Big J’s last playing game

There appears to be some confusion as to when was Robert Jaworski’s last playing game in the PBA. An internet source claimed it was a Dumaguete contest in March 1997 and “he didn’t play much.” I dug into my handwritten game-by-game files which I started to compile in 1991 and found the conclusive answer. I also checked with PBAologist Fidel Mangonon who confirmed that Jaworski played his last PBA game against Purefoods at the Cuneta Astrodome on May 25, 1997.

It was Game 6 of the All-Filipino Cup Finals and the Corned Beef Cowboys beat Gordon’s Gin, 82-73 to clinch the best-of-seven series, 4-2. Jaworski was Gordon’s playing coach and his team consisted of Marlou Aquino, Noli Locsin, Vince Hizon, Pido Jarencio, Benny Cheng, Macky de Joya, Dodot Jaworski, Bal David, Wilmer Ong, Jayvee Gayoso, Terry Saldaña, Teroy Albarillo and Michael Orquillas. The Big J didn’t score while Dodot had two points. Although father and son played in the same game, they weren’t on the floor together. Dodot recalled that there were games where they played but never at the same time. Only once did they step on the court together in the waning minutes of an exhibition game to give in to the fans’ clamor.

In Jaworski’s last outing, Aquino led the Gordon’s scorers with 15 points, Orquillas shot 13 and Jarencio, 11. For Purefoods, Alvin Patrimonio erupted for 40 points. Jaworski was 51 years and 77 days old when he made his farewell appearance, setting the record as the oldest ever to play in a pro basketball game. The record was reset by former Saudi Arabian national player Abdulmohsen Khalaf Al-Muwallad who was 51 years and 335 days old when he saw action for the Ohod Club on May 22, 2015. Al-Muwallad is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest ever to play in a pro basketball match. In the NBA, the oldest ever was Nat Hickey who was two days short of 46 when he suited up as playing coach for the Providence Steamrollers in 1947-48. Five-time Brazil Olympian Oscar Schmidt was 45 when he retired in 2003.

Jaworski played in 19 of Gordon’s 28 games in the 1997 All-Filipino Cup, averaging 2.8 points. His conference high was nine points in an 88-87 win over San Miguel Beer in the semis. Gordon’s played two out-of-town games during the All-Filipino Cup eliminations, beating Purefoods, 86-79 in Iloilo and Shell, 85-80 in San Pablo.

The next conference was the Commissioner’s Cup where Jaworski didn’t play a single game but steered Gordon’s to the championship, his 13th and last. Albarillo and De Joya were no longer on the roster, leaving Jaworski to work with 11 locals and import Chris King who came in as Tyrone Hopkins’ replacement starting the semis.