Welcome
to the ninth part of this series where we count down the best players in the
PBA that had the best careers.
Before
you check out the next batch, again I suggest you to check out the guidelines.
This is to calm the violent reactions I expect to unfold.
If you
wonder how this system works...
Like I
said in my early blogs, I started from top to bottom because the highest-ranked
players in this list are pretty obvious.
This
will be a long read.
Are
you ready for more?
Game
starts now!
81 RAFI REAVIS
RAPPING REAVIS
2002 – PRESENT
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Most
Improved Player
1,000
Offensive Rebounds
Top 10:
Rebounding Average
RANKED THIS HIGH:
He is
one of the MBA superstars who did well in the PBA. He is primarily known for
his rebounding which is why he holds one of the best rebounding averages in the
history of the league. He has played for Coca-Cola, Ginebra, and B-Meg – and
all of these teams won a title with him on the roster.
RANKED THIS LOW:
I know
he is a rebounder and nothing more but back in the MBA, he was also a post-up
threat. His wingspan makes it for him to scour shots in lieu for putbacks. I
know he’s likely on his way to slowing down but I guess in two to three years
he could claim an achievement award or two.
82 NOLI LOCSIN
THE TANK
1994 – 2005
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1x
Mythical Ten
5x
All-Star
Top
25: Rebounding Average
1x
Season Champion: Total Rebounds
1x
Season Champion: Total Defensive Rebounds
RANKED THIS HIGH:
There
was a time when Noli Locsin was an unstoppable force. At 6’3, he could bump out
the Balingits and the Bolados out of their sweet spots and terrorize the shaded
area offensively and defensively. Seven franchises and eleven seasons later, he
held a respectable 11.3ppg and 6.2rpg.
RANKED THIS LOW:
When
Locsin was traded by Ginebra to Pop Cola for Vergel Meneses, The Tank’s career
went downhill. He drifted from team to team that unlike Robert Jaworski, didn’t
know how to use him properly. But fact is the biggest reason why his star
dropped was because of the towering Fil-Ams that made Locsin vulnerable. And
while Alvin Patrimonio and Nelson Asaytono learned to adjust by nailing three
pointers, he didn’t.
83 WILLIE PEARSON
1984 – 1989
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1x
Mythical Five
1x
Mythical Ten
Rookie
of the Year
RANKED THIS HIGH:
He is
a scoring machine during his olden days and he finished his career with 12.7
points and 4.8 rebounds. He is the PBA’s first Fil-Am Rookie of the Year. He
debuted in 1984 for the Redmanizers which was also Crispa’s last PBA year. He
went on to play for Great Taste, Shell, and Alaska before returning to the US
in 1989.
RANKED THIS LOW:
I
could say that the reason behind the low rank is because he just played for six
seasons. However, by this time, players may have already checked his style. Ulitmately,
Pearson never thought of the PBA as a viable career because if he did, he would
stick around and milk his talents to the fullest just like the late 90’s and
early 2000’s Fil-Americans still playing in the PBA.
84 MIKE CORTEZ
THE COOL CAT
2003 – PRESENT
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1x
Mythical Ten
1x
All-Star
Top
25: Assists Average
RANKED THIS HIGH:
The
Cool Cat is the first pick overall in the 2003 PBA Draft besting former MBA MVP
Romel Adducul and PBA MVP Jimmy Alapag. He can score and orchestrate with
relative ease. He averaged in double figures for five consecutive times. During
his Alaska days, Tim Cone calls him out to be his eyes and ears on the court.
RANKED THIS LOW:
Despite
his amazing skills, he barely got the nod of the PBA faithful. He is only a
one-time all-star while guys like EJ Feihl and Bonel Balingit has three. Also,
being used as trade bait took a toll in his stats. If you think about it,
before the trade that sent him to San Miguel, he was better than LA Tenorio. He
scoring averages also slipped after he suffered an injury in the 2008-09
season.
85 ROGER YAP
THE RABBIT
2001 – PRESENT
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1x
Mythical Five
1x
Mythical Ten
4x
All-Star
1x
All-Defensive Team
RANKED THIS HIGH:
The
guy started as a sub for Purefoods, getting minimal fanfare, but after stellar
performances playing for Shell and Air21, Purefoods re-acquired the Cebuano ace.
He optimizes the team’s effectiveness whenever he is on board and stat-wise, he
gets a lot of rebounds, assists, and steals per game.
RANKED THIS LOW:
When
he was in PBL’s Chowking, he was a scoring powerhouse who always had the ball
during clutch situations. This was the only arsenal that left him when he
turned pro. His game changed drastically and he was relegated to his pass-first
persona. It’s impossible to jumpstart his offense though considering he plays
for a team that’s overloaded with talent and he is on the brink of retirement.
