MANILA, Philippines—Terry Saldaña, best remembered for a bruising playing style during a lengthy PBA career that included stints with Toyota and Ginbera, died on Wednesday after a lingering kidney ailment. He was 64.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed Saldana’s passing after getting in touch with Ed Cordero, one of the latter’s former teammates when he played for the fabled Toyota franchise.
Saldaña’s health had been in decline since 2021 when he sought financial assistance for his medical needs.
He made his PBA debut with Toyota in 1982 as a key cornerstone in the Super Corollas’ championships in the Reinforced Filipino and Open conferences.
Saldaña was supposed to be a runaway winner of the Rookie of the Year but was disqualified after taking part in a brawl with South Korea in the Invitational tournament.
The rugged power forward also had two stints with Ginebra under playing coach Robert Jaworski, first from 1983 to 1987 and in 1997 to 1998, winning two titles.
Saldaña also played twice for coach Yeng Guiao, first with Swift in 1993 and Batang Red Bull in 2000, which was also his final season. His other stints were with Alaska and Shell while also suiting up for the Batangas Blades of the defunct MBA in 1999.
Saldana won MVP honors during a reunion game between Toyota and Crispa at the 2003 All-Star Game. He also took a parting shot at the rival Redmanizers after his 15-point, 15-rebound effort by calling them “squatters.”
His last involvement in basketball was an assistant coaching gig with Wang’s Basketball in the PBA D-League in 2018.