ROBERT Jaworski may have been understandably absent due to illness in Toyota’s golden anniversary but his son, Dodot Jaworski made sure to make his presence felt — as if “The Big J” was also in the nostalgic air with the Tamaraws in their rare journey back in time like yesterday.
Serving as representation of his father, Dodot (Jaworski) who’s also the vice mayor in Pasig City, recollected accounts of Sonny to his Toyota brothers fifty years after they started in 1973 what shaped up to be one of the country’s most iconic basketball franchises.
Dodot said his father, one of the pioneer members of the great Toyota squad with Ramon Fernandez and Francis Arnaiz, and the owner of the PBA’s first-ever three-point shot, is now doing okay after being released from the hospital.
But with his unavailability for now, Sonny assured his message would reach each and every one of his teammates-turned-brothers through Dodot — who went on to become an extension of the Toyota family as a companion of his dad during his playing days.
“Toyota is like immediate family. So, this reunion is something very special…,” beamed Dodot, who also brought his son Renzo, clad in a retro Toyota No. 7 jersey as a tribute to his grandfather.
The head of that family is team owner, manager and coach Dante Silverio, fondly called by his players “OssBok” (Boss Ko). Through the years, Mr. Silverio kept his players intact before Gil Cortez, the PBA’s first Rookie of the Year, organized a grand reunion for their golden year.
“We’re the same Toyota family,” said Mr. Silverio as Toyota, winner of nine PBA crowns, offered prayers to the fast recovery of Sonny, who’s turning 77 on March 8, before the nostalgic get-together. — John Bryan Ulanday