Rosalio "Yoyong" Martires, a basketball great who later ventured into showbusiness as a comedian and later a politician in Pasig City, died on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, his family announced.
He was 77.
The razzle-dazzle Cebu-born point guard carved a name for himself in Manila during the pre-PBA days of the MICAA and became a member of the last Philippine basketball team to play in the Olympics in 1972 in Munich.
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Martires later played 10 years as a professional in the PBA, all for the San Miguel/ Royal Tru-Orange franchise which was also his team in the old MICAA, before retiring in 1982.
The former Southwestern University star later ventured into acting, mainly in comedy flicks alongside Tito, Vic and Joey, and entered politics in his adopted city of Pasig, where he served as vice mayor and councilor.
Friends and family said the fleet-footed guard died due to complications brought by pneumonia.
He was last seen in the sports community on April 24 gracing a tribute held for the 1972 Olympic team, joining former teammates Jimmy Mariano and Marte Samson,
