Jimmy Mariano
Birth dateApril 19, 1941
Birth placeMalabon, Rizal, Philippine Commonwealth
Death dateDecember 7, 2025 (aged 84)
Height6 ft 4 in (193 centimetres)
Weight165 lb (75 kilograms)
CollegeUE
Career start1965
Career end1978
Years 11965–1967
Team 1Ysmael Steel Admirals
Years 21971
Team 2Meralco Reddy Kilowatts
Years 31972
Team 3Concepcion Motorola
Years 41975
Team 4Concepcion Carrier
Years 51976
Team 5Quasar TV Makers / Fiberlite Fiberglass Makers[citation needed]
Years 61976–1977
Team 67-Up
Years 71978
Team 7Filmanbank Bankers
Cteam 1Great Taste Coffee Makers
Cyears 11983
Cteam 3UE
Cyears 31984–1985
Cteam 4Oman
Cyears 41985–1989
Cteam 5Presto Tivolis
Cyears 51989–1990
Cteam 6Red Bull / Agfa
Cyears 61995–199?
Cteam 8UE
Cyears 81998–1999
Cteam 9ANA Water Dispenser
Cyears 91999–2000
Cteam 10Surigao Warriors
Cyears 102000–200?
Cteam 11PCU
Cyears 112002–2003
Cteam 12PSBA
Cyears 122005
Cteam 13St. Clare Caloocan
Cyears 132007–2010
Highlights

As player:

As head coach:

Jaime "Jimmy" L. Mariano (April 19, 1941 – December 7, 2025), also known by his moniker Mr. Cool, was a Filipino basketball player and coach. As a player, he played for the Philippines men's national basketball team in the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics. As coach he coached the UE Red Warriors to the 1984 and 1985 UAAP championships, and the Presto Tivolis win the 1990 PBA All-Filipino Conference.

Playing career

College

Mariano played for the UE Red Warriors in the 1960s under Baby Dalupan, winning two University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) titles.[1][2] That UE team was coached by Baby Dalupan.[3]

Club

Mariano played Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA). He played for teams like for Ysmael Steel Admirals, Meralco Reddy Kilowatts and Concepcion Carrier from 1965 to 1972. He is a 4 time MICAA champion, with one of his titles being the 1971 championship won with Meralco.[4][5]

He also played in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) from 1975 to 1979.[6] Carrier joined the inaugural season of the PBA before Mariano played for the original 7-Up franchise. Mariano became part of the Filmanbank Bankers after the company behind the brand bought the 7-Up franchise in 1978.[3][6]

National team

Mariano played for the Philippine national basketball team. He was part of the Philippines' roster for the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok.[7]

Mariano also appeared at the Olympic Games. He was part of the Philippines team which played in the 1968 edition in Mexico City.[8] Mariano was the flag bearer for the Philippines at the 1972 Games in Munich, Germany. He helped the national team win the 1973 ABC Championship (now the FIBA Asia Cup).[9]

Mariano was the team captain of the national basketball team in the 1974 FIBA World Cup.[10]

Coaching career

Mariano began his coaching career with Presto Tivolis in the PBA. He was removed from his role after admitting he "did not intend to win" in a game against Crispa in one of the conferences of the 1983 season.[11][12][13] He was replaced by Baby Dalupan.[12][13] The next year, Mariano became the head coach of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, earning them two titles in the UAAP Championships in Season 47 and 48.[14] From 1985 to 1989, Mariano was coach of the Oman national team.[15]

Ahead of the 1989 PBA Reinforced Conference, Mariano returned to Presto in August of that year[11][15][16] and led the team to the 1990 All-Filipino championship, his only PBA title.[17] He returned to Oman to take a role as a sports development consultant with Dalupan taking over once again as Presto coach. Mariano returned to the Philippines after three years.[18]

Mariano took on various positions around 1995, including at Xavier School[19] and Red Bull in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).[20] Red Bull, which was briefly known as the Agfa Film Experts, won the 1996 All-Filipino Championships beating Stag Pale Pinsen in the finals and finished sixth place at the 1996 William Jones Cup in Taiwan.[21][22][23]

In 1998, Mariano replaced Francis Rodriguez as coach of the UE Warriors.[24] His second stint with UE lasted until Season 62 (1999), and was replaced by Angelito Esguerra in January 2000 ahead of Season 63 (2000).[25] He joined Ana Water Dispenser of the PBL, leading the new team to a second place finish at the PBL Challenge Cup in February 2000.[26][27] In the same year, Mariano joined the Surigao Warriors of the Metropolitan Basketball Association.[28][29]

Mariano then coached the PCU Dolphins in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He left the team after finishing eighth and last in Season 79 in 2003.[30] Mariano presided in the try-outs of PCU players Gabby Espinas, Jayson Castro and Beau Belga; the Dolphins would win the title in 2004 under Ato Tolentino.[31]

