HE’S tough on the outside, but soft on the inside.
Although branded as the original 'Iron Man' of the PBA, Jaime ‘Jimmy’ Noblezada showed his gentle side when he decided to finally retire from playing to focus on raising his family.
He retired at the age of 31 and just a year removed from winning the second and last PBA championship of his career.
“Nag-retire na ako para i-plano ko na yung buhay ko. Kailangan ko nang isipin 'yung kinabukasan ko,” said the now 74-year-old Noblezada on the sidelines of the PBA’s 50th anniversary games on Wednesday night at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
READ PBA's original 'Iron Man' graces 50th-anniversary celebration
As a simple guy who grew in the province of Miagao, Iloilo with simple dreams growing up, Noblezada said he was actually concerned about failing to provide the basic necessities for his family especially once his playing career was over.
“Sinasabi nila sa akin dati ‘Jim sikat ka na ngayon.’ Ang sabi ko naman, ‘Ang sumisikat araw lang, kapag lumulubog, araw din.’ E, paano kung paglubog ng araw, e hindi ko naayos yung pamilya ko? Hindi ako nakaipon?”
“Sikat ka, na-appreciate ko 'yan. Pero yung sa future, ang laging mindset ko, kailangan pagdating ng panahon, mapag-aral ko ang mga anak ko.”
A former member of the Philippine team that won the 1972 Asian Youth Basketball Championship, Noblezada shied away from the limelight, established his own business, and lived a simple life with his wife and three daughters.
Now, all of his children have settled down and successful in their own right.
“Napa-aral ko silang lahat at may trabaho na silang lahat,” said Noblezada, who carried the moniker ‘Taong Bato’ during his days playing for Concepcion Industries in the old Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA).
Of course, that would still not be possible without his playing career in the PBA, which spanned a total of seven seasons and two championships playing for U-Tex and Carrier Concepcion.
As the first local player to score 20-plus points in the PBA’s inaugural game, Noblezada is grateful for being one of the pioneers in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.
Along with another PBA great in Elmer ‘Boy’ Cabahug, Noblezada was one of the special guests of the league when it celebrated its golden year with a game pitting Magnolia and Converge and the retro match between San Miguel Beer and Meralco.
He was introduced to the jampacked crowd just before the Beermen-Bolts tipoff and playfully banged bodies with big men Raymond Almazan and eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo to underscore his Iron Man moniker.
“Masaya ako na na-imbitahan ako ng PBA. Kung walang PBA, wala ako,” he stressed.
And more than talent and skills, the 6-foot-2 former University of San Agustin stalwart said discipline was his biggest asset during his playing years.
“Ang pinuhunan ko lang sa buhay ko ay disiplina. Dumating ako dito (Manila) pinuhunan ko lang disiplina,” said Noblezada.
“Yung disiplina nagamit ko ng tama sa buhay ko.”
And how disciplined Iron Man is until now?
He opted not to finish the game between San Miguel and Meralco and left the venue by halftime. It was already running late, past his bedtime.
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