Ramon Fernandez
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| Position | Center/Forward |
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| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| League | PBA |
| Team | San Miguel Beer |
| Born | October 3, 1953 Maasin, Southern Leyte |
| Nationality | Philippines |
| College | University of San Carlos |
| Pro career | 1975–1994 |
| Former teams | Toyota, Beer Hausen / Manila Beer, Tanduay, Purefoods, San Miguel |
| Awards |
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Ramon Fernandez is a former Philippine Basketball Association player, who bore various nicknames: "The Franchise", "El Presidente" and "Don Ramon" during his playing days.
Considered by experts to be the greatest Filipino basketball player of all time, Fernandez won four Most Valuable Player awards, a record 19 PBA championships (the equivalent of 6 championships in the NBA as the PBA runs three championships a year). His legendary jersey number was 10 though he would wear no. 19 from the time he played for Tanduay in 1985 until his retirement in 1994. Fernandez scored 18,996 points to finish as the PBA's all time scoring leader. He is also the PBA's all-time leader in rebounds, blocked shots and 2nd all time in assists and steals.
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[edit] Career
Fernandez was a graduate of the University of San Carlos in Cebu and was a member of several national teams, which include the 1973 Asian Basketball Confederation championship team.
In 1975, Fernandez joined the powerhouse Toyota team in the PBA, joining Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnáiz, Arnie Tuadles, Danny Florencio and Abe King when they won nine titles from 1975-1983. Fernandez was the 1982 PBA Most Valuable Player, the only time he achieved the award during his days with the fabled team.
After Toyota's disbandment in 1984, Fernandez and several former Toyota teammates joined Beer Hausen. The move also further ignited a much-publicized feud with former teammate Jaworski. Fernandez won the 1984 MVP award during his first season with the Lucio Tan-owned franchise, but never led the team to the championship until he was shipped in the middle of the 1985 season to Tanduay for Abet Guidaben.
From 1986-1987, Fernandez along with former Crispa rivals Freddie Hubalde and Padim Israel, J.B. Yango, Willie Generalao, Onchie Dela Cruz and imports Rob Williams, Andre McKoy and later, David Thirdkill, led the Rhum Masters to three PBA titles. Fernandez won his third MVP award in 1986.
Tanduay would disband before the 1988 season, but the franchise rights were bought by Purefoods Corporation. Fernandez would become playing coach of a young team composed of Jerry Codiñera, Jojo Lastimosa, Al Solís, Glen Capacio and later Alvin Patrimonio. In the 1988 Open Conference, he led his new team to a runner-up finish to San Miguel Beer. However, midway through the All Filipino Conference he would relinquish his coaching duties to his assistant, Cris Calilan, to concentrate on his game. But in a controversial move, Fernandez was benched during the Finals against Añejo Rhum. The said event led to his transfer to San Miguel Beer in exchange for, the second time, Abet Guidaben. Fernandez would lead the Beermen to the 1988 Reinforced Conference Championship and also won his fourth MVP Award, becoming the only player to win four MVP awards with four different teams.
Fernandez was a member of San Miguel's historic grandslam in 1989 while making amends with rival Jaworski during the 1989 All-Star Game, when El Presidente scored an undergoal stab off a Jaworski pass, to lead the Veterans to a 132-130 win over the Rookie-Sophomores team. Legendary coach Baby Dalupan, then coaching the Veterans, summoned both players to a historic handshake signaling the end of their bitter feud.
In 1990, Fernandez was a member of the Philippine basketball team that won a silver medal in the Beijing Asian Games. El Presidente was supposed to participate in the 1994 Asian Games team, but begged off due to an injury. That year also saw the final season of Fernandez's PBA career when he announced his retirement.
He was the first four-time MVP of the league, winning it in 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1988, all even numbered years. Considered as the best big man to have come out of the PBA, he can play all five positions on the court, as center, power forward, small forward, off guard and point guard, with uncanny ability. His trademark one-handed running jumper dubbed the "elegant shot" was his most potent offensive weapon. In 1984, he came awfully close to averaging in triple-double the whole season, being only five assists shy from achieving the feat. He ended his PBA career as the all-time leader in most points scored with 18,996, No. 2 behind Jaworski in assists with 5,220, No. 1 in defensive rebounds with 6,435, No. 2 in offensive rebounds behind Guidaben with 2,217, No. 1 in overall rebounds with 8,652, No. 1 in minutes played with 36624:30, No. 2 in games played behind Guidaben, No. 1 in blocks with 1,853, and, since Feb 5, 2007, No. 2 behind Johnny Abarrientos in steals with 1,302 despite retiring as all-time leader. He ended with career averages of 17.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.2 spg and 1.7 bpg in 1,074 games.
[edit] Retirement
After his playing career, Fernandez ran for a senatorial seat under the Nationalist People's Coalition in the 1995 elections but lost. In 1998, he became the first commissioner of the new professional league called as the Metropolitan Basketball Association, but was eventually replaced after the 1999 season.
