INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Ronnie Magsanoc conducts basketball camps for kids, his own personal way of preserving the legacy he and other former basketball superstars started in the PBA.

During his heyday, Magsanoc was a lethal shooter and had a knack for knocking down shots when it mattered the most. Nostalgic PBA fans can almost remember the game announcer howling “Magsanoc, three points!”.

When he was at his prime playing for Shell, Magsanoc was considered one of the most intelligent point guards in the league, earning him the moniker “The Point Laureate”.

Now retired at the age of 43 and an assistant coach for Purefoods in the PBA, Magsanoc wants to give back all the blessings he received - and all the basketball knowledge he accumulated all those years – by inspiring today’s generation of kids.

“I want to transfer the knowledge that I have while my body is still fit for it,” said Magsanoc, inducted among the PBA’s 25 greatest players.

He conducts a year-round basketball camp for youngsters at the Fil-Oil Arena in San Juan.

Magsanoc said that it was only after he retired that he realized the value of the recognition he has gotten and the legacy he can make happen since today’s kids have not seen him play professionally.

“Our recognition as best players validate the saying that hard work and discipline will get you where you want to go,” he said, noting he made the most out of his PBA career even when he transferred from Shell to Purefoods.

As a point guard, he said his concept of basketball was making his teammates score better in order for the team to win.

Asked how different the PBA today is from his days as a player, Magsanoc said fans then were a lot more loyal to the teams they supported.

Moreover, he noted legendary players like Robert Jaworski, Atoy Co and Alvin Patrimonio who were supported passionately by fans – it didn’t matter whether their respective teams were winning or losing.

“I respect their (present PBA players) value for the game although I must say that they have a higher salary scale now and higher salary could mean higher responsibility,” Magsanoc said.

“I hope that they can bring back the old days when players reach out to fans and show passion for the game and not just focus on winning alone,” he added.

Magsanoc, however, believes that the PBA will always remain an institution. He noted the league has endured the toughest challenges and that he hopes that the support of the fans can be as fiery like before.

“I believe that PBA showcases clean games and it as been the ticket to poverty of many players that’s why I pray that it will continue to prosper and we the former players have the responsibility to transfer the values to the younger generation,” he said.