Yes, there is a professional basketball league in the Philippines, the PBA. The teams are corporate sponsored, with names like “Red Bull,” “San Miguel,” and “Talk N Text.” And, yeah, they’ve got some tall guys… by Filipino standards. The tallest player on the Air 21 Express is Mark Andaya, standing 6’8”.
When Myrna and I had a house in Jersey City, the cable company carried PBA games. Jersey City TV is pretty quirky. Plenty of Indian programming, too. Occasionally, I’d watch Indian music videos.
According to Wikipedia:
“The Philippines is home of the world’s second oldest and Asia’s first professional basketball league, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and for 30 years, the league help shaped the modern history of Philippine basketball. Before the professional era, the Philippines national basketball team dominated Asian basketball and were among the world’s best in the 1950s.”
“Today, basketball is the most beloved and popular entertainment in the Philippines, and is widely reputed to be the national sport of the Philippines.”
Basketball was established in the Philippines in 1898! Amazing.
The big news today is that Ginebra is playing Purefoods in Dubai, the first every PBA game in the United Emirates. Thousands of Filipino guest workers will attend the game.
I’m just beginning to learn about Filipino basketball. I’ll be reporting in the future on the players, the teams, the player development systems and the salaries.
Hi! i'm Bernard from manila. You may be surprised to know that the some notable American basketball players from the NBA, CBA, ABA, NCAA, and USBL have already played in the PBA. the most famous among them are Billy Ray Bates, Keith Smart, Richie Frahm, Scott Burell, Cedric Ceballos, Tremaine Fowlkes, Darvin Ham, Earl Baron, Tony Harris, Lenny Cooke, Chris Porter, 2007 CBA player of the year Galen Young (currently playing for San Miguel), Jerald Honeycutt, among others...assistant coach Chip Engelland of the Denver Nuggets is a naturalized Filipino and has played in the PBA for a couple of years before going back to the US.
A couple of Filipino-Americans were drafted in the NBA: Raymond Townsend (Golden State Warriors) in the late 70's, and Ricardo Brown (Houston Rockets) in 1981. Ricardo Brown eventually played for the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA until he retired his jersey in the early 90's.
A handful of Filipino PBA players like the Living Legend Robert Jaworski, Atoy Co, Johnny Abarrientos, Renren Ritualo, Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Mark Caguioa, etc. have been scouted by the NBA teams but that's the farthest these local players has ever achieved so far: being scouted.
Posted by: Burn Gutierrez | Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 09:15 PM
The tallest Filipino PBA players are EJ Feihl-Welcoat Dragons (7'1"), Marlou Aquino-Sta. Lucia Realtors (6'10"), Asi Taulava-Talk N Text Phone Pals (6'9"), Sonny Thoss-Alaska Aces (6'8"), JR Reyes-Welcoat Dragons (6'8"), Andy Seigle-Ginebra Kings (6'10"), James Walkvist-free agent (6'10"), Mic Pennisi-Red Bull Barakos (6'9"), Yancy de Ocampo-Talk N Text Phone Pals (6'9"), Rafi Reavis-Ginebra Kings (6'8"), Bonel Balingit(6'9")...just to name a few....
Posted by: Burn Gutierrez | Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 09:41 PM
Thanks for the comments, Burn.
Do you live in the Philippines?
Posted by: Shouting Thomas | Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 02:11 PM
yes, i live in the philippines. and into basketball very much (just like any other pinoys) :-)
just to let you know, i also play as a guitarist in an indiepop rock band called Vinyard here in manila. still struggling to finish recording our debut CD though. studio rates are so high that it's taking us quite a while (two years, haha) to finish recording. funds! funds! hehe. you may see our band profile at http://www.odysseylive.net/artists/show/vinyard-music
thanks for taking time to view my comments, senor...:-)
Burn
Posted by: Burn Gutierrez | Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 08:52 PM
Other notable "tall" Filipino basketeers:
Eman Samigue (PBL)- 6'9"
Japeth Aguilar (US NCAA Div. 1 player)- 6'10"
Gian Chua (age:17),Cali high school - 6'8"
Mark Andaya (Express, PBA)- 6'8"
Alex Crisano, free agent - 6'7"
Rommel Adducul (Beermen,PBA)- 6'6"
Eric Menk (Kings,PBA)- 6'6"
Dennis Espino (Realtors,PBA)- 6'8"
Migs Noble (Beermen, PBA) - 6'9"
Dorian Pena (Beermen, PBA) - 6-6"
Nic Belasco (Alaska Aces, PBA) - 6'7"
Billy Mamaril (Kings,PBA) - 6'6"
Michael Holper (Kings, PBA) - 6-7"
Mark Pingris (Giants, PBA) - 6'6"
John Ferriols (Aces, PBA) - 6'6"
Nino "KG" Canaleta (Express, PBA)- 6'5"
Mark Telan (Express, PBA) - 6'7"
Homer Se (Express, PBA) - 6'5"
Anthony Washington (TNT, PBA) - 6'7"
Don Allado (TNT, PBA) - 6'7"
Kelly Williams, (Realtors,PBA) - 6'7"
Mike Hrabak (Barakos,PBA) - 6'8"
