Final buzzer sounds on ‘Spar,’ 79

MANILA, Philippines - Gonzalo “Lito” Puyat, the two-time president of the International Basketball Federation or FIBA , died yesterday,  taking with him an interesting chapter in Philippine basketball that had its finest as well as bitter moments under  his stewardship.

He was 79.

According to his closest friends, Puyat, who held the top FIBA post from 1976 to 1984, apparently died of cardiac arrest at the Makati Medical Center.

Puyat’s family has not issued any statement regarding his death, and no other details were made available at presstime.

But Augusto “Gus” Villanueva, editor-in-chief of the Journal Group, said Puyat, his long-time friend, had just returned from Dubai where he met his daughter, Patria.

“He just returned to Manila a couple of days ago from Dubai where he met his daughter who works in a hotel. I believe he also met a sister there,” said Villanueva.

He said Puyat has recently been complaining of asthma although another friend, Dominador Cepeda, said he could have died of cardiac arrest.

“Payback time na yata Spar,” Villanueva recalled Puyat, who calls his friends “Spar,” as telling him the last time they met more than a month ago. 

Friends also loved to call him “Tolits.”

Villanueva said he called Puyat through his mobile phone at around 8 p.m. Sunday but was told that the Pinoy basketball icon was having a massage and was not feeling well.

The veteran newsman told The STAR he was going through his desk at around 2 p.m. yesterday when he got hold of a birthday card he got from Puyat last August.

Shortly after, Villanueva’s phone rang. It was Puyat’s personal driver, Boyet, on the other end of the line, and he was told that Puyat had passed away.

“Wala na si sir (He’s gone),” Villanueva was told.

“I couldn’t believe it. I tried calling him before he left for Dubai, and was not able to get through. On Sunday, I wanted to thank him for the basket of fruits he sent me for Christmas,” said Villanueva.

Puyat, who was born on May 21, 1933, once served as assemblyman in Metro Manila. But he really made a name for himself as president of FIBA and the Basketball Association of the Philippines.

He was instrumental in bringing the 1978 World Championship to Manila.

Moying Martelino, former secretary-general of the Asian Basketball Confederation, was stunned by news of Puyat’s death.

“We go a long, long way since our high school days at Ateneo. Barkada ko ‘yan (He’s my buddy),” said Martelino.

Puyat always stood his ground, especially at the height of the leadership dispute at the BAP between him and the late Tiny Literal, leading to a FIBA suspension on the Philippines in 2001.

The suspension was lifted in time for 2001 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, and the Philippines won the gold medal with players led by Rommel Adducul.

But the leadership squabble went on with Literal and Graham Lim against Puyat and Freddie Jalasco, leading to another FIBA suspension on the Philippines.

As a result, basketball was not played in the Manila SEA Games of 2005. But the Filipinos went on to win the overall title.

The FIBA stepped in and mediated, and in 2007, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, under Manny V. Pangilinan, was born.

It was when Puyat, the grand old man of Philippine basketball, started to fade away.