Meralco Reddy Kilowatts

Last updated
MERALCO Reddy Kilowatts
Leagues MICAA
Founded1968
History1968-1972
Location Philippines
Team colorsOrange, Black, Gold, White
    
PresidentManuel M. López
Head coach Felicisimo Fajardo
Valentin "Tito" Eduque
Lauro Mumar
Championships BAP (2):
1969 National Seniors
1970 National Invitational
MICAA (1):
1971 Open

The MERALCO Reddy Kilowatts were a basketball team of the MERALCO Athletic Club owned by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) that played in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) from 1968 to 1972. Its moniker and mascot, Reddy Kilowatt, was a licensed branding character used by the company during that period. The company briefly joined the MICAA prior to World War II and was re-admitted in 1968.

Contents

The team consisted of players from the just-disbanded Ysmael Steel Admirals – namely, Alberto “Big Boy” Reynoso, Alfonso “Boy” Marquez, Jimmy Mariano and Orlando Bauzon. Other players included, Ramon Lucindo, Robert Jaworski, Fort Acuña, Francis Arnaiz, Bobby Salonga, Arthur Herrera, Larry Mumar and Jumbo Salvador. The team was originally coached by Valentin “Tito” Eduque. In 1970, Lauro Mumar took over the position of head coach.

After the demise of the YCO-Ysmael Steel rivalry following the breakup of the Ysmael Steel Admirals in 1968, the Reddy Kilowatts and the Crispa-Floro Redmanizers began its own rivalry beginning in 1970. The rivalry came into full bloom on December 19, 1971, during their last 1971 MICAA All-Filipino elimination round game - when Reynoso and Jaworski mauled referees Eriberto “Ting” Cruz and Jose “Joe” Obias in retaliation for what Reynoso and Jaworski perceived to be dubious calls against them. Reynoso and Jaworski were meted lifetime suspensions by the Basketball Association of the Philippines. [1] The suspensions were lifted through the efforts of Presidential Assistant Guillermo “Gimo” de Vega in time for the 1973 FIBA Asia Championship.

The team disbanded in 1972 in the wake of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines, wherein the Marcos government seized the company from Eugenio López, Sr.

Reynoso, Jaworski, Bauzon, Acuña and Arnaiz went on to form the nucleus of the Komatsu Komets/Toyota Comets in 1973. The Comets carried on MERALCO’s rivalry with Crispa beginning in 1974, during the 1974 MICAA All-Filipino tournament.

Championships

The Reddy Kilowatts won one MICAA championship in the 1971 MICAA Open, defeating Crispa, 65–58, before a banner crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. This was MERALCO's only MICAA basketball title since rejoining the league in 1968. [2] They also won two (2) National (BAP) titles - the 1969 National Seniors and the 1970 National Invitational. [3]

Rosters

1971 MICAA Open Champion team

Meralco Reddy Kilowatts roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.
F/C 4 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Reynoso, Alberto 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)220 lb (100 kg)
G 5 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Salonga, Bobby 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)165 lb (75 kg)
F 6 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Mariano, Jimmy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)160 lb (73 kg)
G 7 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Jaworski, Robert 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)
G 8 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Arnaiz, Francis 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)162 lb (73 kg)
G 9 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Bauzon, Orlando 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg)
G 10 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Arazas, Engracio
G 11 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Marquez, Alfonso 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
F 12 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Salvador, Jumbo 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
G 13 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Ross, Jun
G 15 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Mumar, Lawrence 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)135 lb (61 kg)
F 16 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Lucindo, Ramon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg)
G/F 18 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Acuña, Fort 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)
C 20 Flag of the United States.svg Presley, Bob  (I)6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
C 21 Flag of the United States.svg Greenfield, Carl  (I)6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Head coach

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Other notable players

Imports

Coaches

Team manager

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Jaworski</span> Filipino senator, basketball coach and basketball player

Robert Vincent Salazar Jaworski Sr., also known by his nicknames Sonny, Big J, and Jawo, is a Filipino former professional basketball player, head coach and politician who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 1998 to 2004. He played 23 seasons in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is widely regarded as one of the best and most popular PBA players of all-time. He was named part of the PBA's 40 Greatest Players and was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2005.

