Nationality Filipino Listed weight 192 lb (87 kg) Number 5 Role Basketball Player Weight 91 kg | Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Pro career 1975–1995 Name Abet Guidaben Height 1.96 m | |
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College University of San Jose - Recoletos Education University of San Jose–Recoletos Similar Manny Victorino, Robert Jaworski, Jerry Codiñera | ||
Abet Guidaben The Pride of Camiguin
1 on 1 with Abet Guidaben.AVI
Alberto "Abet" Guidaben (born September 14, 1952) is a retired Filipino 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 Most Valuable Player awardee, in 1983 and 1987, joining a select few who are multiple winners of the award such as Bogs Adornado, Ramon Fernandez, Alvin Patrimonio, Benjie Paras, Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller, James Yap, and June Mar Fajardo.
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Collegiate and amateur career
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). Later that year, he and Crispa teammate Bogs Adornado were named to the Philippine team that won the 1973 Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) held in Manila. The two also suited up for the national team that played in the 1974 Mundo Basket (the World Championship) held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Crispa-Floro duo were again in the national team skippered by Jaworski for the 1974 Asian Games in Teheran.
Professional career
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 complimented 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. Unfortunately, he wound up as a journeyman of sorts having played for eight teams. Aside from Crispa and San Miguel, he also suited up for Manila Beer, Tanduay, Purefoods, Alaska Milk, Pepsi Mega and Shell Rimula X.
He finished his PBA career as the No. 2 all-time leading scorer with 15,775 points (behind Fernandez's 18,996), No. 2 all-time in total rebounds with 8,570, No. 2 in defensive rebounds with 6,197, No. 1 in offensive rebounds with 2,373 and No. 1 in games played with 1,081. He also had 2,284 assists, 340 steals and 922 blocks in 29,577:10 total minutes played (No. 3 behind Fernandez and Patrimonio). He finished with career averages of 14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 77.6% FT (2,875/3,707), 53.1% FG (6,420/12,092).
Retirement and later life
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 year 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 States, 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.
In 2010, he suffered from a serious ailment called Myasthenia Gravis and was confined in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for eight days. 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. He was again confined in the ICU as a result.
Personal life
Guidaben, with his wife, Maridol, has four children (Maria Elizabeth, JR, Michael and Katherine) and several grandchildren.