In the early PBA era, there was no
absolute definition of roles of players inside the court. Unlike today when
there’s a center, a power forward, a small forward, a shooting guard and a
point guard, at that time, there was a center, 2 forwards and 2 guards. While
the NBA already featured the five-position lineup, its Philippines’ counterpart
relied on versatility and multi-skilling, allowing them to become well-rounded
players.
Big players like Ramon Fernandez,
Philip Cezar, Boy Kutch, Manny Paner, Dave Supnet, among others were expected
to play either the center or forward position. On the other hand, guys like
Atoy Co, Robert Jaworski, Sr., Franciz Arnaiz, Freddie Webb, Lim Eng Beng, etc.
were relied on to slide to the two guard positions at any given time.
When Abraham Colombus King, Jr.
joined the PBA in 1977 as a rookie for the multi-titled Toyota Tamaraws team,
the dynamics changed significantly. Then Coach Dante Silverio, known as one of
the more innovative coaches of his time, immediately inserted King in the
starting roster and defined the roles of the players to make them more
effective. Fernandez was the center, Jaworski manned the point, Arnaiz was the
shooting guard, Gil Cortez essayed the small forward role, while King manned
the #4 position.
But the burly 6’3 King gave premium
to the position given to him by putting the word “power” in power forward.
While the NBA had the likes of Elvin Hayes, George McGinnis, Paul Silas,
Maurice Lucas, and Bobby Jones already essaying the role to the hilt, it was
Abe King who became known as the first genuine power forward in the Philippines.
Personal Life
Abe King was born on a Tuesday, July
23, 1957. His father, Abraham, Sr., was a property contractor, while his
mother, Josefina Mantilla, worked as a cashier at one of the American bases
here in the Philippines. King grew up with his aunt, Eulalia Mantilla, at Imus
in Cavite where he learned to play hoops.
He finished his secondary education
at the Emiliano Tria Tirona National High School located at Kawit, Cavite. It
was during that time when referees Fely Sanatarina (later officiated in the
PBA) and Maning Inocentes, discovered King’s talent and helped him hone his
skills further.
Early Basketball Career
Later on, Coach Boy Afable brought King to San Beda College coach
Caloy Loyzaga who immediately saw his potential and tapped him in the Red Lions’
roster in 1976. His teammates included the likes of future pros Frankie Lim,
Chito Loyzaga, Chuck Barreiro, Noel and Joel Guzman, as well as college
standouts Totoy Gagan, Bay Dela Paz, Rick Dabu, Ber Martin, Glenn Manzano,
Eddie Boy Visaya, Ding Castañeda, Edwin Chu, and Mel Medina. King anchored the
slot as he led the Red Lions to the Finals after more than two decades, barely
losing to the talent-laden Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles led by future PBA
players Joy Carpio, Steve Watson, Padim Israel, Fritz Gaston, Bambi Kabigting,
and the likes of Pons Valdez, Chito Narvasa, Conrado Estrella, and Louie Rabat.
King also suited up for Toyota’s farm team in the MICAA, Crown
Motors and collaborated with future Toyota teammate Emerito Legaspi and Ambo
Javier to win the first conference of the 1977 MICAA. King played a pivotal
role as he battled Anthony Dasalla of Solid Mills in the slot and prevailed. It
gave King the impetus to prepare himself for the coming PBA wars which was to
start in April that year.
Rookie at Age 19
King’s potential was already noticed, that in 1977, when he was
barely 19 years old, he was recruited by Dante Silverio to play for the Toyota
Tamaraws in the PBA, making him one of the youngest players ever to play in the
PBA. It was clear that King’s game was cut out for the pros because of his
unique size and strength, the physicality in the PBA makes him ideal to bang
bodies against the veteran players.
True enough, King immediately made an impact. Silverio tapped King
in the starting roster and formed a formidable partnership at the slot with
Ramon Fernandez, who, by that time, has already established himself as the
country’s best center. After Big Boy Reynoso left the team in 1975, Toyota
found difficulty matching up against arch rivals Crispa, losing in all 3
conferences of the 1976 season that gave the Redmanizers its first franchise
grandslam. With the need to shore up their frontline, King was the perfect fit
in the team’s effort to match up against Crispa’s vaunted frontline of Abet
Guidaben and Philip Cezar. King barely lost to Tanduay’s Jimmy Taguines in the
Rookie of the Year race in controversial fashion, as many fans that time felt
King deserved the accolade more.
He won one title for the Tamaraws in the 1977 season as Toyota,
powered by a pair of solid imports in John “Dr. I” Irving and Bruce “Sky” King,
won the Invitational Conference at the expense of the visiting Emtex Sacronels
via a 3-0 sweep, the first shutout in PBA Finals history.
