Turo Valenzona Explained

Arturo "Turo" Valenzona
Birth Date:5 November 1942
Nationality:Filipino
College:FEU
Team:Muntinlupa Cagers
Position:Consultant
League:MPBL
Years1:1970s
Team1:YCO Painters
Years2:1975
Team2:U/Tex Weavers
Coach Start:1972
Coach End:2011
Cyears1:1972–1991
Cteam1:FEU
Cyears2:1982–1984
Cteam2:Gilbey's Gin Kings
Cyears3:1985–1987
Cteam3:Tanduay Rhum Masters
Cyears4:1987–1988
Cteam4:Hills Bros. Coffee
Cyears5:1988
Cteam5:RFM-Swift Hotdogs
Cyears6:1989
Cteam6:Crispa 400
Cyears7:1990–1997
Cteam7:Diet Sarsi/Swift (assistant)
Cyears8:1992–96
Cteam8:San Sebastian
Cyears9:1997
Cteam9:Pop Cola 800s
Cyears10:2000–2005, 2011
Cteam10:San Sebastian
Cyears11:2018
Cteam11:Muntinlupa Cagers
Highlights:As head coach:

Arturo "Turo" F. Valenzona (born November 5, 1942), is a former Filipino basketball player and head coach.

Valenzona played college ball for the Far Eastern University before eventually playing in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association and later in the Philippine Basketball Association with U/Tex.

Coaching career

After his playing years, Valenzona coached the FEU Tamaraws to several championships in the UAAP and the Intercollegiate tournament. He gave Solidmills one interclub and one MICAA title, and led APCOR to six straight championships. He was also coach of the RP Youth team in 1978 and 1980. He assisted coach Nic Jorge during the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games. Valenzona was a low-key coach who made very smart decisions on the bench, particularly in clutch situations.

In the PBA, Valenzona became head coach of Gilbey's Gin at the start of the 1982 season, replacing Nemie Villegas, he led Gilbey's to three runner-up finishes from 1982-1984. The following year, the La Tondeña ballclub decided to replace him but he was soon back at the bench when Tanduay offered him a coaching job later that year, replacing Orly Castelo. In 1986, Valenzona had a memorable year, leading Tanduay Rhum Makers to their first PBA title and two straight championships. He added another title when the Rhum Makers went home with the Open Conference title in 1987.

He moved to the Hills Bros bench in the third conference of the 1987 PBA season and led the Coffee Kings to a runner-up finish. Aside from the PBA, he simultaneously coached a commercial ballclubs in the PABL, first with Golden Rice Cereals in late 1984, and later on with Hope Cigarettes, RFM-Swift's and the comebacking Crispa 400 in 1989.

Valenzona led the collegiate team San Sebastian College to four consecutive men's basketball championships in the NCAA from 1993-1996.[1] He was the first president of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines in the 1990s.

Political career

Valenzona ran for councilor of Manila from the fifth district in 2016.[2]

Coaching record

Collegiate record

Season Team Elimination roundPlayoffs
GPWLPCTFinishGPWLPCTResults
1972FEU10Champions
1973FEU10Champions
1974FEU10
1975FEU102nd101,000Finals
1976FEU101st1101.000Champions
1977FEU10
1978FEU12Eliminated
1979FEU121st1101.000Champions
1980FEU121201.0001stNo playoffsChampions
1981FEU121201.0001st1101.000Champions
1982FEU12
1983FEU12Champions
1984FEU12
1985FEU12
1986FEU14Eliminated
1987FEU1486,5714thEliminated
1988FEU1459.3576thEliminated
1989FEU14122.8571st202.000Finals
1990FEU1486.5715thEliminated
1991FEU14113.7862nd1101.000Champions
1993SSC-R1082.8001stNo playoffsChampions
1994SSC-R101001.0001stNo playoffsChampions
1995SSC-R1091.9001st2201.000Champions
1996SSC-R12102.8331st2201.000Champions
148 6 .571 4th4 2 2 .500 Finals
149 5 .643 2nd5 3 2 .600 Champions
1411 3 .786 1st3 3 0 .1000 Champions
149 5 .643 2nd4 2 2 .500 Finals
147 7 .500 6th Eliminated
147 7 .500 4th1 0 1 .000 Semifinals
1987–2005 totals 196132 64 .673 24 15 9 .625 14 championships

Notes and References

  1. Web site: San Sebastian: One More Go. Philippine Basketball. 15 January 2013.
  2. Web site: Henson . Joaquin M. . Sportsmen as candidates for office . 2022-04-15 . Philstar.com.