Gec Chia
Encyclopedia
George Christian T. Chia (born August 19, 1979), better known as Gec Chia, is a Filipino
professional basketball player who last played for the Barako Bull Energy Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association
. Chia is primarily known for his walk-off buzzer beater
in the 2002 UAAP semifinals
as a varsity for the Ateneo Blue Eagles
in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Chia went on to major in computer science in Ateneo de Manila University
, where he was an intramurals legend for the CERSA team in the intramurals. He was noticed by then-coach Joe Lipa
and was added to the Blue Eagles roster in the 2001 season
. He rode the bench, substituting for players such as L.A. Tenorio and Wesley Gonzales
. He played three games and scored a grand total of 10 points throughout the 2001 season. With Ateneo failing to win the Finals, Ateneo fired Lipa and hired former Mapúa Cardinals
coach Joel Banal
.
The Blue Eagles advanced to the playoffs in 2002
as the third seed after beating rival
the De La Salle Green Archers
in the end of the elimination round denying them of a 14–0 sweep. As the third seed, Ateneo had to beat #2 seed UE Red Warriors
twice in the semifinals in order to advance to the Finals. L.A. Tenorio, who had just returned from an injury, led the Eagles to a Game 1 triumph to set a winner-take-all game to face La Salle who had just eliminated the UST Growling Tigers
.
With 7.8 seconds left in Game 2, and the score tied at 70–all, UE player Paul Artadi
turned over the ball. Tenorio raced towards the other end of the court but was well covered by the bigger James Yap
. Tenorio passed the ball to Chia, who shook off Ronald Tubid
, and made the shot over the outstretched hands of Olan Omiping. The shot brought Banal to his knees and he later described the shot as "a miracle."
In the Finals, Chia scored 5 points in a Game 1 win, fouled out with 4 points in a Game 2 loss, and 11 points in Ateneo's title-clinching Game 3 win.
by the Coca-Cola Tigers
. He was later signed by the Barangay Ginebra Kings
, and was part of the 2008-09 PBA Philippine Cup Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters champion team. He then became a free agent, eventually being signed by the Barako Bull Energy Boosters early in the 2009-10 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.
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 basketball player who last played for the Barako Bull Energy Boosters 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...
. Chia is primarily known for his walk-off buzzer beater
Buzzer beater
In basketball, a buzzer beater is a shot taken just before the game clock of a period expires, when the buzzer sounds. The term is normally reserved for baskets that win or tie the game, but also refers to shots that beat an end-of-quarter or halftime buzzer...
in the 2002 UAAP semifinals
UAAP Season 65
UAAP Season 65 is the 2002-2003 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which was hosted by National University. The season opened on July 13, 2002.-Elimination round:Host team in boldface.-Bracket:-Juniors' Division:...
as a varsity for the Ateneo Blue Eagles
Ateneo Blue Eagles
The Ateneo Blue Eagles is the name of the collegiate men's varsity basketball team of the Ateneo de Manila University that plays in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the premiere sports league in the country. The collegiate women's varsity basketball team is called the Lady...
in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Amateur career
Gec initially wanted to play tennis, but due to the growing popularity of basketball in Zamboanga, he started to play for St. Joseph High School. He went on to represent Zamboanga in the Palarong Pambansa. Despite being a high-school standout, he was not recruited by any Metro Manila programs.Chia went on to major in computer science in Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
, where he was an intramurals legend for the CERSA team in the intramurals. He was noticed by then-coach Joe Lipa
Joe Lipa
Jose "Joe" Lipa, Jr. is a Filipino basketball coach. Lipa coached his alma mater, the University of the Philippines, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men's basketball. He has also had a head coaching stint for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, and the Air21 Express of the...
and was added to the Blue Eagles roster in the 2001 season
UAAP Season 64
UAAP Season 64 is the 2001-2002 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which was hosted by the Far Eastern University.-Elimination round:Host team in boldface.-Bracket:-Juniors' Division:-Seniors' Division:...
