-Meg’s James Yap probably comes closest to exuding Jaworski’s magnetism. But to bring the PBA back to massive public consciousness, it will take many more Yaps to emulate Jaworski. It’s a challenge that all PBA players face.