Ex-PBA star Danny Florencio passes away

Danny Florencio, one of the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) all-time elite scorers, passed away on Saturday in San Francisco, California. He was 70. (Photo: PBA)

MANILA — Danny Florencio, one of the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) all-time elite scorers, passed away on Saturday in San Francisco, California. He was 70.

Florencio, known by the monikers “Daredevil Danny” and the original “Skywalker”, became well known during his collegiate, professional, and national team careers for his hang-time moves and mid-range jumpers that made him one of basketball’s big scoring machines during the 70’s.

The 5-foot-10 former UST King Goldie starred for YCO and Crispa in Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) before becoming one of the holdovers of U-Tex directly brought to the PBA when the league was founded in 1975.

Arguably his best moment in the PBA came in 1977 when he, still playing for the original 7-Up franchise, dropped 64 points against Toyota, which stood as the most scored by a local until 1989.

Interestingly enough, Florencio was acquired by Toyota the following year to backstop the team’s “Big 3” of Mon Fernandez, Robert Jaworski, and Francis Arnaiz.

Florencio retired in 1983 and was named among the 40 Greatest Players in PBA History. He was inducted to the PBA Hall of Fame in 2007.