In 2000, he was included in the PBA's 25 Greatest Players' list and was awarded during the league's anniversary on April 9, 2000.
In 2003, Fernandez was named Commissioner of the Champions League tournament. A few months earlier, Fernandez was part of the Toyota Tamaraws in the Crispa-Toyota Reunion Game. The highlight of the event was the kickout pass of Fernandez to Jaworski, who later sank a three-pointer to seal the Tamaraws' 65-61 win over their bitter rivals, the Redmanizers.
He also became the Commissioner of the now-inactive United Regional Basketball League during its only run in 2004.
Fernandez was also inducted in the PBA Hall of Fame while participated in the Greatest Game, a reunion of several members of the league's 25 Greatest Players, on May 30, 2005 when they lost to the TM Greats team 96-92.
Mon Fernandez now operates a cafe named "Tisoy". It is located on Fortuna Street, Cebu City, Cebu.
[edit] Legacy
Fernandez is remembered as one of the most popular players during the PBA's golden years and is also one of the most prominent faces in Philippine basketball, even to this day.
Fernandez could actually play all five positions on the basketball court as he has mastered every skill needed in the game of basketball. He was known for his dribbling skills (unusual for a center during his era), uncanny passing ability, perimeter jumpers and unstoppable low post moves. In an open court game, it was not unusual to see him collar a rebound then dribble down the full length of the court and finish off the break with a lay-up down the middle or a fancy pass to a streaking teammate on the wings. He is also well known for his trademark one handed running shot dubbed as "the elegant shot".
As a testament to his mastery of the game, he is the PBA's all-time leader in career points (18,996), total career rebounds (8,652), and total career blocked shots (1,853) and is second all-time behind Robert Jaworski in the career assists department, to Abet Guidaben in offensive rebounds and to Johnny Abarrientos in steals category (though he retired as the all-time leader in 1994, an unprecedented feat for a big man who played center most of his career). Fernandez's 19 PBA championship is the most of any player who has played in the pro league.
[edit] Career highlights
[edit] PBA career
- 4-time Most Valuable Player (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988)
- PBA Hall of Fame
- Member of the 1989 San Miguel Grand Slam Team
- 13-time Mythical First Team Selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992)
- 3-time Mythical Second Team Selection (1985, 1987, and 1990)
- 4-time PBA All-Star
- PBA's 25 Greatest Players
[edit] Others
- Member, 1972 Asian Youth
- Member, 1973 Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC)
- Member, 1974 Mundo Basket (World Championship)
- Member, 1974 Asian Games
- Member, 1990 Asian Games
- 1994 Asian Games Assistant Coach
- Metropolitan Basketball Association Commissioner 1998-1999
[edit] Trivia
- A Ramon Fernandez-Abet Guidaben trade was executed twice. In 1985, Manila Beer swapped Fernandez to Tanduay for former Crispa rival Guidaben. In 1988, after a controversial shelving of Fernandez during the 1988 All-Filipino championship series led to Purefoods dealing the then-three time MVP to San Miguel for Guidaben, the reigning 1987 PBA MVP.
- Fernandez won his four MVPs through four different teams Toyota, Beer Hausen, Tanduay and San Miguel Beer and all in even-numbered years (1982, 1984, 1986 & 1988). On the other hand, rival Guidaben won the MVP award twice in odd-numbered years (1983 & 1987). Had the 1985 last conference swap between Fernandez and Guidaben did not materialize, Guidaben would have been the MVP also in 1985.
- Fernandez has led the teams he has played in a PBA championship series. He won nine titles with Toyota, led Beer Hausen to a title-series loss to Great Taste in 1984, led Tanduay to three PBA titles, led Purefoods to the finals in 1988 (played Game 1 after which he was barred from playing the rest of the series), and won seven titles with San Miguel.
- Outside of basketball, Fernandez also held a barangay seat at Ayala Alabang Village.
- He ran for Senator under the Nationalist People's Coalition in the 1995 senatorial elections, but lost.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Bogs Adornado |
PBA Most Valuable Player 1982 |
Succeeded by Abet Guidaben |
| Preceded by Abet Guidaben |
PBA Most Valuable Player 1984 |
Succeeded by Ricardo Brown |
| Preceded by Ricardo Brown |
PBA Most Valuable Player 1986 |
Succeeded by Abet Guidaben |
| Preceded by Abet Guidaben |
PBA Most Valuable Player 1988 |
Succeeded by Benjie Paras |
| Preceded by First |
Purefoods head coach 1988 |
Succeeded by Cris Calilan |
| Preceded by First |
Metropolitan Basketball Association Commissioner 1998-1999 |
Succeeded by Ogie Narvasa |
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Philippines Dream Team - 1990 Asian Games |
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Ramon Fernandez | Zaldy Realubit | Rey Cuenco | Yves Dignadice | Benjie Paras | Alvin Patrimonio | Chito Loyzaga | Dante Gonzalgo | Allan Caidic | Samboy Lim | Ronnie Magsanoc | Hector Calma | Coach Robert Jaworski |
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