Jose “Boyet” Sison, 58

SPORTS BROADCASTER Jose “Boyet” Javelona Sison passed away on Saturday, April 16. He was 58. 

Sison underwent surgery due to an intestinal illness but went into cardiac arrest two days later. In a social media post announcing the date of his operation, the veteran sports media personality had asked for prayers and thanked those who sent him messages of support. 

“Papa B” to his colleagues, Sison was most known for anchoring long-running radio and television sports programs. He hosted DZMM’s “Fastbreak” alongside Freddie Webb for 13 years, and “Hardball” on ANC with Bill Velasco for 14 years.

Many of Sison’s colleagues in the broadcast industry paid tribute online after news broke of his passing.

“Throughout all the battles we fought – even with one another – you remained kind. You still saw the good in everyone, Boyet. I will miss that most of all,” Velasco said in a Facebook post.

On April 18, ABS-CBN’s primetime newscast TV Patrol aired a tribute video looking back on Sison’s life and career as a broadcaster. He  last  appeared in that program as presenter of the segment “Alam N’yo Ba?”, which began airing in October of 2021. 

ABS-CBN Integrated News Head Ging Reyes remembered Sison’s bright personality and thanked him for stepping out of his comfort zone with “Alam N’yo Ba?”. “Sports and music were his expertise but I asked Boyet to try something new in TV Patrol and he bravely did,” said Reyes. 

Before his broadcasting career, Sison was a disc jockey in Metro Manila and announcer for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).