Mariano was appointed coach of the Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA)–Quezon City Jaguars in April 2005 after a one year hiatus.[32] His stint with the PSBA ended just five months later in September 2005.[33] By 2007, Mariano was with the St. Clare Saints of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities.[34] Mariano was then later elevated by St. Clare as its athletic director in 2011.[35] By 2014, he was handling the Cainta Catholic College high school varsity team and said that he was no longer interested in returning as a head coach for UE.[14]

Personal life and death

Mariano was born on April 19, 1941. His hometown was Malabon.[8]

He was honored by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas during the fifth window of 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers in 2018.[31] In August 2025, he was honored as the coach of the last UE team that won the UAAP title in 1985.[36]

Mariano died on December 7, 2025, at the age of 84.[2]

References

  1. ^ Dy, Richard (7 December 2025). "Olympian Jimmy Mariano passes away at 84". The Manila Times. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Former PBA player Jimmy Mariano passes away". ABS-CBN. December 7, 2025. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  3. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan (7 December 2025). "PBA legend, Olympian Jimmy Mariano passes away". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  4. ^ Montejo, Mark Rey (8 December 2025). "Jimmy Mariano, a two-time Olympian and champion coach, passes away". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Caging icon Boy Arazas dies at 66". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 4 October 2004. p. A26. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  6. ^ Cruz, Gerry (22 March 1987). "Stars of yesteryear: Where are they now?". Manila Standard. p. 11. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  7. ^ Mendoza, Al S. (3 September 2002). "Nothing's impossible". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A17. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Mariano, Jaime "Mr. Cool"". The Living Archive of Olympians PH. Philippine Olympians Association. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. ^ Ramos, Gerry (7 December 2025). "Olympian, PBA player, champion coach Jimmy Mariano dies aged 84". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  10. ^ Henson, Joaquin (host); Mariano, Jimmy; Adornado, Bogs; Martires, Yoyong (guests). "Exclusive Adornado, Martires, Mariano: PBA Legends On FIBA World Cup Then & Now Part 2" (Podcast). Playitright TV. pp. 4:45. Retrieved 2023-08-20. – via Youtube.
  11. ^ Japa, Raffy (26 August 1989). "Mariano back with Presto". Manila Standard. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  12. ^ Japa, Raffy (19 August 1989). "Valenzona, Mariano among Presto's bench prospects". Manila Standard. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  13. ^ Tagle, Tito (2 March 1989). "Salute to Co & Co.". Manila Standard. p. 22. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  14. ^ "Jimmy Mariano on being considered for UE coaching job: 'Huwag na nila ako pag-pantasiyahan'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  15. ^ Japa, Raffy (27 August 1989). "Bench reunion". Manila Standard. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Purefoods' woes mount". Manila Standard. 1 November 1989. p. 32. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  17. ^ Nazareno, Rocky (5 September 1995). "Presto champ again". Manila Standard. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  18. ^ "Sta. Lucia shopping for new coach?". Manila Standard. 26 September 1995. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  19. ^ "Ateneo, Xavier shine in first Jesuit meet". Manila Standard. 5 December 1995. p. 18. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Cristy, Cone at Forum". Manila Standard. 5 December 1995. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  21. ^ Eroa, Dennis (25 January 2000). "PBL Final: It's Ana Water vs Welcoat". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 19. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  22. ^ Atencio, Peter (12 July 1996). "Agfa extends title series". Manila Standard. p. 20. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  23. ^ "PBL-Afga ends up sixth". Manila Standard. 27 August 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  24. ^ "UAAP slams Metroball for player piracy". Manila Standard. 9 February 1998. p. 14. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  25. ^ Atencio, Peter (12 January 2000). "Esguerra is UE coach; Mariano to Surigao team". Manila Standard. p. 12. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  26. ^ Eroa, Dennis (27 January 2000). "Dream Match: Ana, Welcoat start PBL series today". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. B12. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  27. ^ Eroa, Dennis (1 February 2000). "Welcoat sweeps Ana in PBL tilt". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  28. ^ Atencio, Peter (13 January 2000). "Gonzalgo takes over from Mariano as Ana Water coach". Manila Standard. p. 12. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  29. ^ Luarca, Roy (18 March 2000). "Pasig to test Surigao today". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. B13. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  30. ^ Reyes, Marc Anthony (2 September 2004). "NCAA Final Four: Altas Dolphins 1-2". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A17. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  31. ^ "Mariano recalls time Castro, Belga vied for spots in PCU lineup as walk-ins". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  32. ^ "New Jaguars' coach". The Manila Times. 21 April 2005. p. B6. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  33. ^ "Jaguars give new mentor Cezar stirring welcome". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 14 September 2005. p. A26. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  34. ^ Reyes, Marc Anthony. "'Computer war' sizzles as Naascu opens today". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A24. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  35. ^ "Herrera St. Clare coach, sets tryouts". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  36. ^ Jurado, Theodore P. (2025-08-04). "UE honors Red Warriors". Journal News Online. Retrieved 2025-12-07.