His involvement with basketball dates back to the ’60s when he was a University of the East Warrior during the Robert Jaworski era.
Levi Castillo is known as Robert Jaworski’s No. 1 fan but people in advertising know him as the former high-ranking Nestlé marketing executive who has a huge budget to squander on various advertising and sports events sponsorship, like the Milo BEST, which he cofounded with Nic Jorge in 1980.
During his days as a marketing executive, Castillo was highly sought after by anyone and everyone who had advertising space and slots to sell.
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The other day, I was surprised to receive a text message from the Big J fan, who has long retired from Nestlé and office work and now spends most of his time in the Philam Homes Tennis courts in Quezon City.
“Hi Beth. Re your column yesterday, with the quality of players UP has, even NBA coach Phil Jackson can’t help them improve. The most he could probably do is help them win two more games,” Castillo texted.
“Honestly, the UP Maroons should stop being the laughing stock of the UAAP. They should either quit the league or copy the NU model and get the Ayalas involved in the team.”
He isn’t a UP alumnus, so it puzzled me that Castillo should be concerned with the Maroons’ miserable performance in the UAAP.
“UP is close to my heart because of Nic Jorge, UP alumnus and former Maroons coach,” Castillo explained. “And remember, UP cagers want to be called “Fighting Maroons, right?”
“Fighting is not quite ‘Never say die,’ but pwede na rin. Wins na lang ang kulang (The wins are the only ones lacking),” said Castillo, who graduated from the University of the East the same year his idol, the Living Legend did.
“We both graduated in 1968, although he’s two years older than I am. To this day, I’m still his No. 1 fan. I think he should be considered for the Gilas coaching post. After all, he led the team to a silver medal finish in the Beijing Asian Games in 1990.”
Castillo said Jaworski also satisfies another requirement set by the selection committee.
“The Big J can be a full-time coach,” he said. “He has signified his interest.”
Yesterday, I warned Castillo that I would write in this column his critique on the UP Fighting Maroons. He had no objections. He said he would watch out for it and, at the same time, prepare for the “violent reactions” that may erupt.