Flashback Amateur Player Feature #15 - Fernando 'Dong' Libed
"Amateur Players who didn't get to play in the PBA"
Aris Garcia
1.
Flashback Amateur Player Feature #15 Fernando 'Dong' Libed
Letran Knight
1987 NCAA Finals Most Outstanding Player
1984, 1985 and 1987 NCAA Champion
Source : Sports Weekly Magazine/Sportsworld (PBA Archives Collections)
Knights to three NCAA titles. What is more dramatic was the way he led the Knights to this year's NCAA crown. Suffering from hepatitis, Libed shrugged off the agony and drilled in the final bas ket that lifted Letran past San Sebastian in the pulsating finale. After that, he decided to turn to commercial caging. There is this NCAA ruling now allowing its players to see action for commercial teams provided that they have completed three years with their mother schools. Libed was supposed to play for Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corporation as he was taken in by Nat Canson. But when Canson transferred to Sta. Lucia, Libed likewise opted to join the Realtors. This decision somehow created some fuss. But when everything was ironed out, Libed was finally permitted to don the Sta Lucia Realty jersey with two games left in the elimination round. That actually worked in Libed's favor as he had enough time to recuperate and regain lost strength. And now, Libed is spewing fire once again. The two-time SCOOP Most Outstanding Player awardee provides the much needed inside points for the Realtors. PABL observers claim that Libed must try to hit from the outside. He maybe a high leaping 5-10 off guard but he'll make things easier for himself if he could also develop a long tom. Fernando is the youngest of three boys and two girls born to Emilio Libed and Anita Lorenzo. His elder brother Rollie once played for the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws. Dodong started out as a chessplayer at Don Bosco, Makati during his elementary days up to first year high school. When he was a fourth grader, he won a gold medal during the Don Bosco Inter-District chess tournament. He was spotted by a BAP referee in Tenejeros and was later referred to Fred Reyes, who was then coaching the Letran Squires. He spent three seasons with the Squires. "Medyo sinusuwerte lang ho siguro tayo," said the 22-year old Libed. "At least, our stint in the quarterfinals has worked in my favor because I got to know my new teammates better. Baka sakaling mag-champion kami."