The Sacronels were no slouch, as the nucleus of their roster were
part of their national team. Names like Milton “Carioca” Setrini, the eminent
Oskar Schmidt, Marcel De Souza, Markus Leite and big man Marcel made up the
team that lost to the Tamaraws. Curiously, this was almost the same team that
Brazil fielded in the FIBA World Championships held in Manila 10 months after,
winning the bronze medal on a last second 60-foot heave by De Souza from the
backcourt at the expense of Italy, 86-85.
Toyota later won two more titles in 1978 in what may be arguably regarded
as their best year in the league. They defeated sister team, Filmanbank, 3-1,
their best of five finals to become champions in the All-Filipino, placed 3rd
in the Open Conference, and defended their invitationals title. By this time,
King was already establishing himself as the premier power forward in the
league as he and Cezar have established their superiority and dominance over
their colleagues. He is also regarded in Philippine basketball history as the first local to complete a two-handed reverse dunk, when it was only common back then to see a player make a one-handed dunk.
Establishing His Presence
King’s first individual award came in 1979 when he won the Most
Improved Player citation. Curiously, the PBA doesn’t reflect that in their
archives, stating that they started giving out the award in 1983. But King
indeed won that year, just as Lim Eng Beng and Tito Varela won the
Sportsmanship Award in the 70’s and 80’s while the league claims that the award
was first given out in 1993. But it was a testament to King’s continuous
blossoming as an elite PBA player despite the difficulty of having to play
alongside 3 major superstars in the league. It was on June 21 that same year
when King established his career scoring record, tallying 60 points in an end
of the eliminations game against Crispa, losing to the Redmanizers, 172-142,
with Atoy Co chipping in 50 points himself. King established himself as an
offensive firepower himself, scoring with ease from both inside and the
perimeter, while manning the frontline by his lonesome as Fernandez didn’t play
in that game.
It was therefore ironic that after the 1979 Open Conference when
Royal Tru Orange upset the Tamaraws, 3-1, in the Finals, when Silverio accused
King, Fernandez and Estoy Estrada of “not playing their best.” Other than the
accusation, there was no direct evidence that linked the three superstars to
any involvement in game-fixing, an issue that shocked the basketball world.
Silverio was later replaced by Fort Acuña by team owner Ricardo Silverio, Sr.,
Dante’s uncle, as the fashionable coach couldn’t provide the evidence to back
up his claim.
By then, King was already receiving offers from various parties to
join their teams. Ultimately, King remained a Tamaraw until the team disbanded after
the 1983 season. It was in 1982 when King had his best season, earning for
himself a Mythical First Team honor, alongside teammates Fernandez and Arnaiz,
Crispa’s Co, and U/Tex’s Adornado. This same unit formed the very first Grosby
First Five, an advertising campaign of the leading local rubber shoe brand in
the country back then.
Toyota won two titles that season, the Reinforced, featuring Donnie
Ray Koonce as import, topping the Norman Black-led San Miguel Beermen, 4-3, in
the Finals and in the Open Conference, sweeping the Gilbey’s Gin team, 3-0.
Black has always credited King as perhaps the best local player to defend him,
speaking volumes of how King has established himself as a fearsome stopper. It’s
unfortunate that the PBA only began recognizing its best defensive players in
1985 as King was an original recipient of the Defensive Team that year. He
could have easily won at least six more in the previous years. If there’s one
player that the PBA should name the Defensive Player Award to, it should be
King who deserves primary consideration.
One-On One King
Many would not remember this but Abe King was actually the fourth recipient of the PBA One-on-One Award back in 1983. The first one was in the maiden season of 1975 when Royal Tru Orange's Manny Paner lorded it over the field, defeating Crispa's Philip Cezar in the Finals. In 1979, Cezar upended Toyota rival Ramon Fernandez in a close Finals encounter, 19-17 to win the Keyhole King Award. In 1982, Fernandez won the title at the expense of Tanduay's Rey Lazaro
(http://sportingpage.blogspot.com/2018/02/chancing-upon-pba-legend.html). And in 1983, it was King's turn, defeating Yoyoy Villamin and Ricky Relosa on route to his Finals face-off against teammate Fernandez, which he won in close fashion.
Gaining Mainstream Popularity
Being part of one of the two most
popular teams in the country, aside from his mestizo looks and chisel cut
built, it wasn’t a surprise that King became a much-sought after advertising
endorser. Aside from Grosby which he endorsed in 1982, he first came out as an
endorser for Manila Rum Silver in 1979 – a brand from the La Tondeña
Distillery, Inc., as well as Gold Eagle Beer, Dole Pineapple with sprint star
Lydia de Vega, and Kaypee, another leading local brand under the Rubberworld
company. He also came out in a couple of movies, most notably “Pamilya Dimagiba,”
in 1982, where he co-starred with boxing icon Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, PBA
colleagues Atoy Co and Freddie Webb, character actors Paquito Diaz and Efren
Reyes, Jr., and FPJ’s brother, Andy Poe. He also came out in a cameo role with
several PBA players in the FPJ-starred hit, “May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi” in 1990.
