Fort Acuna
Encyclopedia
Fortunato Acuña, better known simply as Fort Acuña (April 17, 1948 – circa 1981), was a Filipino
professional
basketball
player and then later coach in the Philippine Basketball Association
. A 6'1" center/forward
, he played for the University of the Philippines
and the MICAA
. He was one of the pioneers when the Philippine Basketball Association
was born as he played for the Toyota Comets along with the likes of Sonny Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez
and Francis Arnaiz
. He retired from active play in 1978 at the age of 30.
In 1979, Acuña replaced Dante Silverio
as Toyota head coach and then steered the team to the Invitational Conference title over the Crispa Redmanizers
with the help of import Andy Fields that same year.
In 1980, during Game 3 of the All-Filipino Conference with Crispa leading league archrivals Toyota 2-0 and on the verge of a season sweep, Acuña was fired on the spot at half time by team manager Pablo Carlos for refusing to heed the latter's request to field in Jaworski. Toyota would win the game, thanks to Jaworski's inspirational play, thus preventing a Crispa sweep. But the Tamaraws would eventually lose the series and the title as the Redmanizers wrapped up the series the next game. Acuña committed suicide a year later.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
professional
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
basketball
Basketball in the Philippines
Basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines, played on both the amateur and professional levels.-History:In the 1950s, the Philippine team was among the best basketball teams in the world after winning two consecutive Asian Games basketball gold medals .Despite missing the first FIBA...
player and then later coach in the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. A 6'1" center/forward
Forward-Center
Forward–center is a basketball position for players who play or have played both forward and center on a consistent basis. Typically, this means power forward and center, since these are usually the two biggest player positions on any basketball team, and therefore more often overlap each...
, he played for the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
and the MICAA
Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association
The Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association is a defunct sports association which existed from 1938 to 1981. It is best known for its basketball league for amateur players....
. He was one of the pioneers when the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
was born as he played for the Toyota Comets along with the likes of Sonny Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez
Ramón Fernández
Ramon S. Fernandez is generally regarded as the greatest basketball player produced by the Philippine Basketball Association. Fernandez won four Most Valuable Player awards and a record of 19 PBA championships bagged...
and Francis Arnaiz
Francis Arnaiz
Francis C. Arnaiz is a former Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He played for Toyota and Ginebra San Miguel from 1975-1986...
. He retired from active play in 1978 at the age of 30.
In 1979, Acuña replaced Dante Silverio
Dante Silverio
Dante Lorna Silverio, better known simply as Dante Silverio, is a former Filipino basketball coach, and champion race car driver. He is best known as the coach of the Toyota Tamaraws in the Philippine Basketball Association. Silverio guided Toyota to five of its total nine PBA Championships. He...
as Toyota head coach and then steered the team to the Invitational Conference title over the Crispa Redmanizers
Crispa Redmanizers
The Crispa Redmanizers was a basketball team in the Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association , the Philippine Basketball Association and the Philippine Amateur Basketball League from the 1960s to the early 1990s.- Profile and history :...
with the help of import Andy Fields that same year.
In 1980, during Game 3 of the All-Filipino Conference with Crispa leading league archrivals Toyota 2-0 and on the verge of a season sweep, Acuña was fired on the spot at half time by team manager Pablo Carlos for refusing to heed the latter's request to field in Jaworski. Toyota would win the game, thanks to Jaworski's inspirational play, thus preventing a Crispa sweep. But the Tamaraws would eventually lose the series and the title as the Redmanizers wrapped up the series the next game. Acuña committed suicide a year later.
External links
- http://mypba.com/forum/
- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/9225/history.html&date=2009-10-25+07:06:07