Happy Birthday, Renato “Etok” Lobo ( Apr 8 )

Happy Birthday, Renato “Etok” Lobo

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

2x PBA champion
1977 MICAA Most Valuable Player
1976 UAAP champion
1977 Asian Youth gold medalist
1978 MICAA champion

Renato "Etok" Lobo, after two forgettable seasons with Utex is a Wrangler no more. He signed-up with the Galleon Shippers of CDCP, a home he expects to be happy with for the next three years. "Bago tuluyang mabulok, mabuti pang umalis. I really didn't want to leave Utex. Okay na rin naman yung mga kasama ko doon. Ninong ko pa sa kasal si Tommy (Manotoc). Wala talagang good reason for me to leave the team. Pero hindi naman puwedeng ang isipin ko yung kagalingan lang nila. I have to think of myself. Sabi ko, If I stick out with Utex, wala, wala na ring mangyayari sa akin. Masisira na ako sa pagiging bench. May pamilya akong dapat isipin. If I renewed my contract with them which Tommy would like to happen, anong mangyayari sa akin sa two years. And after that, what?"

Etok was kind of disappointed with the way he was treated at Utex.  "Nagpapabor kasi si Tommy. Bata-bata. Hindi yung laro ang tinitingnan. Meron ngang tao sa team, sirang-sira na ang laro, andoon pa rin sa loob. Ako naman, I didn't know kung ano ang hindi niya nagustuhan sa laro ko. Hindi ako nag-mimiss ng mga practices. Pagpinapasok ako, pukpok naman. Noon ngang una, maganda ang takbo ng laro ko kasi ginagamit ako. Bago natapos yung first season ko, bangko na. Noong second year ko last year, wala na talaga, complete benchwarmer na. Noon ngang iniofer sa akin yung contract uli under the same terms, sabi ko kay Tommy i-release na lang ako. Para mapakinabangan ko naman yung galing ko sa basketball kung meron man. Ni-release naman ako, ang grateful ako sa kanila, ibinigay nila yung release ko without any hitch. Hindi kagaya nong ginawa nila kay Anthony (Dasalla), medyo inipit. Magsisimula na ang liga bago nakuha yung release."

Etok Lobo joined CDCP and was welcomed with open arms. Coach Nic Jorge is excited about the young cager. He said of his prized catch: "I know Etok's worth. I've seen him play even when he was with FEU and Solid Mills. I know he was not given much chance at Utex. Here, he'll have the breaks that proved elusive to him in his early outing in the PBA. If he continues to work hard and re-build the confidence that he almost completely lost, I know I have a goldmine of a cager in him."

The dusky, 6-2 forward, sometimes guard, is an awesome offensive playyer with a lot to spare. He has a healthy outside shot and a safe penetration. His height and bulk are assets which can prove very helpful even in tight skirmishes under the boards for the elusive leather.

The one-time MICAA Most Valuable Player and national player (1977 RP Youth 1977 SEA and ABC Games) hopes he'll recapture the confidence and spark that made him one of the most promising PBA comers in 1978.