Farewell, Mr. Cool

Jimmy Mariano bridged the nascent years of our country’s love affair with basketball with the present. The original “Mr. Cool” with a deadly hook shot, he was an important figure in Philippine sports history. Flag bearer of the national delegation to the 1972 Munich Olympics, he later became a coach who started the trend of involving his players in a team’s decision-making. Mariano also became an open book with his deep knowledge of the game, and selflessly shared what he knew. Many of his players kept in touch with him until the day he passed away. All have nothing but kind words to say.

Allan Caidic started his formidable PBA career under Mariano. The prodigious triggerman played for the Great Taste/Presto franchise from 1987 to 1992, and set league records while Mariano was his coach. Onchie dela Cruz, one of the league’s toughest guards, credits his resurgence to Mariano giving him a second chance. Manny Victorino treasures the long, deep mentorship he enjoyed with Mariano. Joel Banal reveals that Mariano laid the blueprint for the coach he has become.

“You know, Coach Jimmy was one of the players I watched when I was growing up,” explains Caidic, who scored a league-record 17 three-pointers under Mariano. “In my opinion, he had a very fruitful journey in basketball. I believe he was fulfilled with all that he contributed to Philippine basketball.”

“I was so sad when I heard of Coach Jimmy’s passing,” says Dela Cruz. “When I interviewed him, I saw how sad he was, that he missed his old players. I owe him a lot. My career was going down when he took me in at Presto, and he gave me another break. My old game came back to me.”

“Coach Jimmy and I were together for a very long time,” recalls Victorino, who was named one of the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players. “I miss him so much. I learned so much from him. He was not just a coach; he was a mentor. Coach, rest in peace.”

“You were like a big brother to me when I was playing under your wings,” declares Banal, who was part of Great Taste Coffee’s run of four consecutive PBA championships. “I remember the Tres Amigos, Manny Victorino, Cho Sison and myself. When our MICAA team disbanded, after a few months, we found ourselves with the Great Taste amateur franchise under Coach Jimmy Mariano. All the way to the PBA, we were under Coach Jimmy. I have utmost respect for the man, because he loved me so much, that’s why I love him.”

Jimmy Mariano was many things to the young man he was interested with: coach, advisor, big brother, mentor, father figure, friend. We can learn so much from his life in terms of what should hold real value for us in this world. It’s not only the won and lost games, but the lives you’ve touched, changed, made better. Mr. Cool leaves us with the warmth of deep friendship that lasts forever. That carries on way beyond the bright lights of the basketball court. We will never forget him.

The full tribute to Jimmy Mariano is on Basketball Universe PHL on YouTube.