Coach Ron Jacobs dies on Christmas eve

MANILA, Philippines -- Former national team and San Miguel Beermen coach Ron Jacobs has passed away on the eve of Christmas day. 

He was 72. 

Quinito Henson, a friend of Jacobs and a columnist for The STAR, broke the sad news on Twitter on Thursday evening, a few hours before Christmas. 

Sad to report Ron Jacobs passed away tonite at 830 in Makati, he would've turned 73 on Dec 27-he was a great basketball coach n dear friend

— Quinito Henson (@TheDeanQuinito) December 24, 2015

Jacobs suffered a stroke on Dec. 22, 2001.  Since then, he lived on a wheel chair unable to speak and walk until his death. 

The former Loyola Marymount coach will be best remembered for handling the Northern Consolidated Cement, the old version of the Gilas program in the 80's. 

Under Jacob's watch, the NCC won six titles including the 1981 and 1985 William Jones Cup and the 1985 ABC Championship, the forerunner of the FIBA Asia Men's Championship. By virtue of winning the ABC title that year, the NCC team qualified to join the 1986 FIBA World Championship but failed to do so due to the political turmoil that gripped the country that eventually led to the EDSA People Power Revolution. 

Jacobs briefly handled the San Miguel Beermen in the late 90's and was tapped to coach the 2002 Busan Asian Games-bound national team until he suffered the near fatal stroke. His protege Jong Uichico went on to handle the team and finished fourth after a heartbreaking loss to host South Korea in the semifinals. 

Jacobs coached a San Miguel Beermen led by the bull-strong Nelson Asaytono. He won two third place finishes despite a lineup bereft of stars.  He was named PBA Coach of the Year in 1997, his only season as a head coach in the league, and was later on enshrined to the PBA Hall of Fame 10 years later.