Francis Arnaiz

Francis Arnaiz
Personal information
Born	(1951-06-04) June 4, 1951 Bacolod City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight	152 lb (69 kg)
Career information
High school	St. Clement's Academy
College	Ateneo de Manila University
PBA draft	1975 / Elevated
Selected by the Toyota Super Corollas
Playing career	1971–1986
Position	Point guard / Shooting guard
Number	8
Career history
1971	MERALCO
1972	U/Tex
1973–1984	Toyota
1984–1986	Ginebra San Miguel
Career highlights and awards
PBA Hall of Fame (2005) PBA's 40 Greatest Players (2015) PBA's 25 Greatest Players (2000) 1982 PBA Mythical First Team (1982) 1976 PBA Mythical First Team (1976) 1975 PBA Mythical First Team (1975)

Francis C. Arnaiz (born June 4, 1951) is a Filipino former basketball player. He was best known as a player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), playing for Toyota and Ginebra San Miguel from 1975-1986.

Francis Arnaiz
Medal record

Men’s basketball
Representing Philippines
FIBA Asia Championship
	1973 Manila	Team competition

Early basketball years

Arnaiz had a love for sports and was shooting stuffed toys into a basket in early childhood. While studying at La Salle-Bacolod in elementary school, he competed in football and basketball. Football provided the speed and exceptional footwork, skills which would later develop him into an outstanding basketball player. He led his high school, St. Clement's Academy of La Paz, Iloilo City, to the PRISAA basketball championship. In college, he played for Ateneo de Manila which won the 1969 NCAA basketball championship during his rookie year.^[1]

In 1971, he began playing in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA), first with the MERALCO Reddy Kilowatts in 1971, the U/Tex Weavers in 1972 and the Toyota Comets in 1973.

He was a member of the Philippine men's national basketball team which won the 1973 ABC Championship and competed in the 1974 FIBA World Championship.

PBA career

Arnaiz was one of the original members of the Toyota franchise that joined the newly formed Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in 1975. Along with Robert Jaworski and Ramon Fernandez, he formed the troika of the vaunted Toyota offense. In fact, among the three players, he would have been the first to have won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award right in the very first season of the league in 1975 when media covering the PBA named him as the Basketball Player of the Year despite the fact that Bogs Adornado was the one named PBA MVP that year.^[2] During his Toyota years, the franchise won nine PBA titles while having memorable battles against arch-rival Crispa Redmanizers, going head-to-head, on and off the court, with Crispa's Bernie Fabiosa. Arnaiz became one of the most popular players on the team not only for his playing style, but also for his mestizo looks, which gained him a following among the female fans.

He was given the moniker "Mr. Clutch" for his propensity to hit clutch baskets during crucial moments of a game. He is known for looping layups against imports and local behemoths that were impossible to block, and booming outside shots.

After Toyota disbanded in 1984, Arnaiz followed Jaworski in a controversial move to Gilbey's Gin (now known as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel). Reprising their old backcourt partnership in Toyota, the duo turned the Gins into a perennial contender. However, he was sidelined due to a knee injury during the 1986 Open Conference when Ginebra San Miguel won its first PBA title. He quietly retired from basketball shortly afterwards.

Arnaiz is considered as one of the most explosive guards in the PBA. He was a member of both the 5,000 and 10,000 points club having finished his career with a total of 10,292 points for an average of 16.8 points per game. He was also a member of the 2,000 assists club. He was the other half of the dreaded Batman and Robin tandem of Toyota, the other being Jaworski himself.^[3]

Retirement

After his playing career, Arnaiz immigrated to the United States, resided in California. He worked for the California state government while also becoming an evangelist. Arnaiz claims in an interview that his life abroad was quite different from his life in the Philippines. In 2004, during one of Arnaiz's visits to the Philippines, he was interviewed by various media outlets recalling several memories from his playing days to his life after retirement from basketball. He was supposed to play in 2003 Crispa-Toyota Reunion Game and the 2005 PBA Greatest Game but failed to do so due to his prior commitments.

Arnaiz is named as one of the PBA's Greatest Players and was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2005.

Quotes

from Rudy Salud, former PBA Commissioner - "He fired up the fans with his looping layup. He had that style, and looks, and movement. That fired up the fans."
from Leo Prieto, the first PBA Commissioner - "He was a very fast player and made some moves that were exceptional for a small player. Because of his football background, he had the legs to compete, to go over the defensive player."
on his PBA career - "I was not like Sonny (Jaworski) while I was still playing basketball in the PBA. I took so many things and people for granted. Despite my career records and many championships, I never tried to be the best I could be. I never gave the game my all. And that is so sad. Looking back, I realize today that championships, trophies, achievements, and records are all so temporary. Sooner or later, someone else or another team will win the same championships, break those records and win the same trophies. They are never permanent. Ultimately, what no one can take away from you is when you can say to yourself at the end of the day, win or lose that 'I did my best.'"

PBA Career Highlights

3-time Mythical First Team Selection (1975, 1976, 1982)
9-time PBA Champion (all with Toyota)
Member, 5,000 and 10,000 points club
Member, 2,000 assists club

Other Highlights

References

External links

Philippines squad – 1973 ABC Championship – Gold medal

4 Alberto Reynoso 5 Abet Guidaben 6 Jimmy Mariano 7 Robert Jaworski 8 Francis Arnaiz 9 Rogelio Melencio 10 Ramon Fernandez 11 Bogs Adornado 12 Ricardo Cleofas 13 Manny Paner 14 Yoyong Martirez 15 David Regullano Coach: Valentin Eduque

Philippines squad – 1974 FIBA World Championship – 13th place

4 Jimmy Mariano (c) 5 Ricardo Cleofas 6 Rogelio Melencio 7 Robert Jaworski 8 Francis Arnaiz 9 Abet Guidaben 10 Ramon Fernandez 11 Bogs Adornado 12 Yoyong Martirez 13 Manny Paner 14 Alberto Reynoso 15 David Regullano Coach: Valentin Eduque

The 25 Greatest Players in Philippine Basketball Association History

Johnny Abarrientos Bogs Adornado Ato Agustin Francis Arnaiz Ricardo Brown Allan Caidic Hector Calma Philip Cezar Atoy Co Jerry Codiñera Kenneth Duremdes Bernie Fabiosa Ramon Fernandez Danny Florencio Abet Guidaben Freddie Hubalde Robert Jaworski Jojo Lastimosa Lim Eng Beng Samboy Lim Ronnie Magsanoc Vergel Meneses Manny Paner Benjie Paras Alvin Patrimonio

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