Abe King
Encyclopedia
Abe King, Jr. was a Filipino
basketball
player who was part of the champion Philippine Basketball Association
(PBA) ballclub Toyota Tamaraws
. He was the starting power center of 1976 MICAA Champion Crown Motors before his mother team, the Toyota Tamaraws called upon his services at the start of the 1977 PBA season
. Prior to that, King was King Bedan in 1976 and was responsible in powering the San Beda Red Lions
to runner-up finish in that year.
retired at the end of the 1976 season. Reynoso's younger brother Cristino on the other hand was shipped to U/Tex in one of the early trades back in the PBA. Hence, King joined forces with Ramon Fernandez
, Robert Jaworski
, Francis Arnaiz
and 1976 Rookie Of The Year Virgilio "Gil" Cortez in the starting unit of the Tamaraws (original starting forward Rodolfo "Ompong" Segura suffered a knee injury during the 1976 season that allowed Cortez to blossom that season). King became a major force to reckon with, and almost won ROY
honors, barely losing to eventual winner and co-power forward Jimmy Taguines of Yco-Tanduay in a tight race. However, King proved that he had the sterner stuff and longevity as he stayed in the PBA for nearly 2 decades while Taguines retired unceremoniously sometime in the early 80's.
King's accomplishments though were somewhat diminished with the performance of his more accomplished teammates. The year after he joined the league, Jaworski ruled the roost by averaging close to triple double the entire season enroute to the MVP award. In 1979, Fernandez narrowly lost out to Fortunato "Atoy" Co, Jr.
in a tight MVP race that was decided by the media votes. Fernandez, though, proved that he was the best player of the season as he powered the Tamaraws to a runner up and championship finish in the succeeding two conferences. Co won the MVP title after the 1st Conference, one of the quirks of the PBA rules back then - and since Crispa won the title, the Fortune Cookie, despite ending up second to Fernandez in the stats race in the AFC, romped away with the honors.
It was in 1982 though which was considered as King's best year with Toyota. The same year when Jaworski was riding the bench because of an assortment of injuries (the Big J was already 36 by then), it was the quartet of Fernandez, Arnaiz, 1979 ROY Arnie Tuadles
and King who starred in Toyota's two championships that season - the same year when Fernandez finally nailed his first of four MVP plums with King being named to the season's Mythical Five. What made King's accomplishments impressive was he did this on the other side of the game - his defense. While every player was getting recognition for their offense, King did so on defense - a skill further enhanced by his coach Edgardo Ocampo
– acknowledged as the 60's best two-way player. King was the nemesis not only of the best local players around, he also took it upon himself to defend against the best imports. Norman Black
, Lew Massey, Lew Brown
, Clarence Kea
, among others, were surprised at how a bulky local player can actually hold his own against them. Black intimated once in an interview that King was "the best local defender who ever guarded him." Alvin Patrimonio
, during his peak, halcyon days of the early 90's, badly wanted an aging King to be part of Purefoods simply because he feared having King on the other side of the court defending him. Finally, a PBA player was recognized for his ability to defend players and King became the yardstick of what defenders should be in the coming years.
King finished his PBA career as one of only eight local players with more than 5,000 rebounds, 1,942 of which came from the offensive glass. He was also a three-time All-Defensive Team member. While known to be a defensive player, he did score 60 points in a game against Crispa in 1979, just in his third year in the PBA.
while King became the first "franchise player" in the history of the league when he signed up with Beer Hausen's corporate rival Gold Eagle Beer. King, though, latched upon that deal with Gold Eagle Beer prior to the announcement of Toyota's disbandment making him ineligible in that "lock, stock and barrel" purchase of Basic Holdings of Toyota's franchise.
However, since King wasn't exactly a noted scorer, he needed players who can take over the offensive chores as he took it upon himself to lead the Gold Eagle team on the defensive end. Alas, since he had average players for teammates in a young Joey Loyzaga
, a raw Rudy Distrito, an oft-injured Marte Saldaña, a defensive stalwart in Dante Gonzalgo, and two veterans who never made it big despite their promise at the start – Renato Lobo and Anthony Dasalla, Gold Eagle struggled big time. And since San Miguel
(the mother company of Gold Eagle) was focusing its resources more on the PABL and the NCC
team, Gold Eagle couldn't get the players they wanted to be competitive against the likes of Great Taste Coffee, Beer Hausen and Tanduay Rhum.
