HE’S one of the country’s all-time best cagers who turned into a school principal.
Ricky Brown, the first Filipino-American to play in the PBA, arrived in Manila on Monday night for a brief visit, hoping to reconnect with the Filipino fans and the league which saw him at his prime.
“I look forward to meeting and embracing the Filipino fans again,” said Brown, who returned to the country for the first time in 22 years. “I had the pleasure to play with some of the greatest PBA players and the thing I remember the most is the passion and loyalty of Filipino fans. There’s nothing like it.”
Brown, now a principal of Ross Middle School in Artesia, California, still holds the PBA’s all-time best average in points (23.1 ppg) and assists (7.3 apg).
Nicknamed as “The Quick Brown Fox,” he was named as one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players in 2000 and later inducted to the PBA Hall of Fame in 2009.
Brown will formally receive both awards in simple rites this Sunday at the games after a series of meet-and-greet mall tours this week.
“I’m 55 years old, but I feel 35,” Brown said during the PSA Forum yesterday at Shakey’s UN Avenue. “I had three back surgeries, that’s one reason I can’t come back. I can’t travel. Now I feel really good, my health is excellent. I can still go out and shoot jump shoots.”
Looking dapper still, Brown hasn’t ruled out a comeback in Philippine basketball.
“My heart is here in the Philippines, so sooner or later, I’ll be back for good. It’s just a question of when,” said Brown, the 1985 PBA MVP and 1983 Rookie of the Year and won several titles with Great Taste and San Miguel.
“Honestly, I don’t know if I have the patience to coach today’s players. I might be too demanding. But I like the idea of building a winner. To be in the position to help build a team, I’m more receptive to that.”
Brown will be at Robinsons Midtown Manila on July 13, Robinsons Galleria on July 14 and Robinsons Forum on July 15.
“This is something I’m very appreciative of, I’m humbled,” said Brown.