Philip Cezar
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1, 1951 |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Jose Rizal College |
| PBA draft | 1975 / Elevated |
| Selected by the Crispa Redmanizers | |
| Playing career | 1975–1991 |
| Position | Power forward / Center |
| Number | 18 |
| Career history | |
| 1974–1984 | Crispa Redmanizers |
| 1985–1986 | Shell Helix Oilers |
| 1987–1988 | Great Taste/Presto |
| 1989–1991 | Añejo Rhum/Ginebra San Miguel |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
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Philip Cezar (born December 1, 1951) is a retired Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was part of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers ballclub that won two Grand Slams in 1976 and 1983. He won the Most Valuable Player award in 1980. He was also a many-time Philippine national team player in the 1970s. He was also known by the monikers Tapal King and The Scholar.
Coming from the JRU Heavy Bombers, some consider Cezar the best “thinking” power forward in the history of the PBA. He is the perfect example of a power forward with finesse unlike the today's power forwards like Eric Menk and Danny Ildefonso, and much earlier, Alvin Patrimonio and Nelson Asaytono, who rely primarily on sheer power and brute strength. Though barely 6'3" and less than 200 pounds, he was usually given the unenviable task of guarding tall imports from opposing teams. On defense, his unusually long arms served him in good stead, using them in his famous "umbrella-like" defense and two-handed shot-blocks. And though he played the No. 4 position for most of his career, he was like a second point guard on the floor, often orchestrating big plays and dishing out timely passes. He could also run the floor and finish fastbreaks with his patented "stretch" lay-up. He is best remembered as the very first one-on-one champion of the league when he defeated Ramon Fernandez in the finals of the 1979 Sprite One-on-One challenge where he won P25,000.00.
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.
In 2005, he was one of the twelve initial inductees to the PBA Hall of Fame alongside fellow Crispa players Atoy Co and Bogs Adornado, and Toyota stalwarts Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz and Fernandez together with former PBA Commissioners Leo Prieto, Emerson Coseteng and Atty. Rudy Salud as well as legendary Crispa coach and team manager, respectively, Virgilio "Baby" Dalupan and Danny Floro, and the late anchorman Joe Cantada.
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