BY BONG PEDRALVEZ and MICHAEL JUGADO
A BASKETBALL guru, a consummate but low-profile organizer, meticulous to a fault, an unflappable but proper gentleman whose integrity was second to none and whose name opened doors to those he was associated with.
This was the image and consensus gathered from the friends and associates of the late veteran sports official Mauricio “Moying” Martelino, who passed away last Wednesday at his house. He was 86.
A product of Ateneo, Martelino was the former secretary general of the Basketball Association of the Philippines headed by the late Gonzalo “Lito” Puyat, who went on to become the first and only Asian president of the International Basketball Federation, of FIBA.
While Martelino did not join the world basketball body, the bespectacled sports official distinguished himself as the secretary general of the Asian Basketball Confederation, as FIBA Asia was earlier called, from 1991 to 1998, earning him a FIBA Order of Merit in 1999. He was one of only six Asians to gain the honor from FIBA.
As BAP secretary general, he was the executive director when the country hosted the 1978 FIBA world basketball championships in 1978 at the Araneta Coliseum.
“For a decade, Mauricio “Moying” Martelino served the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as our senior consultant,” SBP president Al S. Panlilio said in a statement. “With his vast knowledge and international experience, he was a true elder statesman whose contributions were always appreciated.
“The Philippine basketball community has lost a true pioneer but his imprint in our sport is indelible. His invaluable insights and wisdom will be missed. The SBP extends our deepest condolences to the Martelino family.”
SBP chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan described Martelino as a “solid pillar of Philippine basketball.”
“He was a loyal and dutiful person, a genuine man, and easy to get along with,” Pangilinan said. “He will be missed as a solid pillar of Philippine basketball.”
SBP vice chairman and current PBA chairman Ricky Vargas: “Moying, your wisdom, insights, and presence will be missed.”
Martelino also served as former commissioner of the defunct PABL in its early years and a former secretary-general of the bowling federation.
At the wake of Martelino at the Heritage Park in Taguig City last Wednesday night, SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrio told the late basketball official’s family that the former ABC sec-gen was responsible for introducing him to officials in the international basketball community.
In recognition of his superb organization skills, Martelino also served as the media manager of the 1981 Manila Southeast Asian Games, a role he would reprise during the country’s third hosting of the meet in 2005.
He was the right-hand man of Michael Keon, the former Philippine Olympic Committee president and Project: Gintong Alay executive director from 1981 to 1985.
Project: Gintong Alay was the forerunner of the Philippine Sports Commission. Martelino and Puyat had a hand in crafting the initial blue print of the agency, according to former first Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta, who succeeded Keon as Gintong Alay chief during the term of the late President Corazon Aquino.
“He was truly Mr. Basketball because of his deep technical knowledge of the sport. He was low-profile but a superb organizer. He was a proper gentleman and we never saw him get mad or say anything bad,” Romasanta recalled.
“Sir Moying was very passionate about his work and loved what he did. He was thorough, very organized and meticulous,” recalled Rhea Navarro, the ABC liaison and communications manager of the ABC Promotions Ltd., the marketing and promotions arm of the Asian cage body during Martelino’s stint.
Navarro said Martelino would not brook opposition from even the powerful basketball chiefs of the Middle Eastern countries over the application of basketball rules because he knew them like the back of his hand.
“His seemingly self-effacing behavior and soft-spoken voice masked his intense work ethic.
He was rarely flustered,” said former sports scribe Ignacio Dee, who now works for the Japanese news agency Daily Manila Shimbun. “He treated reporters, veterans or rookies, equally.”
After going into semi-retirement, Martelino, Navarro, former PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino and Ricky Palou formed Sports Vision Management, Inc. in 2004, which organized the highly successful Shakey’s V-League that later evolved into the Premier Volleyball League.
“Moying opened doors for Sports Vision, especially with sponsors who were comfortable to be associated with us because of his name,” Palou said. “His tips and reminders kept us on our toes to do our best.”
