Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    View Today
    Sun, Nov 5

    High-flying playmaker Jerome Cueto fondly remembered after untimely death

    High-leaping playmaker Jerome Cueto fondly remembered after untimely death
    Aug 26, 2018
    Jerome Cueto (in green shirt) died on Sunday at the age of 55.
    PHOTO: Coach Adonis Tierra

    HE will go down as one of the best players never to have played in the PBA.

    Former national team and amateur standout Jerome Cueto passed away on Friday in San Diego, California where he has long been based. He was 59.

    A product of Feati University, Cueto was the prototype quick, pass-first point guard who played behind Hector Calma and Franz Pumaren in the Northern Consolidated Corp. national pool of the late coach Ron Jacobs.

    He also played in several ballclubs that won championships in the old Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL), including ESQ Marketing, Bank of Rizal, Masagana 99, ZESTO, and RFM Corp.

    Many of his past teammates, from Gilas assistant coach Jong Uichico, Blackwater mentor Bong Ramos, NLEX team manager Raymund Celis, NLEX assistant coach Adonis Tierra, to former National University sports director Junel Baculi, were one in saying the high-leaping point guard was quite a player.

    “I remember him as one of the first, if not the first athletic point guard who can shoot and dunk the ball,” recalled Uichico. “He was a quiet person who just loves the game.”

    “Magaling na point guard, mabilis, at tsaka may perimeter jump shot,” said Celis, who played briefly with Cueto at RFM-Swift.

    But for some reason, Cueto never made it to the PBA.

    “Sa tingin ko lang, mabibigat din ang mga kasabayan niya sa position niya,” explained Tierra, who was shocked upon learning about the passing of his former teammate at Feati.

    Uichico shared the same view.

    “I guess during those times, there were really a lot of good players in the PBA,” he said.

    Tierra played with Cueto in college - along with former Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) president Freddie Jalasco – for four years and were coached by Domeng Cruz to several MUCAA (Metro Manila University and College Athletic Association) and Palarong Maynila championships.

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    “Nakakalaro namin diyan madalas sila Leo Austria and Dante Gonzalgo sa Lyceum, tsaka si Jojo Villapando naman sa PSBA,” said Tierra.

    “Pero malakas talaga tumalon iyan na bihira sa mga point guards.”

    Baculi also looked back at his college and PABL rivalry with Cueto with fondness.

    “He was a great rival, then we became teammates and eventually, good buddies,” said Baculi, a former PBA coach.

    “I remember him as a friend who always smiled even when he had problems, both on and off the basketball court,” he added. “Mild mannered and forgiving.”

    Cueto had a brief vacation in the country last March and had a mini-reunion with his former Masagana 99 teammates, including Jojo Peralta, Onchie dela Cruz, Aldo Perez and coach Arlene Rodriguez.

    “Reunion lang, tapos kuwentuhan nung panahon na naglalaro pa kami,” said Peralta, the long-time liaison officer of the Purefoods/Magnolia PBA franchise.

    Little did they know, it would be the last time they’ll see him.

    CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓
    Watch Now

    Rest in peace, Jerome.

    Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

    Read Next
    read more stories about:
    Watch Now
    Sorry, no results found for
    Jerome Cueto (in green shirt) died on Sunday at the age of 55.
    PHOTO: Coach Adonis Tierra
  • POLL

    • Quiz

      Quiz Result