Abet Guidaben

Abet Guidaben

Personal information
Born	(1952-09-14) September 14, 1952 (age 71) Mambajao, Camiguin, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
College	University of San Jose - Recoletos
Playing career	1975–1995
Position	Center / power forward
Number	5, 32, 55, 41
Career history
1973–1984	Crispa Redmanizers
1985	Tanduay Rhum Makers
1986	Manila Beer Brewmasters
1987–1988	San Miguel Beermen
1988	Purefoods Hotdogs
1989	Alaska Air Force
1990–1993	Pepsi Hotshots/7-Up Uncolas
1994–1995	Shell Rimula X
Career highlights and awards
16× PBA champion (1975 All-Philippine, 1976 First, 1976 Second, 1976 All-Philippine, 1977 All-Filipino, 1977 Open, 1979 All-Filipino, 1980 All-Filipino, 1981 Reinforced Filipino, 1983 All-Filipino, 1983 Reinforced Filipino, 1983 Open, 1984 First All-Filipino, 1987 Reinforced, 1988 Open, 1988 Reinforced) 2× PBA Most Valuable Player (1983, 1987) 5× PBA Mythical First Team (1983-1985, 1987-1988) 3× PBA All-Star (1992, 1993, 1994) PBA's 25 Greatest Players PBA's 40 Greatest Players PBA Hall of Fame Class of 2007
Medals Men’s Basketball Representing  Philippines FIBA Asia Championship 1973 Manila Team

Alberto "Abet" Guidaben (born September 14, 1952) is a Filipino former professional basketball player in the PBA. He was part of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers ballclub that won two Grand Slams, in 1976 and 1983. He was a two-time PBA Most Valuable Player awardee in 1983 and 1987.

Collegiate and amateur career[edit]

Guidaben started his career with the Agoho (Mambajao, Camiguin) Pirates and the University of San Jose - Recoletos. Then in 1973, he became part of the Crispa team in the old Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA). The Crispa-Floro duo was again in the national team skippered by Jaworski for the 1974 Asian Games in Teheran.

Professional career[edit]

In the PBA, Guidaben was a "late-bloomer" with Crispa. During the league's early years, he played in the shadows of his more illustrious teammates like Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, and Bogs Adornado. But slowly, his talent as a big man emerged and became one of Crispa's greatest assets. He was already a good rebounder but later developed a strong inside game complemented with accurate off-the-glass jumpers from the perimeter. He was also one of the earliest dunkers in the PBA making the slam dunk vogue in the league a decade before the arrival of highflyers like Samboy Lim, Paul "Bong" Alvarez, Vergel Meneses and Nelson Asaytono. He also had a great rivalry with Toyota's Fernandez which was considered a classic in itself. He won MVP honors in 1983 while with Crispa and 1987 while with San Miguel Beer.

PBA career statistics[edit]

Retirement and later life[edit]

In 2000, he was named as one of the PBA's 25 greatest players of all-time in elaborate awards ceremonies that highlighted the 25th anniversary of the league. After his retirement, he went into the construction business, and in 2003, he migrated to New Jersey in the United States with his family. Even in the U.S. he actively took part in benefit basketball events staged by the PBA Legends USA Foundation.

In 2007, he was enshrined into the PBA Hall of Fame along with Manny Paner, Danny Florencio, and Norman Black.^[1]

In 2010, he suffered from a serious ailment called Myasthenia Gravis and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for eight days.^[2] He managed to survive from the illness by taking steroids.

In 2012, he suffered two strokes in a span of one week, and was diagnosed with meningitis.^[3] He was again admitted to the ICU as a result.

Personal life[edit]

Guidaben, with his wife, Maridol, has four children (Maria Elizabeth, JR, Michael and Katherine) and several grandchildren.^[4]

References[edit]