. He rode the bench, substituting for players such as L.A. Tenorio and Wesley Gonzales
Wesley Gonzales
Wesley O. Gonzales is a Filipino professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association.-Player Profile:...
. He played three games and scored a grand total of 10 points throughout the 2001 season. With Ateneo failing to win the Finals, Ateneo fired Lipa and hired former Mapúa Cardinals
Mapúa Cardinals
The Mapúa Cardinals is the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball team of the Mapúa Institute of Technology.The Mapúa Cardinals holds the NCAA record for the most number of General Championships in the seniors division with a total of 20—the last of these championships was won in 1993...
coach Joel Banal
Joel Banal
Joel Banal is a former Filipino professional basketball player, currently serving as head coach of Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association. Banal played college ball for the Mapúa Institute of Technology, before venturing into professional basketball with the Great Taste Coffee...
.
The Blue Eagles advanced to the playoffs in 2002
UAAP Season 65
UAAP Season 65 is the 2002-2003 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which was hosted by National University. The season opened on July 13, 2002.-Elimination round:Host team in boldface.-Bracket:-Juniors' Division:...
as the third seed after beating rival
Ateneo-La Salle rivalry
The Ateneo-La Salle rivalry is a school rivalry between two private universities in the Philippines, the Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University. Both are private, Catholic academic centers within the Metropolitan Manila area. Ateneo Men's varsity team is known as Ateneo Blue Eagles,...
the De La Salle Green Archers
De La Salle Green Archers
The De La Salle Green Archers are the men's varsity teams representing De La Salle University. The women's varsity teams are referred to as the De La Salle Lady Archers. The school's athletic program participates in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, among others...
in the end of the elimination round denying them of a 14–0 sweep. As the third seed, Ateneo had to beat #2 seed UE Red Warriors
UE Red Warriors
The UE Red Warriors is the men's varsity team of the University of the East in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. The women's varsity team is called the Amazons, while the junior varsity team is called the Junior Warriors .-About UE:University of the East is one of the eight...
twice in the semifinals in order to advance to the Finals. L.A. Tenorio, who had just returned from an injury, led the Eagles to a Game 1 triumph to set a winner-take-all game to face La Salle who had just eliminated the UST Growling Tigers
UST Growling Tigers
The UST Growling Tigers are the varsity team of the University of Santo Tomas in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. The women's varsity team is called the UST Growling Tigresses. Originally called the Glowing Goldies, the name has been changed starting with the 1992–93 season....
.
With 7.8 seconds left in Game 2, and the score tied at 70–all, UE player Paul Artadi
Paul Artadi
Paul Anthony Dy Artadi is a professional Filipino basketball player for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association....
turned over the ball. Tenorio raced towards the other end of the court but was well covered by the bigger James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
. Tenorio passed the ball to Chia, who shook off Ronald Tubid
Ronald Tubid
Ronald Tubid is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barangay Ginebra Kings...
, and made the shot over the outstretched hands of Olan Omiping. The shot brought Banal to his knees and he later described the shot as "a miracle."
In the Finals, Chia scored 5 points in a Game 1 win, fouled out with 4 points in a Game 2 loss, and 11 points in Ateneo's title-clinching Game 3 win.
Professional career
Chia was selected twenty-eighth overall in the 2003 PBA Draft2003 PBA Draft
The 2003 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event which will allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. It was held on January 12, 2003 at the Glorietta Activity Center at Makati City.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:...
by the Coca-Cola Tigers
Coca-Cola Tigers
The Powerade Tigers is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 2002 when the then-San Miguel Corporation-owned Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines bought the RFM-owned Cosmos Bottling Corporation. In 2006, the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company under the Coca-Cola...
. He was later signed by the Barangay Ginebra Kings
Barangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
, and was part of the 2008-09 PBA Philippine Cup Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters champion team. He then became a free agent, eventually being signed by the Barako Bull Energy Boosters early in the 2009-10 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.