The First PBA Franchise Player
The team virtually imploded in the 1983 season brought about by a
growing feud between Jaworski and Fernandez. For the first time, Toyota failed
to crack the playoffs in the 1983 Open Conference, getting eliminated by the
Tanduay Rhum Makers in their sudden-death game for the last playoff slot,
111-110. With King’s contract expiring, Gold Eagle Beer (of the San Miguel
Corporation) tendered him an offer, with the commitment that he would be their
franchise player – the cornerstone of the team. When many fans have always
thought Fernandez being the first and only franchise player in the league, it
was actually King who deserves the accolade as Gold Eagle’s offer came a few
weeks before Fernandez became the franchise player of Beer Hausen, Gold Eagle’s
corporate rival, and the company that bought the Toyota franchise.
True enough, King led a battery of young and veteran players at Gold
Eagle. Note though that the conglomerate’s CEO, Danding Cojuangco, was more
focused on the Philippine National Team, sponsored by Northern Cement and San
Miguel Beer. With his former Crown Motors coach Nat Canson at the bench, King
put up excellent numbers, including a couple of triple doubles, as he became
the fulcrum of the Beermen’s offense and defense while manning the slot.
Backstopping him at Gold Eagle included Marte Saldaña (http://sportingpage.blogspot.com/2018/06/marte-saldana-mighty-mite-of-philippine.html),
Renato Lobo (http://sportingpage.blogspot.com/2018/03/renato-lobo-last-breed-of-pigeon.html),
Dasalla, Manny Paner, Biboy Ravanes, Jess Migalbin, Bokyo Lauchengco, Noli
Banate, Jerry Samlani, and future Ginebra stars Joey Loyzaga, Rudy Distrito and
Dante Gonzalgo.
King was already a major PBA personality that then national team coach Ron Jacobs once named him in his preferred all-PBA team if given the opportunity to form a pro squad that can play in international competitions. It was a testament to King's growing stature and his ability as a fearsome stopper inside the paint, someone who could have easily guarded the likes of Wang Libin, Song Tao, and later, Song Ligang, Ma Jian and Gong Xiao Bing. He would have essayed the role of Yves Dignadice, or, to a greater extent, that of Jeff Moore.
It was unfortunate though that the team didn’t fare well that
season, winning only 11 of their 38 games. Lack of team chemistry, their
inability to secure elite import reinforcements, and King getting injured that
spelled their fate. Couple that with Cojuangco’s greater focus on the NCC team
which was also playing in the PBA as a guest team in the first two conferences
and Gold Eagle’s campaign was doomed to fail.
Moving to Great Taste
King eventually moved to the emerging league powerhouse, Great Taste
Coffeemakers, in the 1985 season, where he played a crucial role in the team’s
cause. King went back to his #4 position, backstopping Manny Victorino in the
frontline, while providing the body to screen off defenders against pointmakers
Ricardo Brown, Wilie Pearson, and Jimmy Manansala. King’s leadership also surfaced
as he was the most veteran and multi-titled in the team, with Coach Baby
Dalupan assigning him the governance role for the Gokongwei franchise.
Great Taste won 2 titles in the 1985 season, missing out on the
Grandslam in the 3rd Conference when the team couldn’t latch on a
quality import that would fit their needs. He won an additional two titles for
the franchise, including a memorable 1990 All Filipino championship at the
expense of the up and coming Purefoods TJ Hotdogs squad.
It was with Great Taste when King relished his PBA career the most.
Given the freedom by Dalupan to play his game while acting as mentor to the
younger players, King mellowed considerably and enjoyed his role as the team’s
defensive anchor. When Philip Cezar joined him in the team in 1987, they formed
a powerhouse frontline that went up against the Bruise Brothers of Yoyoy
Villamin and Ricky Relosa of Hills Bros in the 1987 All-Filipino Finals, sweeping
their corporate rivals, 3-0. King and Cezar were also responsible for giving
the bone-crushing picks that helped set up Allan Caidic for open outside shots,
helping the Triggerman crack the Mythical First Team on his rookie year. At the
same time, King helped mentor future Great Taste big men Zaldy Realubit, Sonny
Cabatu, Rey Ramos, Bong Hawkins, Nani Demegillo, among others. In the 1990
season, King averaged 9.4 points and 7.5 boards per game, leading the team in
the rebounds department.
Patrimonio’s Plea
Great Taste eventually disbanded after the 1992 season. There were
reports that Ginebra coach Robert Jaworski was interested in acquiring the free
agent’s services, a rumor that worried Purefoods superstar Alvin Patrimonio.
