Jeff Moore and ‘never say die’

Former Northern Cement forward Jeff Moore is an inextricable part of Philippine basketball. From the gigantic strides he made with the national team (then named Northern Consolidated Corporation or Northern Cement), to how he and fellow naturalized players Dennis Still and Team USA shooting coach Chip Engelland put the country on the map in international competition. The 6’4” forward was a consistent contributor to a squad that won the 1984 Asian Club Championship, 1985 Jones Cup and the 1985 PBA Reinforced Conference under head coach Ron Jacobs. Moore scored 28 points in Game 2 of that series sweep over Manila Beer. But the Jones Cup victory was most memorable, because the Philippines beat the United States, also on the back of outstanding performances by Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim. Moore, now based in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico and owner of a basketball academy, arrived in the country over the weekend to watch Team USA in the FIBA World Cup.

In an interview with The STAR, Moore was also reminded of another footnote in Philippine basketball history that he was a part of: the birth of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s “never say die” reputation. On Oct. 22, in the first half of a game between Ginebra and Northern Cement at the PhilSports Arena (ULTRA), Moore’s elbow accidentally hit Robert Jaworski in the face during a rebound play. Bleeding from above his lip, Jaworski was rushed to the nearby Medical City. Then the playing coach returned late in the third quarter with eight stitches and Ginebra down by 11. Putting himself in the game, Jaworski led a furious rally that won the game for his team.

“Yeah, we gave him that one,” Moore laughs, recalling the game. “He really worked so hard and played so well. He deserved to win.”

Being back in the Philippines for the first time in decades brings back so many colorful times for Moore, who became a coach in Guadalajara while raising his family.

“I have so many great memories here,” he recalls. “For five years, we could do no wrong. I hope we can have a reunion (of NCC) while I’m here.”

Ironically, after NCC was disbanded because of the 1986 EDSA uprising, Moore never received any offers to play as an import in the PBA. Despite his outstanding stats and familiarity with league play (the national team played as a guest in four conferences), there were no takers. Perhaps it was the political tenor of the times. Instead, after San Miguel Beer missed the first two conferences that year, they deployed the all-Filipino core of the NCC team in the third conference (minus Caidic, who stayed with the national team). Moore, Engelland and Still then all went their own ways, each staying connected with the game in one way or another.

Moore is also hoping to reconnect with the San Miguel group to get support for his academy and the youth he has been training, perhaps get some uniforms for his teams and help from other advertisers as a token of gratitude for his service to the country. Jeff reveals that he returned to the Philippines now at his own personal expense.

“Northern Cement sent me home with 50 uniforms to start my academy with their logo and my name brand,” Moore recalls. “I hope I can also get something out of this visit; I’m just working hard for my kids. I invested a lot here in the Philippines.”

Perhaps it’s time we showed our appreciation for all of his indelible contributions to the sport we all love, as well.