Cisco Oliver
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Israel "Cisco" Oliver (born December 28, 1947) is a retired American professional basketball player.
Oliver stood 6'6" tall and weighed 210 lbs. He played for Elizabeth City State University and was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the tenth round of the 1970 NBA draft. He later played in the very first season of Asia's first professional basketball league, the Philippine Basketball Association during its inaugural season in 1975 with the Mariwasa-Noritake Porcelain makers. Oliver spent three more seasons in the PBA with two teams, also playing for Presto/Great Taste in his final year in 1978.
TV Commercial
Cisco Oliver appeared in the 1970s Philippine Television commercial from the Milk brand Alaska in tandem with the young Michael Uytengsu. (son of Wilfred Uytengsu, Sr. who would later become the team owner of the Alaska Aces PBA ballclub) In that commercial, Oliver and Uytengsu played one-on-one basketball where the kid outplayed the big man. Towards the end, they exchange fives and the young kid was drinking Alaska. Oliver asks "What's that man! and he responded "Alaska, man!" and "yeah" after Oliver asks him again if it tastes delicious.
PBA Career stats
| Season | Team | GP | FG-PCT | REBS. | PTS | AVE. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Noritake | 16 | 49.20 | 210 | 546 | 34.10 |
| 1977 | Presto | 19 | 51.33 | 170 | 628 | 33.05 |
| 1978 | Honda | 11 | 50.46 | 155 | 412 | 37.45 |
| 1978 | Great Taste | 13 | 49.10 | 145 | 416 | 31.92 |
References
- PBA celebrates 35th anniversary
- PBA Season One: 1975 @ Philippinebasketball.ph