San Miguel Corporation Chairman and CEO Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco passed away on Tuesday. He was 85.
San Miguel team manager Gee Abanilla confirmed the news to ESPN5.com.
The PBA honored Cojuangco, who was a huge supporter of Philippine basketball, in a post on Twitter.
Chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corp., politician, diplomat, businessman, team owner, sports patron...
— PBA (@pbaconnect) June 16, 2020
Thank you for your countless contribution to the PBA and 🇵🇭 sports!
Our prayers and condolences to his family and loved ones.
Requiescat in pace! pic.twitter.com/J1UzU5fVzC
Cojuangco was one of the biggest patrons of Philippine sports, putting his imprint on various teams, such as the San Miguel Beermen, and the De La Salle Green Archers, as well as the Northern Consolidated Cement (NCC) national team.
The NCC-backed national squad won the 1981 and 1985 editions of the William Jones Cup. They also ruled the 1985 Southeast Asian Games basketball tournament and the Asian Basketball Confederation Championship in 1986.
After obtaining ownership of San Miguel Corporation in the 1970s, Cojuangco, who was also a former governor and congressman of Tarlac and ambassador to the United States, turned it into the biggest food and beverage conglomerate in the country.
Under his administration, the San Miguel Beermen, Ginebra San Miguel, and the Magnolia Hotshots became the most successful franchises in the PBA, amassing a total of 53 titles.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone and UST coach Aldin Ayo, who previously handled the La Salle Green Archers, also paid their respects on social media.
A tremendous friend to Philippine basketball. Our prayers for him and the Cojuangco family. The passing of an era. https://t.co/lb8L40oeiS
— Tim Cone (@manilacone) June 17, 2020
RIP Boss. Thank You for the Opportunity. Forever Grateful for Your Kindness and Generosity.
— Aldin (@AyoAV_official) June 17, 2020
Meralco coach Norman Black, who started his coaching career with the San Miguel franchise, said he is "very thankful and grateful for him giving me my first opportunity to work as a player coach for the San Miguel Beermen back in 1985."
"At that time he saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. I also join all sports fans and thank him for his patronage for sports for the last four decades," said Black. "He was personally responsible for the development of our RP team in the '80s and oversaw the NCC team led by coach Ron Jacobs that brought pride to the Philippines. The result was the development of some of our all time great PBA players. It is a sad day for Philipine sports."