'Ironman' owes it all to PBA

It was the late sportscaster Dick Ildefonso who called Jimmy Noblezada the "Ironman" as a tribute to a bruising style that made him a defensive byword during his PBA days from 1975 to 1981.

- JOAQUIN M. HENSON

It was the late sportscaster Dick Ildefonso who called Jimmy Noblezada the "Ironman" as a tribute to a bruising style that made him a defensive byword during his PBA days from 1975 to 1981. Today, Noblezada is 74, a survivor of open heart surgery, four strokes and a surgical mesh operation in the stomach last year. While playing in the PBA, Noblezada's focus was to save for the future of his family.

"Ang buhay parang basketball," he said. "Noong bagong kasal kami ni Gold, first quarter lang sa buhay namin, parang jumpball, at may Plan A at Plan B sa pamumuhay. Ang success ng tao depende kung panalo, regardless kung by two points or 50 points at ang tawag ko sa pagkamatay ay end-game."