Remembering Alfred “Alfie” Almario (+) on his birthday ( Apr 12 )

Remembering Alfred “Alfie” Almario (+) on his birthday ( Apr 12 )
Eternal repose grant unto Alfred “Alfie” Almario, o Lord.

Source : Sports Weekly Magazine/Scoreboard (PBA Archives Collections)

1986 PBA Rookie Direct Hire
1982 Asian Youth gold medalist 
1985 ABC gold medalist
Dela Salle Green Archer
PBA San Miguel Beerman

The burly 6'3", 203 pound forward from Cebu City has come a long way since that debacle. For Alfie Almario is now the toast of amateur basketball! So impressive was Almario's performance in the Youth championship that he drew respect and reaped praises from the notable personalities in the said tournament. China Youth coach Lu Chang Xin named Alfie and Hector Calma as the best players in the Philippine team line-up. Coach Kim Dong-won of Korea also praised Alfie, who together with Wang Libin, the 6'6 star of China who wore jersey number 9, was his choice of the best in the recent competition. A long way from a dismal beginning, Alfie is undoubtedly basketball's success story. Indeed, a Cinderella career for the 19-year old cager, who started out his ABC's in basketball in a backyard lot. Alfie was born 19 Aprils ago to Jose and Catalina Almario, Jr. Father Jose is an enterprising businessman, owner of a printing press shop back home in Cebu, while his mother is a simple housewife. Alfie is the second of 9 children, six of which are boys. He comes from a tall family, his father a hulking six-footer,  and his mother, at 5'4", is just a hairline taller than the regular Filipina. A brother 'stands at 6'1. The streak shooter from La Salle first learned the rudiments of the game when he was 14. It was his father who taught him the game. Alfie recalls, "May ring noon sa likod ng bahay namin. Kasi ang father ko, mahilig, super-hilig sa basketball. Siya ang nagturo sa akin ng game. Tinuruan niya ako ng paano mag-shoot, mag-dribble." Alfie then tried out for the University of San Carlos Boys' High School team, where he also attended his grade school. But Alfie failed to make the team. That could have ended Alfie's love affair with basketball. For other aspiring cagers of lesser stuff would have lost heart and enthusiasm. But not Alfie. The fighter that he is, he vowed to improve his game and took his rejection as a challenge. "Nagpraktis ako nang husto. Sumali ako sa mga liga sa barangay, sa junior division." It was there, while moonlighting in the inter-barangay leagues that he got to be discovered by Pilo Pumaren, his coach at the De La Salle College. "Nagpunta sina Coach Pumaren at Henry Cojuangco sa Cebu, para magrecruit ng players para sa La Salle. Isa ako sa mga kinontak nila." Pumaren and Cojuangco sought the help of many Cebu-based coaches in scouting for talents. The coaches recommended many players, among them was Alfie, who at that time was making waves in inter-barangay leagues. "Marami kaming nag-try-out. Kasabay ko noon sina Jun Tan, saka si Teddy Alfarero. Dinala kaming tatlo dito sa Manila, tapos pinag-try-out kami ulit. Nakuha naman kaming tatlo." One of the most notable players who tried out for the La Salle team, together with Alfie, Jun and Teddy, was Anthony Mendoza, the 6'4 center of Paul Jordan. Tony was cut during the Cebu trial, Got an insight of how tough the try-out Alfie passed? The deceivingly slow cornerman first donned the La Salle jersey in the 1980 edition of the NCAA. But his debut as a collegiate campaigner was spoiled. The NCAA cancelled the basketball tournament for that year due to a rumble that erupted during the La Salle-Letran game. "Hindi naman kami ang nag-away. Mga spectators, mga supporters ng La Salle at Letran ang nag-away." Alfie reasoned out. That crowd violence, and the inability of the NCAA board to prevent them, forced La Salle to quit the league for good. But the Green Archers continued to play and win other tournaments. In January 1981, the Green Archers, with Almario as a vital pointmaker, won the Intercollegiate basketball tournament, nosing out San Beda and University of the Visayas in a triple logjam for the crown. Almario was also instrumental in two Interclub titles for La Salle. The first one was in early '81, against Usiphil, and the second one, later in the year, was against Masagana 99. Three championship in one year! And that was only Alfie's first full year for La Salle. Alfie's effort didn't go unnoticed. As we all know, he was asked to try-out for the Philippine Youth team, eventually earning a starting role. In the recent Youth championship, Alfie singled out Hector Calma as the best in the league. "Magaling si Hec," Alfie started. "Siya ang leader ng team. Siya ang nagdi-direct ng play. Kung wala siya, mahihirapan kaming manalo."