86 LA TENORIO
THE LIEUTENANT
2006 – PRESENT
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1x
Mythical Five
2x
All-Star
RANKED THIS HIGH:
As his
other Ateneo teammates struggle to find their place in the PBA, LA Tenorio is
eager to make his mark. Coming from the star-studded 2006 draft class, Tenorio’s
career took flight after he was traded to Alaska in exchange for Mike Cortez.
He has since blossomed into a marquee point guard and it looks like Alaska has
found their second coming of Johnny Abarrientos.
RANKED THIS LOW:
Tenorio
is just starting his career. Actually he wouldn’t be in this list had not for
his Mythical Five citation. If Tenorio continues to brace his PBA tenure with
Alaska, then he’ll likely retire with a Hall of Fame career. Once he gets
traded and loses the minutes he has with the squad, then we might see his successful
stint to slip by.
87 HARVEY CAREY
THE BULLDOG
2003 – PRESENT
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1x
Mythical Ten
2x
All-Defensive Team
500
3-Points Made
Top
25: Rebounding Average
1x
Season Champion: Total Rebounds
1x
Season Champion: Total Offensive Rebounds
RANKED THIS HIGH:
The
guy is a ferocious rebounder and a dependable performer whether starting or
coming off the bench. With his boundless energy, he can get his numbers despite
fewer minutes and less shot selections. People have been forgetting that since
2003, Carey has scored in double figures per season thrice. Come to think of
it, the guy is blessed because Talk N Text has been treating him well.
RANKED THIS LOW:
While
TNT has been giving him the minutes and the breaks, you can’t help but wonder
whether or not staying put with the Texters is such a good idea. With the
talent load the Texters have right now, sometimes you can’t notice his game.
Perhaps in another team he can have more minutes, more plays, and more
achievements.
88 DONDON AMPALAYO
THE MAGIC MAN
1986 – 95
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
2x
Mythical Ten
Rookie
of the Year
2x
All-Star
2x
Season Champion: Total Offensive Rebounds
RANKED THIS HIGH:
Cresencio
Ampalayo was groomed to become Ginebra’s next top dog following the retirement
of Francis Arnaiz. The Magic Man can pull off playing all five positions thus
the “Pinoy Magic Johnson” tag. He can run the floor, hit the long range bomb
and claim the board when it misses. He winded up his career with 10.0 points
and 5.7 rebounds per outing.
RANKED THIS LOW:
Despite
playing for ten seasons, The Magic Man was injury prone throughout his PBA
career. When Ginebra lost faith that he will have a healthy career, he was sent
to Alaska and his career when downhill from there. If he had more healthy
seasons, he could have been one of the best forwards the league has ever
produced.
89 EDWARD JUINIO
POCH
1994 – 2008
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
2x
All-Star
Most
Improved Player
2,000
Defensive Rebounds
1,000
Offensive Rebounds
500
Blocks
1x
Season Champion: Total Rebounds
1x
Season Champion: Total Blocks
RANKED THIS HIGH:
He was
the towering presence in Alaska’s vaulted triangle offense in the 90’s. He is
unafraid to mix it up with imports especially when it comes to rebounding
opportunities and given the chance, he would score a lot. He was also a gifted
passer which is why he was important in Tim Cone’s rotation.
RANKED THIS LOW:
Sure,
Juinio won a grand slam with the Aces. However, remember when he was traded
alongside Johnny Abarrientos for Ali Peek and Jon Ordonio? He had his best
offensive season with the squad where he posted 13.3ppg. The way he played for
the Pop Cola Panthers was like mixing Jun Limpot’s savvy with Dennis Espino’s
inside dominance! Who knows what would happen to his career if he didn’t have
too many seasons with Alaska.
90 RENE CANENT
1975 – 80
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Top
25: Assists Average
RANKED THIS HIGH:
He was
one of the players in this list that I haven’t seen play. When I checked his
stats, he played for Tanduay for six seasons and he checked in with a career
average of 13.8 points and 4.6 assists. When I asked my dad about his game
style, he said Canent was a speedster with a very smart basketball IQ. He once
dished 19 assists while playing for Tanduay during the early 80’s.
RANKED THIS LOW:
If he
played for another 2 or 3 seasons, he could have had 5,000 points and 2,000
assists. Instead, he chose to end his career with just six seasons. Fact is, he
pioneered the PBA at 29 and his good ol’ days were seen playing for the MICAA. And
yeah during those days, there were less awards given to players.
So we
saw a bunch of names from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s.
Ninety
were named and ten more to finalize this.
Game
over.
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