Abet Guidaben

Alberto "Abet" Guidaben is a former Philippine Basketball Association basketball player. He was part of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers ballclub that won two Grand Slams, in 1976 and 1983. He was a two-time Most Valuable Player awardee, in 1983 and 1987, joining a select few who are multiple winners of the award such as Bogs Adornado, Ramon Fernandez, Alvin Patrimonio, Benjie Paras, Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller and James Yap.

Collegiate/Amateur Career

He started his career with the University of San Jose - Recoletos. Then in 1973, Guidaben became part of the Crispa team in the old Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA). Later that year, he and Crispa teammate Adornado were named to the Philippine team that won the 1973 Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) held in Manila. The two also played for the national team that played in the 1974 Mundo Basket (the World Championship) held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

PBA career

In the PBA, Guidaben was a "late-bloomer" with Crispa. During the league's early years, he played in the shadows of his more illustrious teammates like Philip Cezar, Atoy Co and Bogs Adornado. But slowly, his talent as a big man emerged and became one of Crispa's greatest assets. He was already a good rebounder but later developed a strong inside game complimented with accurate off-the-glass jumpers from the perimeter. He was also one of the earliest dunkers in the PBA making the slam dunk vogue in the league a decade before the arrival of highflyers like Samboy Lim, Paul "Bong" Alvarez, Vergel Meneses and Nelson Asaytono. Guidaben also had a great rivalry with Toyota's Fernandez which was considered a classic in itself. Known as the "Pride of Camiguin," Guidaben won MVP honors in 1983 while with Crispa and 1987 while with San Miguel Beer. Unfortunately, Guidaben wound up as a journeyman of sorts having played for eight teams. Aside from Crispa and San Miguel, he also dribbled for Manila Beer, Tanduay, Purefoods, Alaska Milk, Pepsi Mega and Shell Rimula X.

He finished his illustrious PBA career as the No. 2 leading scorer with 15,775 points (behind Fernandez' 18,996), No. 2 in total rebounds with 8,570, No. 2 in defensive rebounds with 6,197, No. 1 in offensive rebounds with 2,373 and No. 1 in games played with 1,081. He also had 2,284 assists, 340 steals and 922 blocks in 29,577:10 total minutes played (No. 3 behind Fernandez and Patrimonio). He finished with career averages of 14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 77.6% FT (2,875/3,707), 53.1% FG (6,420/12,092).

PBA's 25 Greatest Players

In 2000, he was named as one of the PBA's 25 greatest players of all-time in elaborate awards ceremonies that highlighted the 25th year anniversary of the league.

After his retirement, he went into the construction business.

PBA career highlights

• Member of the 1976 and 1983 Crispa Grand Slam Team
• 2× Most Valuable Player (1983, 1987)
• 5× Mythical First Team Selection (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988)
• 3× PBA All-Star
• Member, PBA's 25 Greatest Players
• Member, 5,000, 10,000 & 15,000 points clubs
• Member, 1,000 & 2,000 offensive rebounds clubs
• Member, 2,000 & 5,000 defensive rebounds clubs
• Member, 2,000 assists club
• Member, 1,000 games played
• All-time Leader in most games played with 1,081

Other Highlights

• 1973 Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC)
• 1974 Mundo Basket (World Championship)
• 1974 Asian Games

Trivia

• An Abet Guidaben for Mon Fernandez swap happened twice. In 1985, Guidaben was shipped from Tanduay to Manila Beer for El Presidente during the last conference that eventually cost him the MVP award for that season to Ricky Brown as he was leading the race before the trade. Three years later, Guidaben, then playing for San Miguel, was sent to Purefoods for the disgruntled Fernandez.
• Guidaben has worn the jersey #5 during his time with the Crispa Redmanizers. Ever since then he has worn other jersey numbers equaling to 5 such as 14 (1+4), 23 (2+3), 32 (3+2) & 41 (4+1).

Health

• Currently, Abet is afflicted with a serious ailment called Myasthenia Gravis , is a chronic disease of the nervous system affecting the voluntary muscles and rendering them exceedingly weak and exhausted when they are used. He is being treated with steroids to arrest the spread of the disease and he is also confined at a particular hospital in New Jersey particularly in the ICU. According to Abe King , “We are preparing the groundwork for a benefit basketball game in Los Angeles to be held as soon as possible. This time it will be a fund raiser for Abet,” he said.

External links

• http://www.pba.ph
• http://www.myglobe.com.ph/portal/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3509
• http://www.geocities.com/maong69/pba.guidaben.html
• http://www.teenfad.ph/news/archives/why25.htm
• http://www.turbochargers-pba.com/dinner.shtml
• *[http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Lagoon/8541/philbas.1973abc.html
• http://www.inquirer.net/sports/articles/Ailing-Abet.html
• http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=599186&publicationSubCategoryId=95
• http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideSports.htm?f=/2010/august/4/sports3.isx&d=2010/august/4