PBA: Jerry Codiñera challenges PBA big men to break his blocking record

PBA legend Jerry Codiñera has challenged the current generation of big men to break the 25-year-old blocking record he set in the league in 1989.

 

Codiñera, who was recently feted by Purefoods by retiring his jersey no. 44, holds the most number of blocks in a game in the PBA with 11.

 

"Dapat ma-break nila 'yun kasi they have all the height e," Codiñera said. "This goes to those big guys there. Sila Japeth (Aguilar), (Greg) Slaughter, June Mar (Fajardo)."

 

Aguilar, Slaughter, and Fajardo have an average height of 6 feet 11 inches, six inches taller than the former Purefoods star Codiñera who stands 6 feet 5 inches.

 

The "Defense Minister" set the record against San Miguel, which acquired NBA player Keith Smart as their import for the third conference that year. Smart is now an assistant coach for the Miami Heat.

 

"There was one instance, siguro in six possessions, anim na beses kong binlock 'yung Keith Smart," Codiñera recalled. "Naawa ako dun nung binlock ko talaga 'yun, napapaupo."

 

He then proceeded to issue one block each for the other players to finish with 11 swats.

 

"Pinauwi nga 'yun e, si Keith Smart for the next day," he said. "Sabi ni Samboy (Lim), 'Kinawawa mo 'yung import.' Sabi ko, 'Hindi pare, hinahabol ko lang 'yung record.'"

 

Codiñera said he was influenced by the blocking prowess of Crispa Redmanizers' Philip Cezar, who stands even shorter than him at 6 feet 3 inches.

 

"Isa sa favorite ko din 'yun, si Kuya Ipe," Codiñera said of the "Tapal King." "Magaling siya bumlock, lastikman." — JDS, GMA News