Danny Florencio
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Quiapo, Manila, Philippines | September 5, 1947|||||||||||||||||
Died | February 25, 2018 Pittsburg, California, U.S. | (aged 70)|||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Filipino | |||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | |||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) | |||||||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||||||
College | University of Santo Tomas | |||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 1975–1983 | |||||||||||||||||
Position | Shooting guard / small forward | |||||||||||||||||
Number | 8, 44, 22 | |||||||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||||||
1968–1969 | YCO Painters | |||||||||||||||||
1970–1973 | Crispa | |||||||||||||||||
1974–1976 | U/Tex | |||||||||||||||||
1977 | 7-Up | |||||||||||||||||
1978–1982 | Toyota | |||||||||||||||||
1983 | Galerie Dominique | |||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Danilo Zoleta Florencio (September 5, 1947 – February 25, 2018) was a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was known as "Daredevil Danny" and the original "Skywalker" in Philippine basketball.
Collegiate/Amateur Career
Florencio played for the
While donning the national team colors, he also played in the MICAA via the YCO Painters in the late 1960s, which was coached by no less than the great Caloy Loyzaga.[2] In the early 1970s, he, along with Jun Papa, became the cornerstones of the powerhouse Crispa squad. However, in 1973, he, along with four others, were meted a lifetime ban by the MICAA due to game-fixing allegations, which was later lifted.
He was the hero of the Philippine team that beat South Korea in the 1967 FIBA Asia Championship, scoring the Philippines' last four points, including two clinching free throws for an 83-80 win.
Professional career
Florencio played in the PBA from 1975 to 1983 with the U/Tex Wranglers, the Toyota Super Corollas, 7-Up, and the Galerie Dominique Artistas.[3] Though generously listed as 5'10", he stood 5'9" at the most, but he distinguished himself with daring drives to the hoop capped by never-before-seen hangtime moves and twisting undergoal stabs. He also had an accurate jumpshot from up to 18 feet. His aerial feats earned him the nicknames "Daredevil Danny" and, decades after hanging up his sneakers, the "Original Skywalker", in reference to the more popular Samboy Lim, who admitted idolizing Florencio.
Florencio's eight seasons in the league were highlighted by numerous all-time records. In 1977, he averaged a 32.3 points per game in 39 games played, the highest tallied by any local player in a season.[4] He was also the ninth player to achieve the 5,000 point-plateau, reaching the milestone on his birthday in 1981. He scored at least 50 points four times, at least 40 points six times, and at least 30 points eight times in his eight-year stint as a pro.
On November 5, 1977, he became the first local player in the PBA to score more than 60 points in a game. He tallied 64 points in an import-laden conference and led all locals in scoring that year. This was later broken by Allan Caidic.
At the end of his career, he ranked 11th in the all-time scoring plateau with 5,791 points, eighth in scoring average, and 13th all time in steals.
Retirement and later life
Florencio would later be recognized as one of the
Death
In Pittsburgh, California, he suffered a stroke and he died on February 25, 2018.[6]
References
- ^ Luzano, Icy. "Danny Florencio". www.varsitarian.net. The Varsitarian. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ "Philippine Basketball in Review (Part 3 – The MICAA Days)". August 31, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ Sports-Reference.com - Danny Florencio Archived October 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Dy, Richard. "PBA great Danny Florencio says he hasn't seen a Filipino player who comes close to Mon Fernandez - to this day". www.spin.ph. SPIN.ph. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ Velasco, Bill. "Danny Florencio: the original Skywalker". www.philstar.com. Philippine Star. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
- ^ Hernandez, Ernest (February 25, 2018). "PBA Legend Danny Florencio passes away". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
External links
- Danny Florencio at FIBA
- Danny Florencio at Basketball-Reference.com
- Danny Florencio at Olympedia