The scuttlebutt was Patrimonio requested Purefoods management to hire King, as
Ginebra would now have King and Chito Loyzaga taking turns guarding him. King
eventually joined the Hotdogs and continued his role as mentor to the younger
players, particularly Patrimonio and Jerry Codiñera. King added two more
championships in his shelf, helping the Hotdogs win the 1993 All Filipino and
1994 Commissioner’s Cup. He eventually retired at the end of the 1994 season,
opting to spend time in his role as councilor at Parañaque city after having
initially won in 1988 and being re-elected in 1992 for the PDP-Laban party.
Post-PBA Life
King eventually moved to the United States in 1998 with his wife of
19 years (at that time), Ligaya, and son Paul Abraham, and lived with his elder
brother. He started out as a cashier at a
7-11 convenience store in Anaheim in California. He later moved to Orange
County, also in California and worked at another 7-11 store. Ligaya, the former
Ms. Maja Pilipinas of 1978 and the 1976 Ms. Hispalidad (a beauty contest among
colegialas in prestigious universities and colleges in the country), worked as
a junior bookkeeper at Sta. Catalina also in California.
He has already settled in Seattle, Washington where he dotes on his
8 grandchildren. On the side, he used to organize charity events in the US,
assembling former PBA players to play in exhibition games. He has remained in
contact with several PBA players and is regarded as one of the leaders of the
PBA alumni based in the United States.
This blogger met up with King last May in Torrance, California. The two have been regularly corresponding via facebook messenger for the past couple of years, the blogger having been invited when Abe and his wife celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary at Sambojikin along EDSA. It was unfortunate that this blogger had a previous commitment at that time and couldn't make it. That meeting in Torrance was also a mini-reunion of sorts among PBA stalwarts Renato Lobo, Noni Robles of Manila Beer and Great Taste Coffee, and Ben Obrique of CDCP / Galleon Shippers. Having had the opportunity of spending an up close and personal discussion with a genuine PBA legend and superstar and allowing this blogger to have his life chronicled through this website will forever be remembered and cherished.
Personal Musings
Abe King’s best friend is Joey
Loyzaga, his former teammate at Gold Eagle Beer. While Joey is younger, King
treats the Loyzagas as his second family, with the late Caloy as his second father.
Being an authentic Native American, his father’s family being legitimate
American-Indians, it’s not a surprise therefore why King’s physique was
significantly different than his contemporaries. He was regarded as one of the
strongest PBA players of his time, and his ferociousness in collaring the
rebounds gave him the moniker, “Chairman of the Boards” from the late
broadcaster, Joe Cantada.
While King excelled defensively, he
regards Billy Ray Bates as the most gifted offensive player he has ever guarded
in his entire playing career. Bates was so good that no matter how hard King
tried to study his game and come up with a defensive gameplan, it didn’t come
to fruition as Bates’ ability to score from both inside and outside, coupled with
a combination of speed and power, made him indefensible. Even when Bates came
back in 1986 to play for Ginebra at 40% of his capability, Bates remained
difficult to guard.
The Greatest List Snub
There’s no denying that Abraham
Colombus King, Jr. deserves a slot in the PBA 40 Greatest Players List. As a
matter of fact, King should have been a shoo-in as early as year 2000 when the
league recognized its 25 Greatest 25 Players. Among the biggest snubs in the
list – Nelson Asaytono, Arnie Tuadles, Yoyoy Villamin, Danny Seigle, etc. – it’s
King who is generally regarded as the most noteworthy non-cast. Not only did he
revolutionize the power forward position, King taught everyone how to guard taller imports and re-define what defending the post is all about.
King is arguably the greatest post defender in PBA history, and
would have given the likes of today’s bigs like Junemar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter
and Ian Sangalang major headaches, not to mention, bruises and painful muscles,
after every game. King was the epitome of defense as he held his own against
imports three to nine inches taller than him – having to guard the likes of
Billy Robinson, Cyrus Mann, Ansley Truitt, Glenn McDonald, Larry Pounds, among
others, and later on, against the likes of Russell Murray, Michael Hackett,
Black, Bates, Michael Young, Jamie Waller, Michael Phelps, etc. Among the
locals, he had the unenviable task of trying to contain Fernandez, Cezar,
Paner, Guidaben, Terry Saldaña, and later, Patrimonio, Codiñera, Dondon
Ampalayo and Benjie Paras.
Let’s hope that come 2025, when the league commemorates its 50th
year, and name 10 more players to make the 50 Greatest List, Abe King will finally
get his due recognition. It’s perhaps the greatest injustice that the PBA can
correct in 2025. At the same time, naming the Defensive Player of the Year
Award after him would be another fitting accolade for the man called “The
Chairman," someone I regard as "the greatest prototype power forward of all-time."
