By Kevin Estrada
MANILA--While the whole nation was in Christmas mood, the basketball community was mourning one of its own legends again.
Four days after the death of La Salle legend Lim Eng Beng, Ron Jacobs, the last coach to win the Asian Championship for the Philippines, passed away Thursday night after a 13-year struggle with stroke.
In a tweet by PBA commentator Quinito Henson, the former San Miguel coach died at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Makati and is supposed to turn 73 on Sunday.
Sad to report Ron Jacobs passed away tonite at 830 in Makati, he would've turned 73 on Dec 27-he was a great basketball coach n dear friend
— Quinito Henson (@TheDeanQuinito) December 24, 2015
Jacobs led the Northern Cement-sponsored national side to its last FIBA Asia, then known as the ABC, triumph in 1985, along with its sweep of Manila Beer in that year's Reinforced Conference. The team was led by future San Miguel legends Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, and Yves Dignadice and naturalized players such as current Spurs shooting coach Chip Engelland.
He was supposed to lead the national team again in 2002, but a stroke ended his coaching career and he was succeeded by his protege, current Talk 'n Text head coach Jong Uichico.
Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada
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