Joaquín Rojas

Joaquín Rojas (6 July 1938 – 30 January 2018) was a Filipino basketball player who played in the Summer Olympics.[1]

Joaquín Rojas

Personal information
Born	July 6, 1938 Maasin, Leyte, Philippine Commonwealth
Died	January 30, 2018 (aged 79)
Nationality	Filipino
Career information
College	University of the Visayas
Position	Point guard
Career history
–	Yutivo
–	Ysmael Steel Admirals
–	Mariwasa
1975–1976	Toyota Comets
Career highlights and awards
PBA champion (1975 First and Second Conference)
Medals Representing  Philippines Asian Basketball Confederation Championship 1967 Seoul Team 1969 Bangkok Team

Career

Rojas is known for playing in the point guard position. He played for the collegiate squad of the University of the Visayas and was part of the squad that made an upset against Ateneo in the 1957 intercollegiate.[2]

Rojas went on to play at the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association as he was recruited by Julian Macoy to play for Yutivo in the 1960s but a year later moved to Ysmael Steel Admirals where gained significant reputation.[2] and later with Mariwasa with Narciso Bernardo and Edgardo Roque. He also played for the Toyota Comets during the first two seasons of the Philippine Basketball Association in 1975 and 1976.[3] He helped won titles for Ysmael, and Mariwasa. Rojas also aided Toyota in securing titles during the inaugural 1975 PBA season.[2]

Rojas was part of the Philippines national basketball team from 1965 to 1971. He competed at the 1966 Asian Games which saw the Philippines losing its chance to win a medal after losing to South Korea in the quarterfinal. However Rojas helped the national team secure the 1967 ABC Championship[2] and then competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[3] In the 1969 edition of the ABC Championship, the Rojas with the national team lost the title to South Korea[2] settling for bronze.

Death

Rojas died on 30 January 2018.[3] He has been ill for the last few years of his life. Rojas' wake was hosted in Imus, Cebu City.[2]

References

1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Joaquín Rojas". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
2. "Teammates salute late Jake Rojas, great court-general of '60s PH national team". Rappler. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
3. Villaruel, Emmanuel (31 January 2018). "So long, Jakero". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.