Happy Birthday, Joseph Herrera ( May 5 )

Happy Birthday, Joseph Herrera

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

1980 PBA Rookie Direct Hire by Galleon Shippers
Gilbey’s Gin primary point guard
YCO Painters mainstay in the MICAA

Of course, young as he is turning 34 on May 5, Joseph somehow regrets his early retirement from the game, but the turn of events in 1986 forced him back to native Dipolog City where in 1988 he ran and won a seat as City Councilor being the people's top choice at that. Since then, Joseph has turned out to be a hardworking public servant, living up to the trust bestowed on him by his constituents. Politics wasn't new to Joseph as his father, the late Felicisimo, was once mayor of Dipolog City. Still, sports will always have a special place in his heart and that's why with the help of Zamboanga del Norte Governor Isagani Amatong and his brother Congressman Ernesto Amatong, Joseph started a basketball program last year. "Dipolog City isn't really known as a basketball country. But I'm trying to discover talents here to popularize the sport. This is just one step in one whole sports picture which will definitely include other events in the future," said Joseph. Last year, to perk up interest in basketball, Joseph brought three other teams to compete against the Andres Bonifacio College team of Dipolog which he coaches. These were the Bohol Institute of Technology, Lyceum of Cagayan, and University of San Carlos of Cebu. This February, Joseph plans to bring two Manila-based teams to Dipolog and he has already talked to three coaches Arturo Valenzona of Far Eastern University, Eddie Reyes of Letran, and Boy Ascue of Adamson University. The participation of these schools depends on whether or not they make the finals of the National Collegiate cagefest. "In principle, okay na. Everything's free but they'll only go there by ship and not by plane. This is a good vehicle to expose our players in Dipolog to real competition," said Joseph. As a bonus, Joseph said that he'll recommend two of his players to any of the Manila-based schools that will participate in the Dipolog cagefest. "I've got two talented guys. Maliliit nga lang. Jonathan Ciano stands 6-2 and is only 18 years old. Fidel Bagnold is 6-1 but he's bullstrong: I believe they have great potential and can make it in big time basketball in Manila," Joseph added. Joseph has also talked to PBA Commissioner Rudy Salud with regards to an ourtreach program to be conducted by the pro league in Dipolog City. "You know, the Andres Bonifacio Gym can accomodate 2,500 to 3,000 people. We can't hold a PBA game there because baka malugi ang promoters. But an 8,000 seat gym is being constructed at the moment. This is the ABC Civic Center which is the governor's project. Once this is completed, we'll be ready for the PBA," he said. At the moment, though, what could possibly take place in Dipolog as per negotiations conducted by Joseph in Manila is tour of several PBA teams during the off season. "Something similar to that tour of Pepsi and Purefoods prior to the 1990 season. I've already talked to coach Baby Dalupan and he says he will help me." Likewise, while in Manila, Joseph talked to former Yco teammate Chiqui Ocampo who is executive assistant at the Philippine Sports Commission. Ocampo has assured Joseph of aid with hopes of tapping talents in Dipolog City. "This does not mean only basketball. This means all other events like track and field, volleyball and the like. Grassroots program talaga. And I'm very fortunate to have good friends in Manila." Last October 14, though, Joseph was appointed chairman of the Liberal Party in Dipolog and this appointment definitely takes a lot of his time. Still, Joseph knows how to work on a tight schedule. Aside from politics and sports, Joseph also plays the role of a perfect family man to wife Liza Saguin and children Cheska, 6 and Krista, 2. Joseph played for CDCP and Gilbey's Gin in the PBA from 1980 to 1985. In 236 games, he averaged 8.0 points per outing. "I still miss basketball. But I'm in another field now. I got caught in the realm of politics and I don't want to let the people down," he said. Sports Weekly Magazine DEC. 21-28, 1990