PBA Legends – Blast From The Past: “The Big J” Robert Jaworski, Sr

PBA Legends – Blast From The Past: “The Big J” Robert Jaworski, Sr




January 24, 2012By mike

Robert ‘Sonny’ Jaworski, Sr. was an icon in the PBA. He epitomized Philippine
basketball when he played for crowd-favorite Ginebra team. Jaworski
first played for Toyota for nine seasons, from 1975 until its
disbandment at the end of the 1983 season. He was the acknowledged
leader of the Toyota squad which had many fiery matches with their
rival, the Crispa Redmanizers. Together with Francis Arnaiz and Ramon
Fernandez, they formed the troika of Toyota’s vaunted offense. He was a
major player in Toyota’s nine championships and was named Most Valuable
Player in 1978. Jaworski’s MVP performance may arguably be considered
as the most dominating ever in one season and almost an Oscar
Robertson-type of season after he averaged 20 points, 12 assists and
close to nine rebounds per game.



After the disbandment of Toyota, Jaworski would later play on the
Ginebra team which was owned by Asia Brewery at that time. He would
later add to his legacy in Philippine sports by leading Ginebra to
several championships while serving as a playing coach for the team. He
dazzled basketball fans with his tenacity and array of skills that was
never paralleled until today. He would later be called ‘The Living
Legend’ and ‘Big J’ due to his contributions in making basketball as
the undisputed sport for Filipinos.



Before PBA: Born to a Polish-American father and
a Filipina mother in Baguio, Sonny Jaworski grew up in the streets of
Pandacan, Manila. He began to gain fame when he started playing
basketball for the UE Red Wartriors. Jaworski led the Recto-based
school to a back-to-back UAAP championships in 1966 and 1967.



In 1966, Jaworski was part of the national team that represented
the Philippines in the Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand. The
following year, he was part of the champion ABC team that played
in Seoul, South Korea, beating the host country that was led by
sweet-shooting guard Shin Dong Pa. Jaworski was responsible for
stopping Shin in the finals game. By winning the tournament, the
Philippines earned the right to represent Asia in the 1968 Olympics
held in Mexico. He was also part of the national team that won the
1973 Asian Basketball Championship held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum
in Manila, earning the right to play in the 1974 World Championships
held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.



Life After PBA: After retirement, Jaworski went on
to become a senator in the Philippine Republic. As a senator, he would
support initiatives on sports developments. After his tenure in the
Philippine Senate, Jaworski is now tending to various family businesses
as well as supporting country-wide sports development programs.




Source: Sugarrolls

Life stories of people who rose into fame thru sports should serve good example to present players to emulate and ensure good future for athletes. The Big J didn't play basketball to perspire himself, he put his life into it, this was his passion. For him, losing the game is like losing a minute of his life, that as long as the final buzzer hadn't sounded yet, he kept on playing hard thus "the never-say-die spirit' was instilled to all the teams he ever joined, Meralco (MICAA), Toyota & Ginebra (PBA). And his hardworks were paid off and later become a Senator of the Republic.

nrod11 wrote:Life stories of people who rose into fame thru sports should serve good example to present players to emulate and ensure good future for athletes. The Big J didn't play basketball to perspire himself, he put his life into it, this was his passion. For him, losing the game is like losing a minute of his life, that as long as the final buzzer hadn't sounded yet, he kept on playing hard thus "the never-say-die spirit' was instilled to all the teams he ever joined, Meralco (MICAA), Toyota & Ginebra (PBA). And his hardworks were paid off and later become a Senator of the Republic.

Very well said kabs nrod11.. keep it up!

Jaworski is one of the SOLID PILLAR of PBA. He just not played for fame but for the passion. He put his heart on the game thats why the fans go crazy everytime he's inside the playing court.

I hope he'll return. I know its still there in his chest. Bring Back the BIG J and Living Legend to PBA specifically to Ginebra.