Philip Cezar

Philip Dudley Cezar (born December 1, 1952)

PBA career During his time in the PBA, Cezar won 15 league championships.

In 2000, he was named as one of the PBA's 25 greatest players of all-time in elaborate awards ceremonies that highlighted the 25th anniversary of the league.

In 2005, he was one of the twelve initial inductees to the PBA Hall of Fame alongside fellow Crispa players Atoy Co and Bogs Adornado, and Toyota stalwarts Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz and Fernandez together with former PBA Commissioners Leo Prieto, Emerson Coseteng and Atty. Rudy Salud as well as legendary Crispa coach and team manager, respectively, Virgilio "Baby" Dalupan and Danny Floro, and the late anchorman Joe Cantada.

He finished his PBA career as the No. 6 all-time leading scorer with 12,077 points, behind Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Patrimonio, Atoy Co and Asaytono. He also is the fifth all-time best rebounder with 5,834 total rebounds behind Fernandez, Guidaben, Jerry Codiñera and Alvin Patrimonio. Cezar was No. 2 in shotblocks with 1,370. He also had 3,130 assists (3.4 assists per game), 599 steals, converted 2066/2767 free throws in 28127:05 minutes played in 918 games. He, along with Fernandez, are the only two players in PBA history who has accumulated at least 12,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 1,000 shot blocks. Member, 5,000 & 10,000 points clubs Member, 1,000 offensive rebounds club Member, 2,000 defensive rebounds club Member, 2,000 assists club Member, 900 & 1,000 shotblocks clubs Member, 500 steals club

Coaching career After his retirement, Cezar went to coaching. He served as a long-time assistant coach to his former longtime rival Jaworski during the champion teams of Ginebra in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In 2000, he coached the San Juan Knights to a championship in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association beating the Negros Slashers in six games, 4-2.

In 2004, he was named commissioner of the Universities and Colleges Athletic Association for its third season. In 2005, he accepted the job as the new head coach of the Philippine School of Business Administration.

In 2013, he was appointed by then Manila mayor Joseph Estrada as head of Manila Sports Council. He was the coach of the Manila Stars in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He held both positions until May 2019.

Political career Cezar served as vice mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila under mayor Jinggoy Estrada from 1992 to 2001. Cezar joined mayor Estrada and his father, ousted president Joseph Estrada, in the hours before their arrest in their residence in North Greenhills. After their arrest, Cezar was thus appointed as acting mayor of San Juan while mayor Estrada and his father were detained due to charges of plunder. Cezar retired from politics in 2001.

On October 8, 2021, Cezar filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) to run for vice mayor of San Juan in 2022 under Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino. He was the running mate of San Juan Knights team manager Felix Usman, who was running for mayor. However, he and Usman lost to incumbent vice mayor Warren Villa and to incumbent mayor Francis Zamora, respectively. In October 2024, Cezar filed his COC to run for mayor of San Juan in 2025.