Marata’s coaches recall days with ex playmaker

Two of the coaches who had the chance to guide Ricardo Marata in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) recalled the playing years of the crafty playmaker popularly known as "Ric-Ric". Marata, 45, died early Saturday morning (2:30 a.m.) in New York. GMANews.TV learned that Marata had an operation on his intestines but died due to complications. Air21 coach Yeng Guiao, who won his first PBA championship with Marata as one of his players with Swift, said his partnership with Marata is memorable. "Me and Ric-Ric had great times together. He was part of my first PBA championship, making our partnership more memorable." Guiao told GMANews.TV that former Swift manager Elmer Yanga informed him of Marata’s death. He was shocked to hear the news. "I was shocked to learn that he died since every time we see each other he is in good shape. He doesn’t get fat or become too thin." Guiao added Marata belongs to a tightly-knit group of Southern PBA players. "Of course, Ric-Ric is so dear to me because he is one of the members of a group of Visayan players who are very close to me aside from Boy Cabahug, Zaldy Realubit and Al Solis. They were a tight group." Marata’s nephew, Ginebra’s high-leaping swingman Cyrus Baguio, is among the second-generation of Marata players. His other nephew is La Salle Green Archer Samuel Joseph Marata. Baguio also played under Guiao when he was still coaching the Red Bull Barakos and the all-pro Powerade-Pilipinas men’s basketball team that finished seventh in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship. "He (Marata) brought Cyrus Baguio to the games when he was a 10-year-old kid and he’s been the one teaching him to play basketball," said Guiao. "Up to the time when Cyrus is already my player, he would come to me and always say of take good care of his nephew." Alaska coach Tim Cone, who coached Marata in his first two seasons with Alaska, was also stunned by the news. He was still in Cagayan de Oro when informed of the player’s death. "Wow, I cannot believe it," said Cone. "But I will always remember Ric-Ric as a funny guy, very talkative and plays with a lot of energy. He’s our third point guard in the team aside from Frankie Lim and Eric Altamirano." "I also remember him mentioning to me that his nephew is a good basketball player and that turned out to be Cyrus Baguio. And look at Baguio now," Cone added. PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said that they will pay tribute to Marata, who played in the league for nine seasons with Alaska, Swift, Sta. Lucia, Shell and Pop Cola. "I join his family in prayers for the passing of Ric Ric Marata, who had his valuable contributions in the PBA," said Commissioner Barrios. "In celebration of the PBA’s 35th season, we will give a simple tribute to him Sunday night." The 5-foot-7 spitfire guard, considered to be one of the best playmakers who came from the Visayas, is survived by his wife Chato and his children, Junior, Danica and Nico. Known for his deadly outside shooting, Marata was the PBA three-point king in the 1994 and 1996 All-Star games. He last played for Pop Cola in 1997 before finally retiring. Marata averaged 6.8 points, 2.9 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 0.96 steals in the 397 games he played for Alaska, Sarsi/Swift/Sunkist, Sta. Lucia and Pop Cola from 1989-1997. News of Marata’s death was relayed by former PBA player Abe King, known in the PBA as the Chairman of the Board, through social networking website Facebook. He is currently working in Seattle when he learned about Marata’s death. King, through his Facebook account, said that Ric-Ric even played with the PBA Legands in New Jersey and Maryland with the purpose of helping the victims of tropical storm Ondoy and to provide educational grants to young Filipino scholars. – Rey Joble, GMANews.TV