Boybits Victoria was named as the PBA’s Rookie of the Year in 1994.
Emmanuel “Boybits” Victoria Jr. made a name for himself in Philippine basketball in the 1990s. He was an athletic floor general who can mesmerize you with his handles before pulling up for a midrange jumper. He’s also one of the few guards during his heyday who can dunk the basketball. His playing style was beautiful to watch, in local parlance, “pogi gumalaw.”
In the wee hours of Thursday, Ciaz and Nathan Victoria announced on Facebook that their father Boybits passed away on Wednesday at 6:55 p.m. due to acute myocardial infarction. Countless tributes to the 90s legend were posted across social media as soon as the news broke. Without a doubt, Victoria left a significant mark in the game he loved.
Here are some of the other things to remember about the impressive legacy of the seven-time PBA champion.
1994 rookie year in the PBA
Victoria was picked third overall by the Swift Mighty Meaties out of San Beda in the 1994 PBA Draft. He belonged to a stellar batch with reliable forwards Noli Locsin and Rey Evangelista getting selected ahead of him, along with talented guys like Poch Juinio and Vince Hizon in the first round. Still, Boybits rose to the occasion under coach Yeng Guiao’s tutelage, and won the 1994 Rookie of the Year plum.
From hotshot rookie to dependable veteran
As a young promising point guard, Boybits almost won a Grand Slam with the Sunkist Orange Juicers in the 1995 PBA season. When he was traded to the San Miguel Beermen before the break of the new millennium, he was asked to be a backup for SMB’s top ball handler in Olsen Racela. He accepted his new role and it resulted in Boybits winning five more titles, spanning from 1999 to 2001.
“Nung nakalipat na ko ng San Miguel, the first thing coach Jong [Uichico] told me was not to compete with Olsen. Just be a reliever. Do what we’re asking you, coach Ron [Jacobs] was there so I cannot say no. Everything was set right off the bat. So, I just did what they’re asking me to do,” Victoria said on PBA Rush's "Shootaround" three years ago.
He held his own against the very best
Boybits played in the same time as the great Johnny Abarrientos. As we all know, Johnny A is considered by many as the Philippines’ GOAT point guard. Victoria, however, was able to give good account of himself, facing one of the best to ever set foot on a PBA floor.
“High school ako, every time kalaban ko si Johnny, zero ako palagi. I was so afraid of him… Pagdating ng PBL [Philippine Basketball League], there was one game na tinalo ko si Johnny, Crispa siya noon, A&W ako. Then pagpasok ko kay Coach Yeng, tinalo ko siya nung unang-unang game namin… Ang ginawa sa’kin ni coach Yeng, parang ang daming challenging words na sinabi niya sa’kin. That’s why I strived more to compete with Johnny,” Victoria recalled.
Rest in peace, Sir Boybits. Thanks for the many wonderful basketball memories.