Happy Birthday, Abraham Colombus “Abe” King, Jr. ( July 23 )
Aris Garcia
Happy Birthday, Abraham Colombus “Abe” King, Jr.
Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)
“Chairman of the Boards”
13x PBA champion
San Beda Red Lions center
1983 PBA Mythical First Team member
1985 PBA Mythical Second Team member
1983 PBA one-on-one champion
2x PBA All-Defensive Team member
Abe King started playing league basketball at the age of 15, as a bench-warmer in Cavite High school. San Sebastian College in Cavite noticed his promising 5-foot-10 height and promised him more playing time. An ex-amateur referee, Maning Inocentes, spotted him in SSC and brought King to Manila. Abe played for San Beda College in 1976 under the tutelage of the legendary Caloy Loyzaga. He teamed-up with Yeo's Frankie Lim and Chuck Barreiro to power the Red Lions to a runner-upfinish in the NCAA, behind the Fritz Gaston-Joy Carpio-led Ateneo Blue Eagles. The next year, King jumped to the amateur ranks and played for A&W Records. Then, he transferred to the Crown Motor Sales camp. There he met Emer Legaspi, Pol Herrera, Boko Lauchengco, Pablo Javier and Mon Cruz and together they clinched the MICAA title for the Carmakers. Abe King, afterwards, returned to Cavite to weather a 'period of crisis'. Crown Moters coach Nat Canson, now mentor of Paul Jordan, fetched Abe in Cavite and signed him up for Toyota. The 1982 Reinforced All-Filipino conference is witnessing an improved Abe King. Although, King's game before was also a-okay. In fact, he was 1979's Most Improved Player. Abe's main improvement for this season is his consistency in the game, unlike in the past when he blew hot and cold between games. Because of this consistency, Toyota coach Ed Ocampo is using the curlyhaired, 6-3 Toyota tower of strength more often, pitting him against PBA imports. "He has the power, high leap and board strength, at saka, physically fit siya kaya ko siya ginagamit," Ocampo disclosed. Also, Abe King is the Super Corolla who has the experience in guarding taller, bulkier imports. "Mula pa noong kay Dante Silverio, Kano na ang pinapaguwardiya sa akin. Pero s'yempre kailangan din ang tulong ng ibang teammates," King added. Abe considers Gilbey's Lew Massey as the import hardest to guard. "May katawan si Massey, magaling gumalaw. Si Murrey, pareho lang kami ng katawan," commented the bull-strong pivotman.
