Happy Birthday, Joseph “Ogie” Gumatay ( Aug 15 )

Happy Birthday, Joseph “Ogie” Gumatay

2000 PBA Rookie Draft 5th overall pick
2-season PBA player
2-team PBA guard
UP Maroons court general

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

HE is small but quick. Playing basketball since he was a kid, Ogie Gumatay is one of the most promising rookies in the pro league. The young, diminutive Bulakeño has been through many battlegrounds Palarong Pambansa, NCAA, UAAP, PBL, and the PBA. He played for the Bulacan team to the Palaro some years ago. Ogie, 1993 NCAA juniors MVP as a Mapua Red Robin, played college ball with the UP Maroons. In the PBL, he played for Dr. J Alcohol and one-time champion Ana Freezer. As a Red Bull rookie, Ogie has proven that, if given enough playing time, he can show his stuff, play like a veteran and deliver. Years ago, no one believed he could someday play pro ball because of his size. "Dahil maliit nga lang, akala nila hindi puwedeng maging magaling sa larong 'to. Pero noon pa lang, alam ko na malayo ang mararating ng batang ito," recalls Red Robins coach Horacio Lím. Only 23, Ogie Gumatay has lots of time to show the stuff he is made of and to accomplish things in the p pros. Meantime, let's travel back in time and see Ogie in his younger years.