Codiñera to grace 'Sports World' tonite

Philippine basketball great Jerry Codiñera will grace tonight's "Sports World", a weekly television show hosted by SCOOP-Cebu president Robert "Bobby Knight" Inoferio. The program is being aired on CCTN 47 at 9 pm with replays every Monday at 2 pm.

Codiñera will talk on his outstanding exploits as a player as well as the new challenges at hand being the head coach of TeleTech Titans of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

Named as one of the 25 PBA Greatest Players, Codiñera was famed for his umbrella-like defense, a skill he brought with him in the national team of 1986 and eventually in the PBA. His deadliest weapon is a jumpshot from the perimeter, usually a high banked shot, and a putback off an offensive rebound.

A perennial member of the All-Defensive Team, the former University of the East Warrior was christened as "Defense Minister" for his tireless manning of the post. He came close to winning an MVP award in 1993 but lost to close pal Alvin Patrimonio in the tightest race for the prestigious trophy in league history.

A trade last year split up his partnership with Patrimonio and saw him wear a new jersey for the first time since joining the PBA with Purefoods in 1988. He succeeded Philip Cezar as "Tapal King" and owns the single game record for blocks at 11.

Last Friday, Codiñera steered the TeleTech Titans to a third-place finish in the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference Pre-Season Invitational Tournament at the Cebu Coliseum. They lost by a slim margin, 76-79, to the Sta. Lucia Realtors in an exhibition match.