Robert Jaworski Sr. the PBA’s Living Legend

Robert Salazar Jaworski is also know in many aliases such Jawo, Bobby Jaworski, Sonny Jaworski, and Robert Jaworski, Sr. he is a superstar PBA basketball player and later on become a Coach. He is served as a previous senator of the Philippines.

He is called “The Living Legend” and known as “Big J” in his early playing career. Jaworski is the only the playing coach in PBA under Ginebra San Miguel team. He was also awarded as one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players of all time.

He is born in March 8, 1946 in Baguio City, Philippines with a Filipino mother and a Polish father. He was first noticed in basketball profession when he played for the University of the East’s Red Warriors. He managed to pull the school to a UAAP championship in the 1966 – 1967 championships. In lieu to basketball abilities he was then labeled as the “Big Hands” by Willie Hernandez, sportscaster because of his gigantic palm that made him easy to grip the ball in one hand.

In 1970, he got his first MVP award during the Presidential Cup. Mr. Boni Escoda mentioned Jaworski as the MICAA (1971-1974) best Filipino player by getting the highest Player’s All-around Value of 35.7.

In 1975, he was part of the original Toyota team. He is one of the main players in Toyotas 9 championship game and was recognized as the “Most Valuable Player” in 1978 with the averaged of 20 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds per game. However, he is also the first player to got 1000 offensive and 2000 defensive rebounds.

In the end of 1983 season their team was sold to “Basic Holding Inc.,” the company the holds “Asia Brewery”. Jawarski did not like the idea because they felt bypass in their time just like they are sold per kilo. Later on, Carlos “Honeyboy” Palanca III the PBA President decided to take Jaworski to Gilbey’s Gin which later called as Ginebra San Miguel. Together with Arnaiz, they make Ginebra San Miguel the most popular team in the decade.

In 1986 season, Jaworski took over as playing coach of Ginebra San Miguel. It was this year he got the first championship in the “Open Conference” with the imports Michael Hackett and Billy Ray Bates.

In 1998, Jaworski announces his intention in running to Philippine Senate and won in the election following the footsteps of Ambrosio Padilla and Freddie Webb. After he was proclaimed as Senator, Jaworski quits as being coach and turnover it to Quirino “Rino” Salazar, his assistant and was being absent to basketball scenes.

In 2007, Jaworski was about to return to the basketball fight as coach of Air21 Express or Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals for the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference however refused the offer because of the rumors were spread before he had signed the contract.