Remembering UV great Alfonso ‘Boy’ Marquez

CEBU, Philippines —  Two-time Olympian. Hall of Famer. One of the greatest Filipino basketball players of all time.

Aside from all these reverence attached to his name, Alfonso ‘Boy’ Marquez also stood tall in the hallowed portals of the University of the Visayas as one of the brightest cagers the Green Lancers have ever produced.

No doubt, the Phl cagedom has lost one of its biggest pillars with the passing Marquez last April 15 at the age of 82.

Before he made his mark in the commercial circuit and eventually in the pro ranks, Marquez first shot into fame as a member of the UV Green Lancers in the cebu Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), which is now the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

A native of Zamboanga, he first honed his skills with the high school varsity team of Ateneo de Zamboanga. He was later recruited by coach Eduardo ‘Eddiegul’ R. Gullas to the Green Lancers, UV’s collegiate ballclub.

Marquez, then 19 years old, gained prominence on the national stage when UV stunned the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 74-63, to rule the 2nd National Inter-Collegiate Championship in 1957 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. He was UV’s third leading scorer with 16 points.

Interestingly, it was the firs ever televised basketball game in the history of Phl cagedom.

Under the tutelage of Eddie Gullas, Marquez’s teammates at that time were Jose ‘Dodong’ R. Gullas, Eduardo ‘Skipper’ Cabahug, Diosdado Violango, George Borres, Guillermo Bas, Marvin Najarro,Matias Reyes, Boy Canedo, Eduardo Mendoza, Romulo Nisnisan, and Joaquin Rojas.

“He was not only a teammate, he was also a close friend,” said Dodong Gullas. “I am deeply saddened by his passing.”

After his amateur stint, Marquez showcased his wares in the Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA), the precursor of the PBA.

The sweet-shooting guard was part of the Meralco Reddy Kilowatts team that ruled the 1971 MICAA Open Championship. Hishad for his teammates PBA pioneers Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz, Jimmy Mariano, Lawrence Mumar, and Alberto ‘Big Boy’ Reynoso among others.

Marquez was already past his prime when he suited up for the Mariwasa Porcelain Makers in the PBA in 1976. He played for just two seasons, seeing action in just 19 games with an average of 3.0 points.

Despite that, Marquez has truly left an indelible mark in Philippine basketball.

Marquez formed part of the Phl squad that saw action in the 1960 Rome and 1968 Mexico Olympics. He also won a pair of gold medals while donning the country’s tri-colors in the 1960 and 1967 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila and Seoul, respectively.

Twenty five years following his retirement, Marquez was inducted in the Philippine Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2002 class.