PBA great Ramon Fernandez turned a deaf ear to labels and accusations thrown at him during his playing days, allowing instead his graceful and near-unstoppable style inside the court to do the talking.
But not anymore; not now that he has retired as one of the greatest basketball players the country had ever produced.
This time he minds. And this time he takes action.
Fernandez, one of only two players to win four MVPs in the PBA, made this clear yesterday in reaction to recent remarks made by against him by Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco Jr., who tagged Fernandez as, among others, a game-fixer.
“I wouldn’t mind his claims if I’m an active player… ‘ahh nagbebenta ‘yan si Mon’, I wouldn’t mind that. I’ll let my basketball do the talking,” said Fernandez during the PSA Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City.
“But now it’s a different story. Respetuhin naman niya ang office ko bilang assistant secretary to the Office of the President,” said Fernandez, referring to his role as a board member and one of the commissioners of the Philippine Sports Commission.
Fernandez, 63, said that he is pushing through with his plans to file a libel case against Cojuangco, who last week criticized and questioned the qualification of the Maasin, Southern Leyte native as commissioner of the PSC – the government’s sports agency.
“He is entitled to his opinion,” said Fernandez, referring to the 82-year-old Cojuangco, recently reelected to a fourth straight four-year term as POC chief.
“It’s hard to argue with Peping Cojuangco,” Fernandez said.” “The old man believes in his own lies. I’ll give him the opportunity to prove that (allegation) in the proper forum, I’m bringing him to court in Cebu City to answer all his accusations.”
Fernandez, nonetheless, said he is open to sitting down with his adversary, but only after the libel case has been filed and a decision handed down.
Fernandez bared that Atty. Ramsey Quijano, head of the PSC’s Arbitration and Grievance Committee, is the one helping him ready his case against Cojuangco.
“He will be working with his partners in their law firm to file the case early next week,” said Fernandez, who has regularly questioned the relationship between the POC and the PSC during the time of Chairman Ritchie Garcia, and the way government funds had been dispensed between the two agencies.
In a colorful career spanning decades, Fernandez suited up for teams like Toyota, Manila Beer, Tanduay, Purefoods TJ Hotdogs and San Miguel Beer.
He won a total of 19 PBA championships.