Eventually, King moved to Great Taste the succeeding year with no less than team manager Ignacio Gotao spearheading this transfer. King paradoxically found himself in unfamiliar company with past Crispa
rivals Co, Bernie Fabiosa
and Philip Cezar
plus super rookie Allan Caidic
but found the responsibilities at Great Taste lighter than when he was with Gold Eagle. He, along with Cezar, became the team's leaders as they were recognized by their peers and the younger players for their veteran smarts and skills. Ranged against the likes of Alaska's Bruise Brothers Ricky Relosa and Yoyoy Villamin, the Cezar-King combo more than held their own against the rising and younger pair of Relosa and Villamin.
But what many people don't realize is that King only had one contrapelo among the players during his time. Ironically, it turned out to be his own Toyota teammate Fernandez who knew King's moves extremely well. Ditto the other way as King was also equally successful in guarding against Fernandez although the latter had more success in their matchups. Which wasn't really surprising as King wasn't the only player that had Don Ramon as contrapelo or scourge. The top centers / power forwards back then also suffered offensively when ranged against El Presidente
– Gary Vargas, Rey Lazaro, Abet Guidaben
, Terry Saldaña, Manny Victorino and Dondon Ampalayo
feared Fernandez like a plague. King though wasn't far behind in the intimidation factor as he was also the scourge of many slotmen.
was already a major headache for him at defense, what more if you add a King? Purefoods relented and signed up King for a one season contract with the Hotdogs where he played a major role as the defensive player assigned to guard the imports of the other teams. From a one season stint with Purefoods, King's contract with the team was extended to another year. He won his last two PBA championships with the Hotdogs.
King faded from the limelight in the mid-90's and decided to migrate to the United States
. He was the president of the PBA Legends Foundation USA.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who was part of the champion Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
(PBA) ballclub Toyota Tamaraws
Toyota Super Corollas
The Toyota Super Corollas was a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association from 1975-1983. The team had various monikers such as the Comets, the Silver Tamaraws, the Tamaraws, the Super Diesels, the Super Corollas and the Silver Coronas.Their nine PBA titles is the...
. He was the starting power center of 1976 MICAA Champion Crown Motors before his mother team, the Toyota Tamaraws called upon his services at the start of the 1977 PBA season
1977 PBA season
The 1977 PBA season was the third season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable events:*April 17, 1977 - Opening Game of the season between Crispa and Toyota, the Redmanizers won, 122-121 in a game marred by a free-for-all in the post-game fight, sending majority of the Crispa and...
. Prior to that, King was King Bedan in 1976 and was responsible in powering the San Beda Red Lions
San Beda Red Lions
The San Beda Red Lions are the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball team of San Beda College.San Beda is the only founding member left in the league....
to runner-up finish in that year.
PBA career
King was an instant starter for the Tamaraws as resident power forward when Alberto "Big Boy" ReynosoAlberto Reynoso
Alberto C. Reynoso , also known by his nickname "Big Boy" Reynoso was a retired professional basketball player from the Philippines....
retired at the end of the 1976 season. Reynoso's younger brother Cristino on the other hand was shipped to U/Tex in one of the early trades back in the PBA. Hence, King joined forces with Ramon Fernandez
Ramón Fernández
Ramon S. Fernandez is generally regarded as the greatest basketball player produced by the Philippine Basketball Association. Fernandez won four Most Valuable Player awards and a record of 19 PBA championships bagged...
, Robert Jaworski
Robert Jaworski
Robert Salazar Jaworski , also known as Sonny Jaworski, Bobby Jaworski, Robert Jaworski, Sr. or simply Jawo, is a former Philippine senator, basketball coach and Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association and PBA basketball player.Known as The Big J and called The Living Legend...
, Francis Arnaiz
Francis Arnaiz
Francis C. Arnaiz is a former Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He played for Toyota and Ginebra San Miguel from 1975-1986...
and 1976 Rookie Of The Year Virgilio "Gil" Cortez in the starting unit of the Tamaraws (original starting forward Rodolfo "Ompong" Segura suffered a knee injury during the 1976 season that allowed Cortez to blossom that season). King became a major force to reckon with, and almost won ROY
Roy
-United States:*Roy, Louisiana*Roy, Montana*Roy, New Mexico*Roy, Utah**Roy , a transit station*Roy, Washington-Family name:*Annadashankar Roy, Bengali author and poet*Arundhati Roy, an Indian novelist and peace activist...
honors, barely losing to eventual winner and co-power forward Jimmy Taguines of Yco-Tanduay in a tight race. However, King proved that he had the sterner stuff and longevity as he stayed in the PBA for nearly 2 decades while Taguines retired unceremoniously sometime in the early 80's.
