Remembering Rodolfo "Rudy" Enterina, Jr. (+) on his birthday ( Feb 8 )

Remembering Rodolfo "Rudy" Enterina, Jr. (+) on his birthday ( Feb 8 )
Eternal repose grant unto Rodolfo "Rudy" Enterina, Jr., o Lord.

1991 PBA Rookie Draft 6th overall pick
University of the Visayas Green Lancers guard
1991 PBA Philippine Cup champion
3-season PBA veteran
3-PBA team player

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

Truth of the matter is, there was logic in Enterina's selection. The Hotdogs had just lost Alfonso Solis to rival Diet Sarsi which dangled a P2.8 million offer sheet that went unmatched. Enterina, solidly built like Solis, fills that vacancy. He is a stocky and tall point guard at 6-1. Given the proper exposure, he can be harnessed into another Solis. However, up until this moment, Rudy is still waiting for that big break. And it looks like Panganiban's prediction that Rudy would be their best bet for ROY honors is a promise meant to be broken. Rudy has been languishing long on the bench, content to watch guys like Dindo Pumaren and Leoncio Tan, Jr. alternate on the point guard chores, content at seeing Elmer Reyes, Elmer Cabahug and Glen Capacio rotated at the off guard position.
"Alam ko, mahirap talagang magkaroon ng big break sa PBA. Pero handa naman ako'ng maghintay. Nakikinig naman ako sa payo ng coach ko. Nagpapakundisyon ako. Hindi ako nagpapabaya sa katawan dahil baka isang beses bigla ako'ng ipasok, mabuti na rin yung handa ako. Mahirap kasi kapag pinalampas mo ang pagkakataon." Rudy was born on February 8, 1965 in Boog, Zamboanga del Sur. He is the eldest and only boy in a brood of four (the others being Rowena, Daisy and Gina) of Rodolfo Enterina, Sr. and Adoracion Cabando. Rudy got hooked on basketball through the proddings of friends Rey Abarquez.  He played one year for the junior team of the University of San Jose Recoletos before moving to the University of Visayas where he spent the rest of his high school days and later played senior ball. He took up Marine Engineering not only because he had a fancy for the sea but because, "it would make things easier for me in terms of budgeting time for basketball and studies. Sa Marine Engineering, two years ka sa lupa at two years ka sa dagat mag-aaral. Natapos na ako sa lupa at nagkaroon na ko ng six-months apprenticeship sa dagat. Bale inter-island lang kami." But the call of basketball was too hard to resist and he gave up his apprenticeship at sea and instead played in Cebu tournaments for teams like Mama's Love, Balls Bar, and El Rancho. On all teams, he played alongside Abarquez. His friendship with Rey led to his marrying Rey's cousin Joy with whom he has a two-year-old son, Rodolfo III.