RAMON Fernandez was one of seven athletes inducted into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame of 2026 on Saturday during enshrinement ceremonies at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) House.
The four-time PBA MVP and many-time national player was part of the fifth batch of Hall of Famers joining boxer Mansueto ‘Onyok’ Velasco, tennis ace Cecil Mamiit, gymnast-taekwondo jin Bea Lucero, runner Isidro Del Prado, weightlifter Adeline Dumapong, and the late basketball great Ed Pacheco.
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“A probinsyano made it,” said the Maasin, Leyte native during his acceptance speech.
Before becoming a 19-time PBA champion, Fernandez was part of Philippine team that bagged the 1973 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila - the last national squad of homegrown players to win the tournament.
Fernandez was also part of the first all-pro team to compete at the Asian Games, winning a silver medal behind China at the 1990 Asiad in Beijing.
“This recognition is basically the summit, the pinnacle of my sporting career,” said Fernandez. “I’m very thankful that maski papaano, na-recognize ‘yung hard labor and sacrifice natin for 25 years. The discipline, the perseverance, and all the sacrifices. Natutuwa ako na napansin and I’m very glad and proud.”
The 72-year-old Fernandez’s induction was seen as a long time coming because of his many accomplishments in basketball.
“A lot of people were saying na dapat kasama na ako the previous enshrinement but kasama pa ako as one of the commissioners. Hindi rin maganda tingnan na isama ako,” said Fernandez, who served as commissioner of the PSC from 2016 to 2022.
“I never really dreamed and even prayed to get this accolade. It was a matter of time na darating din ‘yun,” said Fernandez.
After his enshrinement into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame, Fernandez said he will continue to support athletes through his foundation.
“Supporting actor na lang tayo sa mga sports programs. I will continue to work using my Ramon Fernandez Sports and Youth Development Foundation. We are supporting deserving athletes who cannot support themselves. We are trying to do that, slowly but surely,” said Fernandez.
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