King's accomplishments though were somewhat diminished with the performance of his more accomplished teammates. The year after he joined the league, Jaworski ruled the roost by averaging close to triple double the entire season enroute to the MVP award. In 1979, Fernandez narrowly lost out to Fortunato "Atoy" Co, Jr.
Atoy Co
Fortunato Co, Jr., better known as Atoy Co, is a former Philippine Basketball Association basketball player and actor who was part of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers ballclub that won two Grand Slams, in 1976 and 1983. He won the Most Valuable Player award, in 1979 and a 9-time Mythical First...
in a tight MVP race that was decided by the media votes. Fernandez, though, proved that he was the best player of the season as he powered the Tamaraws to a runner up and championship finish in the succeeding two conferences. Co won the MVP title after the 1st Conference, one of the quirks of the PBA rules back then - and since Crispa won the title, the Fortune Cookie, despite ending up second to Fernandez in the stats race in the AFC, romped away with the honors.
It was in 1982 though which was considered as King's best year with Toyota. The same year when Jaworski was riding the bench because of an assortment of injuries (the Big J was already 36 by then), it was the quartet of Fernandez, Arnaiz, 1979 ROY Arnie Tuadles
Arnie Tuadles
Arnulfo "Arnie" Tuadles was a Filipino basketball player who once played for the fabled Philippine Basketball Association team Toyota Super Corollas. He began his career brightly as a stalwart in the MICAA, playing for the Manilabank Golden Bankers in the mid-70s before peddling his wares with the...
and King who starred in Toyota's two championships that season - the same year when Fernandez finally nailed his first of four MVP plums with King being named to the season's Mythical Five. What made King's accomplishments impressive was he did this on the other side of the game - his defense. While every player was getting recognition for their offense, King did so on defense - a skill further enhanced by his coach Edgardo Ocampo
Edgardo Ocampo
Edgardo L. Ocampo, also known as Ed Ocampo and Eddie Ocampo, was a former Filipino basketball player and head coach. Ocampo was born in Pampanga, Philippines. He played college ball for the Ateneo de Manila University, where he led the team to two championships in 1957 and 1958...
– acknowledged as the 60's best two-way player. King was the nemesis not only of the best local players around, he also took it upon himself to defend against the best imports. Norman Black
Norman Black
Norman Augustus Black is an American retired professional basketball player in the CBA, NBA, and PBA who has since settled in the Philippines. He is also a former head coach of the San Miguel Beermen, Mobiline Phone Pals, Pop Cola 800s, and Sta. Lucia Realtors...
, Lew Massey, Lew Brown
Lew Brown
Lew Brown was a lyricist for popular songs in the United States.Brown was born as Louis Brownstein in Odessa, Russian Empire...
, Clarence Kea
Clarence Kea
Clarence Leroy Kea is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'6" 218 lb small forward and played collegiately at Lamar University....
, among others, were surprised at how a bulky local player can actually hold his own against them. Black intimated once in an interview that King was "the best local defender who ever guarded him." Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Vergara Patrimonio , nicknamed "The Captain" and "Captain Lionheart" is a retired Filipino professional basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association and is the current team manager of his former team, the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.Patrimonio holds several PBA records...
, during his peak, halcyon days of the early 90's, badly wanted an aging King to be part of Purefoods simply because he feared having King on the other side of the court defending him. Finally, a PBA player was recognized for his ability to defend players and King became the yardstick of what defenders should be in the coming years.
King finished his PBA career as one of only eight local players with more than 5,000 rebounds, 1,942 of which came from the offensive glass. He was also a three-time All-Defensive Team member. While known to be a defensive player, he did score 60 points in a game against Crispa in 1979, just in his third year in the PBA.
Out of the shadows of Jaworski and Fernandez
When Toyota disbanded prior to the start of the 1984 season, there was much hullaballoo regarding the transfer of the players to Beer Hausen, the team that bought the Silverio franchise. Jaworski and Arnaiz eventually went to Ginebra San MiguelGinebra San Miguel
Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. is a Philippines-based diversified alcoholic beverage company owned by San Miguel Corporation, then called La Tondeña Distillers, Inc. from 1987 to 2003. Founded originally by the late Carlos Palanca, Sr. as La Tondeña, Inc...
while King became the first "franchise player" in the history of the league when he signed up with Beer Hausen's corporate rival Gold Eagle Beer. King, though, latched upon that deal with Gold Eagle Beer prior to the announcement of Toyota's disbandment making him ineligible in that "lock, stock and barrel" purchase of Basic Holdings of Toyota's franchise.
