Almario, ’82 RP Youth hero, dies

Alfie Almario, one of the finest pure shooters ever to play for the national team and later in the Philippine Basketball Association, died of heart attack Tuesday night. He was 38.

A Cebuano native who donned the national jersey in many international competitions under coach Ron Jacobs and spent all of his five-year stint in the pros with San Miguel Beer, Almario passed away while visiting his fish farm in Iligan, Isabela.

He was survived by his wife Irene Atayde and their five children.

Also a crack golfer, playing for the Forest Hills team in inter-club competitions, Almario was to be brought to Manila last night. His remains will lie in state at the Christ the King Chapel in Green Meadows Subdivision in Quezon City.

"Definitely, we grieved the loss of Alfie Almario, coming at a time and age where you can best spend the best years of your life. Alfie had always struck me as a player who would rather not be seen or felt but rather be remembered as someone having been able to play his role or do his part. He’s a true professional," said PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino of one of the few through-and-through San Miguel boys.

But probably, Almario would be best remembered as the Triggerman of the RP Youth team that crushed China for the ABC youth championship at the Araneta Coliseum in 1982. Among his teammates in the team were Hector Calma, Leo Austria, Derrick Pumaren, Jong Uichico, Elmer Reyes, Jun Tan, Teddy Almario and the late Rey Cuenco. — Nelson Beltran