Former Air Force football coach Berty Guanzon dies

Berty Guanzon, who coaching skills kept Philippine Air Force as a dominant football power well into the 1980s, passed away in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo on Sunday, September 12.

His daughter, Grace, told Rappler her 76-year-old father died from asthma. 

The easygoing and roly-poly Guanzon took over from Baltazar Dimasuay, the man behind Air Force’s conquests of the 1977 and 1978 Lobregat Cups.

Guanzon inherited a team led by master feeder Poly Arenal, top goal scorer Roberto Buenavides, stalwart skipper Eddie Dumago, and fearless goalie Noe Doctora. 

That was the lineup that dethroned San Miguel as the country’s top football club. The matches between Air Force and San Miguel were described as “championship matches” even if the title was not at stake yet, stimulating local football action. 

Even as Air Force stars’ were pirated by commercial teams, Guanzon kept the squad competitive by recruiting talent and being a good motivator.

“He was a good motivator. We were teammates. He knew us,” said Arenal.

Elmer Bedia, the deadly right winger Guanzon got from 1980 youth team, said: “He is like a father to me. I remember him as a big influence in my football career.”

“He taught us how to respect people and he humble,” Bedia said. 

With late Colonel Lope Pascual as team manager, Air Force was the team to play for as commercial teams began to disband in 1983. 

Guanzon handled the national women’s football team to the 4th Asian Cup Ladies Football Tournament in Hong Kong.

“We were part of that legacy (of Pascual and Guanzon) in the PAF and women’s football teams,” said Cristy Ramos, who captained the national women’s team.

Guanzon played for Air Force when it was still in the Second Division and until it was promoted to the First Division. 

Later, Guanzon became one of the trainers and helped recruit players who would become future stars. – Rappler.com