However, since King wasn't exactly a noted scorer, he needed players who can take over the offensive chores as he took it upon himself to lead the Gold Eagle team on the defensive end. Alas, since he had average players for teammates in a young Joey Loyzaga
Joey Loyzaga
Ernesto Jose C. Loyzaga , better known as Joey Loyzaga, is a former Filipino basketball player. He played college ball for San Beda College before eventually going on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association. Loyzaga played for Magnolia, Swift, Shell, Ginebra, and...
, a raw Rudy Distrito, an oft-injured Marte Saldaña, a defensive stalwart in Dante Gonzalgo, and two veterans who never made it big despite their promise at the start – Renato Lobo and Anthony Dasalla, Gold Eagle struggled big time. And since San Miguel
San Miguel Corporation
Established in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....
(the mother company of Gold Eagle) was focusing its resources more on the PABL and the NCC
NCC
-Companies:*National Certification Corporation, a nursing specialty certification company*National City Corporation, a leading US bank*Newspapers Call Centre, a telemarketing business in Toronto*NCC AB, a Scandinavian company*NCC Group, an IT security company...
team, Gold Eagle couldn't get the players they wanted to be competitive against the likes of Great Taste Coffee, Beer Hausen and Tanduay Rhum.
Eventually, King moved to Great Taste the succeeding year with no less than team manager Ignacio Gotao spearheading this transfer. King paradoxically found himself in unfamiliar company with past Crispa
Crispa Redmanizers
The Crispa Redmanizers was a basketball team in the Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association , the Philippine Basketball Association and the Philippine Amateur Basketball League from the 1960s to the early 1990s.- Profile and history :...
rivals Co, Bernie Fabiosa
Bernie Fabiosa
Bernard "Tough Job" Fabiosa is a Filipino athlete who played basketball for the Crispa Redmanizers in the Philippine Basketball Association.-Career:Fabiosa was a member of the 1974 RP Youth Team and a graduate of the University of the East...
and Philip Cezar
Philip Cezar
Philip "The Scholar" Cezar 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 won the Most Valuable Player award in 1980. He was also a many-time Philippine national team player in...
plus super rookie Allan Caidic
Allan Caidic
Alan Vito Flores Caidic is a retired professional basketball player from the Philippines and is currently an assistant coach of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the PBA...
but found the responsibilities at Great Taste lighter than when he was with Gold Eagle. He, along with Cezar, became the team's leaders as they were recognized by their peers and the younger players for their veteran smarts and skills. Ranged against the likes of Alaska's Bruise Brothers Ricky Relosa and Yoyoy Villamin, the Cezar-King combo more than held their own against the rising and younger pair of Relosa and Villamin.
But what many people don't realize is that King only had one contrapelo among the players during his time. Ironically, it turned out to be his own Toyota teammate Fernandez who knew King's moves extremely well. Ditto the other way as King was also equally successful in guarding against Fernandez although the latter had more success in their matchups. Which wasn't really surprising as King wasn't the only player that had Don Ramon as contrapelo or scourge. The top centers / power forwards back then also suffered offensively when ranged against El Presidente
Ramón Fernández
Ramon S. Fernandez is generally regarded as the greatest basketball player produced by the Philippine Basketball Association. Fernandez won four Most Valuable Player awards and a record of 19 PBA championships bagged...
– Gary Vargas, Rey Lazaro, Abet Guidaben
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...
, Terry Saldaña, Manny Victorino and Dondon Ampalayo
Dondon Ampalayo
Cresencio "Dondon" Ampalayo , is a retired Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He won the PBA Rookie of the Year in 1986 while suiting up for Ginebra San Miguel...
feared Fernandez like a plague. King though wasn't far behind in the intimidation factor as he was also the scourge of many slotmen.
Twilight
However, an aging King suddenly found no takers during the early 90's . Patrimonio heard of King's interest to join Tondeña and pleaded with Purefoods management to get King "at all cost." The Captain probably feared that a Chito LoyzagaChito Loyzaga
Joaquin C. Loyzaga is a former Filipino basketball player. He played college ball for San Beda College before eventually going on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association, where he became a many-time member of the All-Defensive team. Loyzaga played for Tanduay,...
was already a major headache for him at defense, what more if you add a King? Purefoods relented and signed up King for a one season contract with the Hotdogs where he played a major role as the defensive player assigned to guard the imports of the other teams. From a one season stint with Purefoods, King's contract with the team was extended to another year. He won his last two PBA championships with the Hotdogs.
King faded from the limelight in the mid-90's and decided to migrate to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was the president of the PBA Legends Foundation USA.