Toyota and Crispa held a moment of silence before their semifinal game in the 1981 PBA Open Conference which happened a day after the death of former Tamaraws coach Fort Acuna.
Fans express shock over Acuna’s death
By Al S. Mendoza
Bulletin Today
Published Wednesday July 8, 1981
The local sporting world expressed shock yesterday over the death of Fortunato Acuna even as relatives of the former coach of Toyota kept a tight lip when asked about the possible reasons that might have driven Acuna to commit what police termed as suicide.
Acuna, who turned 33 last April 17, was dead on arrival at the Ospital ng Bagong Lipunan at 1:35 p.m. last Monday after reportedly drinking insecticide.
Police said the autopsy report from the National Bureau of Investigation will not be ready until after a week.
Reporters were shooed away by Acuna’s relatives yesterday as they tried to gather followup news at the United Methodist Chapel on EDSA Avenue and Kamuning, Quezon City, where the remains of Acuna lie.
At the Araneta Coliseum last night, players from Toyota and Crispa were joined by some 25,000 fans in a one-minute silent prayer in memory of Acuna just before the Toyota-Crispa game.
Toyota players decided to dedicate last night’s game to Acuna, who was their coach for almost three years until he was fired by management last Dec. 11, 1980, over a dispute with Pablo Carlos, Jr., then manager of Toyota.
“His demise is a big loss not only to Philippine basketball but to Philippine sports as a whole,” said Ricardo S. Silverio, Jr., the new team manager of Toyota.
Silverio said he was “shocked to learn of the tragedy that befell Acuna.” He added: “His piloting the team to two PBA Invitational titles in 1978 and 1979 attested to his noteworthy performance, for which we are all very grateful.”
A sister of Acuna confirmed a report that the dead ex-Toyota coach had left a note wishing that his body be cremated. The source said cremation will probably place after a week’s wake.
Acuna’s parent, who are in the United States, have already been notified and reported on their way to the Philippines.
The elder Acuna, a doctor of medicine, is a retired colonel at the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Acuna’s mother is a retired nurse.
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