ROBERTO Paguia, the former representative of National University to the UAAP Board, passed away on Friday morning due to cardiac arrest.
He was 75.
Paguia is the son of the late Leticia ‘Mommy’ Jhocson-Paguia, a former official of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA), and brother of former NU coach Sonny Paguia.
Jhocson-Paguia is the sister of school founder Mariano Jhocson.
Nilo Ocampo, the current NU representative to the UAAP board, only had fond memories of his cousin and the former Bulldogs official's undying love for the school, calling him his mentor.
“Mahal na mahal niya ang NU and napakabait niya,” recalled Ocampo, who replaced Paguia in the league board.
Fondly called `Bam’ by his UAAP colleagues, Paguia was NU’s representative to the league board during the lowly years of the learning institution located at F. Jhocson, Manila before the SM Group purchased a substantial share to take control of the school from the Jhocson family.
Still, Paguia regularly visited NU to check on the school and watch its games of the UAAP as well.
Ocampo only had one regret though - Paguia failed to witness the Bulldogs win another men’s basketball championship which the school last won in 1954 for the longest title drought in the UAAP right now.
“How I wish na naka-experience uli siya ng championship sa NU,” said Ocampo.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
