BEFORE Scottie Thompson, there was Bong Hawkins.
One of the greatest players to come out of the University of Perpetual Help’s basketball program finally earned the honor he truly deserved when the school officially retired Hawkins’ iconic no. 12 jersey with the Altas.
The ceremony was held Friday during the 50th anniversary foundation of the school campus in Las Pinas.
READ: Asaytono, Hawkins finally take place among PBA 50 Greatest
Hawkins, 58, was the second Perpetual Help player whose jersey was retired by the Altas three years after the school did the same when it hanged to the rafters the no. 6 jersey of Thompson, the 2014 NCAA MVP and now the player considered as the face of Barangay Ginebra.
But it was during Hawkins’s stint with the team in the late 80s when the Altas established themselves as a league power in the NCAA.
As one third of the Altas’ so-called Big 3 that also included the hot-shooting MVP Eric Quiday and Ronald Sy, Perpetual Help challenged the reign of a star-studded San Sebastian squad in the 1989 finals – the school’s first in NCAA history - forcing the mighty Stags led by the late Eugene Quilban, to a winner-take-all Game 3, which it eventually lost, 102-93, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Joining Hawkins during the special celebration were Perpetual Help president Dr. Anthony Tamayo, vice president for sports Anton Tamayo, and school director Dr. Armando De Guzman.
“It’s an honor and pride to be one of the athletes to have a jersey retirement like this. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Tamayo family, especially to Sir Tony, Mam Daisy, Sir Anthony, our president, and Anton Tamayo, vice president for sports, sa parangal na ito,” said Hawkins in his short acceptance speech.
The recognitions came less than a year since Hawkins was finally named part of the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players of all time during the league’s golden anniversary celebration.
Shortly after that memorable finals stint, Hawkins declared for the PBA draft and was taken no. 2 overall by Presto in the 1991 proceedings.
The 6-foot-4, wide-bodied forward and son of the late character actor Rene Hawkins Sr., Bong didn’t find his niche in the pro league until he arrived at Alaska following a celebrated trade with Sta. Lucia for Bong Alvarez.
The ‘Hawk’ became one of the cornerstones of Tim Cone’s Triangle Offense along with Jojo Lastimosa and Johnny Abarrientos, winning a total of six championships with the franchise including a grand slam in the 1996 season.
He was twice a member of both the Mythical First and Second Teams, the Finals MVP of the 1996 Commissioner’s Cup, a member of the All-Defensive Team, the 1994 Most Improved Player, and a three-time All-Star.
After Alaska, Hawkins also suited up for Tanduay and Coca-Cola, where he won his final two championships, before returning to Alaska where finally retired in 2006.
His no. 16 jersey with Alaska was one of the seven jerseys officially retired by Alaska prior to selling the franchise to Converge.
Now it’s his no. 12 jersey that was fittingly retired by the Altas.
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