Teddy Alfarero (April 2, 1963 – May 5, 2004) was a Filipino former professional basketball player in the
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of twelve company-branded franchised teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia and is the se ...
.
Early life and high school career
Alfarero didn't play organized basketball until his senior year at
Lanao del Norte National Comprehensive High School. As a boy, he was tuned into music and played cymbals in his grandfather Enrique's 30-man orchestra that performed in town fiestas and weddings. His father was a saxophonist. He learned to play the sax and trumpet. He grew to 6-1 1/2 as a high school senior and was encouraged by brother Cipriano to take up basketball.
Collegiate/amateur career
In 1978, Alfarero took a 12-hour boat ride from Lanao to Cebu and reported to
University of the Visayas
The University of the Visayas (UV) is a private institution located in Cebu City, Philippines. It is the first school in the province of Cebu to attain university status.
History
Vicente Gullas (1898–1970) founded the University of the Visay ...
coach Jake Rojas for a tryout. Alfarero played a year for the Green Lancers then was recruited to play for
La Salle in 1980, where he played for four years.
He was an alternate on the Philippine youth team under coach
Turo Valenzona
Arturo "Turo" F. Valenzona (born November 5, 1942), is a former Filipino basketball player and head coach.
Valenzona played college ball for the Far Eastern University before eventually playing in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic A ...
in 1980 and a reliever on the national squad that saw action at the
Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championships in
Calcutta in 1981. He joined
Elmer Reyes
Elmer is a name of Germanic languages, Germanic Culture of the United Kingdom, British origin. The given name originated as a surname, a medieval variant of the given name Aylmer, derived from Old English ''æþel'' (noble) and ''mær'' (famous). ...
,
Ed Cordero and
Franz Pumaren
Franz Santos Pumaren (born December 5, 1963) is a Filipino former professional basketball player and coach. He played college ball for De La Salle University before playing professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is ...
on the Philippine team that won the gold medal at the
Southeast Asian Games in 1981. He also took trips to Kuwait, Singapore and China to play hoops.
His most memorable experience was playing as the starting center for the
Ron Jacobs-coached Philippine team that captured the Asian Youth crown in Manila in 1982. In the title game, he compiled 10 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes as the Philippines downed China, 74–63.
Professional career
In 1985, Alfarero turned pro and wore the
Great Taste colors after a brief stint with
Northern Cement as a PBA guest club the
year before. He was then acquired by
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
(a new franchise back then) in 1986 to be part of their inaugural roster. He went on to play for the Alaska Milkmen/Hills Bros. in a three-year pro career. Alfarero briefly returned to the PBA in the 1990 Reinforced Conference playing for
Presto Tivoli.
Death
On May 5, 2004, Alfarero died of complications from a liver ailment at the Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfarero, Teddy
1963 births
2004 deaths
Power forwards (basketball)
Centers (basketball)
De La Salle Green Archers basketball players
Philippines men's national basketball team players
Filipino men's basketball players
People from Lanao del Norte
Basketball players from Lanao del Norte
Great Taste Coffee Makers players
Alaska Aces (PBA) players
San Miguel Beermen draft picks