Florencio, Hall of Famer, one of Asia’s best, 70

MANILA, Philippines — Danny Florencio, among the country’s leading basketball heroes of all time, passed away Sunday morning in the United States, a few days after suffering a massive stroke. He was 70.

Tons of messages of sympathies, condolences and tributes poured on social media after Florencio’s friends in the US announced his demise.

He’s best remembered for playing the hero’s role in the Philippines’ nerve-wracking 83-80 win over South Korea for the 1967 ABC Championship in Seoul.

Said to be a better version of Samboy Lim with his hang-time moves and acrobatic shots, Florencio played in two Olympic games, emerging the second best scorer for the Philippines in the 1968 Mexico Games (11.2 points behind Jun Papa’s 15.0) and in the 1972 Munich Games (13.1 behind Jimmy Mariano’s 13.9).

Former PBA coach Perry Ronquillo, now based in California, was among those who shared Florencio’s passing on social media, hailing the former UST star as “one of the greatest Asian basketball players of all time.”

Many considered him among the greatest guards.

“Best in under-goal stabs at 5’9 with long lanky arms. I remember him in the 1968 Olympics over three towering Italians,” said Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy on Facebook.

A star player of the YCO Painters then Crispa in the defunct MICAA, Florencio later brought his stuff with 7-Up and Toyota to the PBA before playing his final year with Galerie Dominique in 1983.

“For me, at his finest, he’s among the PBA’s best five,” said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

“I remember him with Toyota. His playing career was on the wane then but he’s still doing his great shots. Nasa kaliwa siya, kayang pihitin ang katawan niya para tumira sa kanan,” added Marcial.

The league top honcho said they will observe a moment of silence on Wednesday for Florencio, a PBA Hall of Fame awardee (inducted in 2007) and among the 25 greatest players feted by the league in its silver anniversary celebration in 2000.

Twice, Florencio led the league in scoring average. In 1977 with 7-Up, he averaged a whopping 32.3 points a game – a record that stands up to this moment. The closest was Chip Engelland’s 29.0 with NCC in 1984.

Allan Caidic said Florencio was among his idols.

Florencio made Team Phl jersey No. 8 famous before Caidic donned the same number.