This banker is a PBA legend

BASKETBALL players and other athletes could learn a lot from the life lessons of Rafael “Cho” Sison Jr., the current regional head of the Visayas-mindanao area of East West Bank. The 65-year-old Sison is a living proof that there is life beyond basketball.

Getting hooked on basketball

JUST like a typical Filipino youth, Sison and his older brothers got hooked playing hoop. Later, the 1.85 meter tall Sison tried out and got the go signal to join the Ateneo de Davao juniors team where he played for two years. Those two years were memorable for him as he experienced the joys of being a champion. After graduation, he joined the school’s varsity squad in 1973. At that time, his hardcourt heroes were the spitfire Rene Canent of the Yco Painters, the late Renato “Sonny” Reyes also of Yco, Yoyong Martirez of San Miguel, former senator Freddie Webb also of Yco and Tanduay, and the late Rogelio “Tembong” Melencio.

He had a fruitful stint with the seniors team as they won four intercollegiate titles in Davao. At that time, some of the known players in the province were Cesar Ijares and Alberto Gutierrez. Later, Ijares played for Crispa in the amateur while Gutierrez saw action with Tanduay in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Sison also competed in the National Intercollegiate where he pitted his skills against the best dribblers from Manila. “I had the chance to play against the likes of the great Lim Eng Beng, Ateneo stalwarts Fritz Gaston, Steve Watson, Padim Israel and Maling Estrella,” Sison told the Business-Mirror in an e-mail interview.

“I was amazed by the skills of the Manila-based cagers and I learned a lot playing against them. Fritz was a very crafty point guard,” he said.

During his sophomore year at Ateneo de Davao, scouts noticed his basketball skills and tried to recruit him to play in the former Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association ( MICAA). Sison got excited by the offer and informed his father about the opportunity waiting for him.

Father knows best

HIS father, however, advised him to go back to Davao and finish his studies.

“When I was offered to play basketball in Manila during my second year in college at the Ateneo de Davao, I had to consult my father as I would when faced with major decisions in my life,” Sison explained.

“My father was a strict man with military background and his advice was for me to continue my college education, graduate and then I could do whatever pleases me,” Sison added.

Sison admitted it was a tough order to follow because his childhood dream was to play big time basketball. Nevertheless, he trusted his father’s judgement and accepted the decision with a heavy heart. However, he thought that was the big break he was waiting for in his basketball career.

After graduation in 1977, Sison landed a job at the Bank of the Philippine Islands. Interestingly, his older brother, the father of former UAAP dribblers, Brian and Brandon, was the one who advised Sison to work at BPI. While working at the bank, he got an offer from Cfc-presto to join their amateur ball club. “This was a path my father wanted for me; to work for a prestigious bank and pursue a career in basketball at the same time,” he said. By practicing time management, Sison was able to juggle his time, performing his tasks at the bank and playing basketball with Cfc-presto.

Luckily, Sison’s bosses gave their support by allowing him to avail himself of leaves to be able to play basketball during certain days of the week.

Sison said he received P1,000 a month while working with BPI in 1980, and he had a salary of P2,000 a month playing for the Gokongwei ball club.

Career in the PBA

IN 1980, Sison joined the PBA and was drafted by Presto Ice Cream. Turning professional enabled him to earn more than double his salary of P3,000 at that time. “After two conferences, my salary was doubled again. In addition, I received bonuses in recognition of good performance with my team and as an individual player,” he recalled.

In 1981, he was named PBA Rookie of the Year. He said playing for Presto was a great experience because he was given a golden opportunity to play long minutes (average of 38 min/game) in most games and be mentored by former Olympian and Coach Jimmy Mariano.

After almost three years playing in the PBA, Sison experienced the most dreaded moment for a basketball player—a career threatening injury. It was in a game against Toyota where Sison suffered a right knee injury, which required a major operation that later on proved to be a career ending injury. “This was when I realized how my father’s guidance helped me to pick up the pieces and turn to another option aside from basketball,” Sison said.

Fulfilling PBA career

ALTHOUGH Sison only had a threeyear stint in the PBA, he described it as “fulfilling and a very unique experience.” It was also memorable for him when he was named Rookie of the Year in 1981. The PBA gave Sison the honor to play beside and against the best players in Philippine basketball history, train under the best coaches and interact with the support staff. “Although a major knee injury marked the end of my basketball career, the invaluable lessons of discipline, passion, hard work, perseverance and the winner instinct left their mark in my life forever. I have held on to them even in my career in banking,” he said.

Sison said it was a memorable experience because basketball players also hog the limelight, like when he was featured in magazine and newspaper sports write-ups, and when he appeared on TV interviews.

“Those three years are truly unforgettable.”

Beyond basketball

KISSING his basketball career goodbye, Sison started to grow his banking career. He said his basketball experience helped him become an effective bank executive.

There’s no big difference between banking and basketball, according to Sison. In the banking world, like in basketball, you are required to strategize and analyze the competition, he said.

The value of education

SISON said young people should treat education as the greatest gift that parents could give to their children.

“I am blessed that I have been given a chance to be molded by the best educators, the Jesuits. My Ateneo education instilled in me the meaning of the words ‘a man for others,’ and ‘Fortes et Fides’ [with fortitude and faith],” he said.

Likewise, his Ateneo education imparted in him the value of perseverance in building the discipline needed to be an outstanding professional basketball player and, also, “the passion, focus and hard work when I pursued my career in banking.” He said the Jesuits also taught him to keep faith in God whether in facing the challenges in life or thanking the Lord for all the blessings bestowed upon you.

Sison has always lived with the consciousness to help, especially those who have less in life. He said this was based on his experience when both his parents fell ill. He said the family was blessed to have generous relatives like his uncles and aunts who took care of them during those challenging times.

Sison was a responsible family man and good provider. All his four children have a college degree and are all professionals.

“I’m very grateful for where God has brought me as I face the next chapter of my life,” he said.

SISON