Dolphy, Jaworski and Ricardo Brown

It has been a very intense return trip home for Ricardo Brown. The former PBA All-Star’s timing after 22 years has been impeccable. So many things have happened in the little time he has been back, including the death of Dolphy and the retirement of Robert Jaworski’s jersey. Both personalities were a big part of Brown’s life in the Philippines.

One of Ricky’s fondest memories was working with the Philippine King of Comedy in the 1987 film, “Action is Not Missing” with Paquito Diaz, Renato del Prado and a very young Francis Magalona. Brown played Lt. Long Shot, and even had a scene where he tossed a grenade as if it were a basketball and he was taking a jump shot.

“I was injured at the time, and Tito Dolphy asked permission from Great Taste if I could work with him,” Brown recalls. “Tito Dolphy made sure everyone was taken care of. It was a very relaxed set. Of course, we knew that it was business, and we were there to work. But it was a very relaxed atmosphere, and he treated everyone well.”

In April of last year, Brown received a surprise package in the mail. Dolphy had sent him an autographed copy of a photo of the two of them together, with a very touching dedication. Ricky said he was touched that Dolphy had kept in touch with him. The beloved comedian was a big basketball fan in the 1980’s. 

“When we were doing the movie, we’d shoot out of town, and I would sometimes ride with him,” says Brown. “We never talked about basketball. We talked about life, and he was such a humble man who shared so much.”

On Tuesday, Brown rushed to Makati Medical Center to visit the ailing actor. The traffic delayed him so badly that Dolphy passed away before he made it there. Wednesday, Brown was slated to do an exclusive interview on this writer’s television program “Hardball”. The live airing was rescheduled for taping earlier in the day, as all ABS-CBN News Channel programming was preempted for a tribute to Dolphy. This gave the 1985 PBA MVP the chance to pay his respects at the Dolphy Studio, and reconnect with the Quizon family members Kit, Epi, Ronnie, Eric and the rest. It was a bittersweet moment for Ricky. But what surprised him and helped lift his spirits was the recognition he was getting from fans and even celebrities, even at this somber occasion. Hosts of the noontime variety show “Showtime” and singer Randy Santiago were among those who couldn’t resist posing for a souvenir photo with The Quick Brown Fox.

At the taping of Hardball minutes before, Brown talked about how the discontinuation of the Philippine team led him to play in the PBA. The Pepperdine alum was set to be a Crispa Redmanizer. The PBA had no draft back then. The day of the confirmation of rookies, Brown was suddenly a Great Taste Coffeemaker. To this day, he has no idea how that happened, but says it all worked out for the best.

Unknown to most people, Brown, the very first Fil-Am to legitimately play in the PBA, gave up his US citizenship to play in the Philippines. Dual citizenship did not exist at the time. It was a big decision, but Brown willingly made it.

When asked about his greatest opponents and games, Brown recited a veritable list of legends of the game. But one familiar name still stood out.

“There were so many great players then, especially with Crispa. Atoy Co, Cezar, Hubalde, Fabiosa,” Brown says. But the one player who I found the most challenging was Sonny Jaworski. He had the passion, he had the big fan base. You either loved him or hated him – there was no middle ground – and he gave no quarter.”

Among his greatest games in the PBA, Brown often cites championships encounters against Crispa and Ginebra.

“Whenever we played Ginebra or Añejo, the night before the game, I couldn’t sleep,” he recalls. “It was out of anticipation and anxiousness. I knew I would play my best against them, and some of my greatest games were against them.”

Brown continues his meet and greet sessions with fans at Robinsons Malls this weekend, and flies back to California on Tuesday, fulfilled and charged with so many new memories.

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