380. PBA LEGEND: ROBERT JAWORSKI SR. The Basketball Icon as a Product Endorser

BIG J, for Nescafe Master Roast, Print Ad, 1989

One of the most popular and celebrated basketball icons of the Philippines, Robert Vincent Salazar Jaworski Sr (born March 8, 1946) is the so of American-Polish , Theodore Vincent Jaworski and Ilocana Iluminada Bautista Salazar. As a student, he  became a well-known collegiate basketball player for the University of the East, leading the “Red Warriors” to back-to-back victories at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) meet in 1965 and 1966. That earned him a place in the basketball team that went on to compete at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games, and at the Asian Basketball Championships, where his team placed first, beating the host country, Korea.

 WATCH THIS CERVEZA NEGRA TV featuring JAWORKSI (1978)

His amateur career began in 1967 when he joined the YCO Painters under coach Carlos Loyzaga. He then suited up for Meralco in 1970. After being banned by the Basketball Association of the Philippines in a mauling incident during a game against Crispa-Floro (which caused him to miss the 1972 Olympics),  he was reinstated in 1973 to the national team.

 “Big J”, as he was called, joined the newly-formed Toyota Comets after his Meralco stint, and he officially became a PBA player in 1975 after the Toyota Comets became one of the league's founding franchises of the league.  He played with Toyota until 1984, and it was there that he became an MVP in 1978.

 WATCH JAWORKSI'S ANEJO RUM COMMERCIAL:

He then joined Ginebra San Miguel, staying with the team for 14 years (184-1998), which would become the most popular Jaworski-led team in Philippine basketball history. As a playing coach, he and his team won the 1986 Open Conference championship finals. He also coached the Philippine team that won Silver at the 1990 Asian Games.

In 1991, Jaworski won his third title at the expense of Formula Shell of the PBA that a team came back from a 3–1 deficit to win the championship.

 WATCH JAWORSKI'S JUVELON COMMERCIAL (1983)

Ginebra’s performance faltered from 1992-95 due to PBA budget limitations, but rebounded in 1996 with new top players that enabled the team to win a 4th championship in 1997 vs. Alaska Milkmen.

Fifty year old Jaworski's last game in the PBA was in March 1997 in a game held at Dumaguete City. He ran for the Philippines senate and won a seat during the May 1998 elections but was defeated when he ran for re-election in 2004.

WATCH JAWORSKI'S GINEBRA "BIDA" COMMERCIAL:

As the country’s most-well known PBA player, Jaworski’s influence cannot be denied. He was sought after by advertisers and agencies for his pulling power, and some of his well-known commercials included TIMEX (“The Tough Watch”), GINEBRA  promotional plugs, Añejo AÑEJO RUM, NESCAFE Master Roast, among many others.

 Recently, his son Robet “Dudut” Jaworski Jr. , who also played in the PBA  along with his fater, announced in 2021 that Robert Sr., age 76, was suffering from a rare blood disease.

SOURCES:

Cerveza Negra Promo 1978 Philippine TV Ad ( w/ Jaworski ),, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvMFXEay4e8, uploaded by ADman1909

1983 Juvelon E+ TVC feat. Robert Jaworski, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTCrLoj-ZLU, uploaded by莢豌豆本舗

MANNY PACQUIAO & ROBERT JAWORSKI - ANG BIDA SA HARDCOURT at sa BOXING RING, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0etF9mUM_v8, Uploaded by DCRJReloaded02

Jaworski's Anejo Rum Commercial, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhu3-5DSrLA, uploaded by Alamat ng PBA.