The Crispa-Toyota rivalry was between the now-defunct PBA teams — the Crispa Redmanizers and the Toyota Tamaraws. The two teams dominated the PBA from 1975 to 1983, winning 21 out of the possible 26 PBA titles of those seasons. Such was their popularity that whenever these two teams met on the basketball court, the streets of Metro Manila and in the Philippine provinces would be virtually deserted, as most people, especially the PBA fans, would be focused on their TV and radio sets, watching or listening to the coverage of the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crispa Redmanizers</span> Philippine basketball team

The Crispa Redmanizers were a multi-titled Filipino basketball team that played in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) from 1975 to 1984. It was one of the nine founding teams of the PBA, winning a total of thirteen PBA championships, including two grand slams. Founded in 1956 by businessman Valeriano "Danny" Floro, the team was owned by P. Floro and Sons, Inc. (defunct).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Super Corollas</span> Basketball team

The Toyota Super Corollas were a multi-titled basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) from 1975 to 1983. Founded in 1973 by businessman and sportsman Dante Silverio, the team - formally named Toyota Athletic Club - was owned by Delta Motor Corporation (defunct) and played under various names - Komatsu Komets, Toyota Comets, Toyota Silver Tamaraws, Toyota Tamaraws, Toyota Superdiesels, Toyota Super Corollas and Toyota Silver Coronas.

Francis C. Arnaiz is a Filipino former basketball player. He is best known for his career in the PBA, playing for Toyota and Ginebra San Miguel from 1975 to 1986.

The 1975 PBA season was the inaugural season of the Philippine Basketball Association.

The 1977 PBA season was the third season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

The U/Tex Wranglers were a professional basketball team and one of the pioneers of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in its maiden season in 1975.

Lauro "The Fox" Mumar was a Filipino basketball player and later served as the national team head coach of India and the Philippines. He was one of the greatest Filipino players of his time, playing alongside compatriot legend Carlos Loyzaga. He is the father of Lawrence "Larry" Mumar who was also a basketball player. He is the grandfather of L. A. Mumar, Vico Sotto's half-brother.

The Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) was a sports association which existed in Manila, Philippines from 1938 to 1981. Throughout its existence, it staged various sports and was participated by prominent Philippine companies.

Narciso C. Bernardo, also known as Ciso Bernardo, was a Filipino basketball player, coach and politician. Bernardo was born in Manila, Philippines. He played for Ysmael Steel, Crispa and Mariwasa in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA). Bernardo also appeared at the Olympic Games as a member of the country's national basketball team. He coached the Crispa 400s in the MICAA and later the Crispa Redmanizers in the Philippine Basketball Association, where he guided the team to the 1984 PBA First All-Filipino Conference championship, which was to be Crispa's final PBA championship title.

Fortunato "Fort" Acuña was a Filipino professional basketball player and coach.

The Manila Beer Brewmasters were a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) from 1984-1986. It was formed after Basic Holdings, Inc., a company controlled by Lucio Tan, acquired the PBA franchise of Delta Motor Corporation, owner of league pioneer Toyota. The team was named after the brands of Asia Brewery, Inc., another Tan company - Beer Hausen (1984) and Manila Beer (1985-1986).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meralco Bolts</span> Philippine professional basketball team

The Meralco Bolts is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team began in 2010 after the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) acquired the PBA franchise of the Sta. Lucia Realtors. The team is one of three PBA teams presently under the control of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan – the other teams being the TNT Tropang Giga and the NLEX Road Warriors.

The 1975 PBA All-Philippine Championship was the third and last conference of the 1975 PBA season. It started on November 30 and ended on December 14, 1975. The Toyota Comets and the Crispa Redmanizers played for the third championship contested by the league.

The Ysmael Steel Admirals were a basketball team that became active in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) from 1958 to 1968. It was best known for its rivalry with the YCO Painters. It won numerous titles in the National Open and the MICAA. The team was owned by the Ysmael Steel Manufacturing Company, the licensed manufacturer of Admiral home appliances in the Philippines during that period.

Cristobal Ramas is a Filipino former basketball player who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Orlando "Orly" Bauzon was a Filipino basketball player and coach.

Manuel Jocson is a Filipino former basketball player.

Roehl Nadurata (1939–2012) is a Filipino former basketball player and coach.

References

  1. Liao, Henry (December 3, 2021). "A sad episode in Jawo's cage life". Sports Bytes Philippines. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  2. "Meralco carrying on a sports tradition". sports.inquirer.net.
  3. "Meralco Reddy Kilowatts: An oral history". fhm.com.ph.