MANILA – Before he made a name for himself with the Ateneo de Manila University and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the late Emilio “Nonoy” Chuatico was a former standout of St. John’s Institute (SJI) in Bacolod City.
Chuatico, who recently succumbed to cancer in Atlanta, Georgia, was SJI’s team captain when the school captured its first Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association (NOPSSCEA) championship in the early 80s.
“Nonoy had good leadership skills,” said Bacolodnon basketball coach Dexter Dy. “I remembered that I was still a grade school student then at St. John when he steered the school to its first NOPSSCEA championship under then coach Roberto Lacson.”
“Also during his time as SJI’s team captain when the school ruled the triangular meet among Chinese catholic schools in the Visayas,” he added. “He started the SJI basketball tradition which was later emulated by Montalbo and Barcelona.”
Chuatico, a champion with Ateneo in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and represented the country in the Southeast Asian Games, was the first Johnian to play in the PBA followed by TNT Tropang Giga’s Kib Montalbo.
Tropang Giga head coach and Ilonggo Ferdinand “Bong” Ravena also recalled his former national team and Purefoods teammate Chuatico as a hardworking and kind player.
“He was my roommate kasi sa RP team when we played in the 1991 Southeast Asian Games in Manila. Doon ko talaga siya nakilala,” Ravena said.
A year after their SEA Games stint, both Ravena and Chuatico applied for the PBA draft, with the TNT coach being selected by San Miguel with the No. 5 overall pick while the latter being selected by Barangay Ginebra at No.8.
“Si Nonoy ay isa sa pinaka-masipag at mabait na players na nakasama ko,” the Ilonggo mentor added. “We played against each other sa PBA then we became teammates sa Purefoods.”
Chuatico played for four seasons in the PBA averaging 5.0 points per game. He had his one final stint as a player in 1998 as part of the original Manila Metrostars in the Metropolitan Basketball Association./PN
