Former star Yoyong Martirez looks back at glory years playing for Philippine basketball team Younger fans know Yoyong Martirez as a comedian, providing a punchline as a sidekick to stars like Vic Sotto. But once upon a time, Martirez was a top basketball player, helping the Philippine national team to victory in the 1973 Asian Basketball Confederation Championship. That was the last FIBA Asia championship hosted in the country. He provided a spark off the bench for the team that featured the legendary duo of Robert Jaworski and Francis Arnaiz in the starting backcourt. Martirez said that it was his speed that made him an effective player in international competition. “Mabilis talaga ako dati. Kasi bago ako naglaro ng basketball dito, dati kong laro ay track and field player. Tumatakbo ako 100 meters, 200 meters, 4×400,” Martirez told InterAKTV in an exclusive interview. He was one of two top basketball stars known for their speed, with the other being Freddie Webb, who earned the nickname “Fastbreak Freddie.” Fans were so interested in how fast the two players were that they clamored for the two men to race — and they did so at the track oval at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium. “Kami dati ni Freddie nagkarera kami, pero ayaw ko naman sabihin kung sino ang nanalo kasi parang napakayabang ko naman. Ayaw kong sabihin na nauna ako, pero ayaw ko rin namang sabihin na ako ang nahuli,” said Martirez. “Kasi ang kinuha lang yung time, first 50 meters, then first 100 meters. Kaya inorasan yun.” Martirez said that the Philippine team won in 1973 despite lacking ceiling compared to their opponents. That made speed a real key for the squad. Today, Martirez notes that the Gilas squad has the ceiling to match up with opponents. The current pool boasts the tallest Philippine team in history, featuring Greg Slaughter, June Mar Fajardo, and Marcus Douthit, all of whom stand taller than 6-foot-9. “Malalaki na rin tayo ngayon, so kaya na rin nating maglaro ng power basketball like China, Jordan, Iran and Kazakhstan,” said Martirez. -TIMRR9
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:08:39 +0000
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