Legendary Baby Dalupan passes away at 92

Baby Dalupan addresses the crowd at the annual PSA awards in 2011. Photo by Celest Colina/INQUIRER.net

The Maestro has left the building.

Legendary basketball coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan has passed away. He was 92.

Former PBA player Ricardo Brown, who was coached by Dalupan at Great Taste, confirmed the news in a Facebook post early Wednesday.

“A true iconic, Philippine Basketball legend like no other left us all last evening. You can rest in peace now, Coach,” he said, while he furnished a photo of him talking to the legendary coach for the final time.

“This photo is the last time I saw Coach Baby at his home in Manila. My last words to him were simple and real: ‘Thank you for everything you did for me. Love you always, Coach Baby. Take good care and God bless.'”

PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa has also released a statement about the death of his former mentor.

“To Tita Nenang and family of Coach Baby, on behalf of the PBA community, please accept our sincerest sympathies on his passing. He will forever be engraved in our hearts as the Father of Philippine basketball coaches,” the statement sent to the media on Thursday read.

After steering University of the East to 12 UAAP titles and a couple more for Ateneo, Dalupan solidified his lore in the PBA where he won 15 championships, nine with Crispa, five with Presto, and one with Purefoods.

His legend was unparalleled, with the PBA Press Corps even renaming the Coach of the Year award in his honor./rga