Two-time Olympian Jimmy Mariano passed away after a lingering illness. He was 84.
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) made the announcement, expressing its condolences on the sweet-shooting forward who coached Presto Tivoli to the All-Filipino title in 1990.
Our prayers and condolences to the family and loved ones of former PBA player and Presto champion coach, Mr. Jimmy Mariano,” said the league, who honored Mariano with a final buzzer in the Philippine Cup game between Rain or Shine and Converge on Sunday at the Ynares Center-Montalban.
Four-time PBA Most Valuable Player Ramon Fernandez also honored his former national teammate, branding him as a teammate, an opponent and a brother in Philippine basketball.
“Today, I say goodbye to Jimmy ‘Naning’ Mariano, one of the true pillars of our game,” said Fernandez in a social media post.
“Though he was much older than me, we shared one unforgettable chapter together, my first stint with the Philippine national team. I was still young, I was still learning and Jimmy was one of those seniors whose presence taught you without needing many words.”
Fernandez, who is now based in Cebu, also expressed his gratitude to his fallen brother.
“Maraming salamat, Jimmy, for the friendship and for those exciting years… for the lessons, the competition, the memories that helped shape many of us after you. The game is better because you played it.”
A product of University of the East under legendary coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan, Mariano was also the team captain of the 1973 national squad that won the ABC Men’s Championship, which is now known as the FIBA Asia Cup, which was the last all-homegrown unit to win the title.
Following his distinguished amateur career, he became among the pioneers of the PBA, playing for ballclubs such as Carrier, Seven-Up and Filmanbank where he posted a career average of 14.4 points.
But the highlight of his career was when he played for the national squad that campaigned in the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics, where he even served as flag bearer. His feat was tough to match as no Filipino cager ever played in the Summer Games since then.
After his retirement, he moved to coaching and steered the Red Warriors to back-to-back University Athletic Association of the Philippines championships in 1984 and 1985, marking the last time his alma mater won in the country's one of two major collegiate leagues.