Paolo Bugia (Barakos, PBA) - 6'5"
Enrico Villanueva (Barakos,PBA) - 6'5"
Carlo Sharma (Barakos, PBA) - 6'5"
Jun Limpot (Giants, PBA) - 6'6"
Don Camaso (Giants, PBA) - 6'6"
Danny Ildefonso (Beermen, PBA) - 6'6"
Danny Seigle (Beermen, PBA) - 6'6"
Omanzie Rodriguez (Beermen, PBA) - 6'8"
John Arigo (Tigers, PBA) - 6'5"
Ervin Sotto (Beermen, PBA) - 6'8"
Poch Juinio (Aces, PBA) - 6'5"
Gilbert Lao (Dragons, PBA) - 6'7"
Rob Wainwright (Dragons, PBA) - 6'6"
Adonis Sta. Maria (Dragons, PBA) - 6'5"
EJ Feihl is listed at 7'2" but is actually only about an inch shorter, at 7'1"
more taller players coming up from the minor leagues (PBL, NBC, and college ball)
Posted by: Burn Gutierrez | Monday, April 23, 2007 at 07:26 AM
Thats great!! but I think it would be better if you will published the Philippine Basketeers Photo collection adjacent to their names :)
(^_,^)
Posted by: Denis Somoso | Saturday, June 02, 2007 at 06:20 AM
wow nice post..
anyway just wanna share to you the BLOG for TEAM PILIPINAS BASKETBALL NATIONAL MENS TEAM...
http://teampilipinas.blogspot.com/
Posted by: RNHalawi | Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 03:08 PM
hi my name is Tarik Robinson and I'm an American player with pro experience in America and Mexico.I'm currently home after participating in a couple invite only NBA team workouts, now i'm trying to play in Asia.I really think the PBA or PBL is the league for me.I've been researching teams for their contacts but cant find any contacts if possible can you help me.I have a website with my stats,resume,etc... www.ultimatepropointguard.com and I'm willing to tryout for a team and pay my way out there from America.I can be reached by phone at 1-973-342-0422 ,1-973-790-1239, 1-973-321-1000 ex.20219 or e-mail @ ultimatepropointguard@yahoo.com
thank you.
Posted by: Tarik Robinson | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 08:27 PM
i just browsed your website and saw your agent's name: Jon Tan Domantay. sounds like a Filipino.
i will try to look for contact details of some of the PBA's agents in the US. but as far as i know, most of them are located in West Coast. i'll see what i can do, Mr. Robinson. i'll also refer you to some of the teams here.
you can play as an import for any team in the PBA but i doubt you will be eligible for the PBL as only locals and Filipinos with foreign blood are allowed to play.
Posted by: Burn Gutierrez | Friday, October 05, 2007 at 12:31 AM
to Mr.Gutierrez, i also play basketball and i need a agent. i plan to move to guam in the near future. i currently play for nike promo team but soon i will relocate, i would be more than greatful if you could pass along some of that info about the pbl and it's agents. Thank you
Posted by: Ladale Lunnie | Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 02:32 PM
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Posted by: Stacey Kema | Monday, December 03, 2007 at 12:07 PM
I need to get some input from philliphine basketball fans. I am Alex Crisano's sister and wish he could just play ball without all the politics. His passion for ball playing and he does love the people will keep him in the game. And he is a
PHIL-AM and that I am 100%. Remember u can stop him from playing but u can never take what he has and that's GOD's GIFT- TALENT!!! He has just begun. THANKS
Posted by: anna | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 01:04 PM
alec cristano is my boy. I never saw him play but we kicked at the embasy club n manilla when I was stationed. that dude was pulling all the hotties.
Posted by: eric ehley | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 06:23 AM
tell your bro alex to respect people here and it will be a lot easier for him if he stops asking like a bully
Posted by: A-Holer | Friday, September 26, 2008 at 04:22 AM
why should FOREIGNERS be included in the PBA????!!!!!!!!!!! they should be BANDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they should not be allowed to play in te pBA!
Posted by: amao! | Wednesday, October 01, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Alex has come a long way. He does respect the people in his country and had embraced the language and culture as his own. We are very proud of him. Sometimes until u walk in somebody's shoes u will never know why he does what he does. And if your so opposed to foreigners playing don't support or watch the PBA because every team has a foreigner that plays. God Bless
Posted by: anna | Friday, October 03, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Nice info about the PBA :) it's like a history post :P hehe thanks!
Posted by: PBA | Wednesday, October 08, 2008 at 06:15 AM
My name is Raymond Townsend, as the first and only "Pinoy" to ever play in the NBA and the first and only Asian-American to ever be drafted in the NBA First Round, I am honoredand grateful that my organization, the Golden State Warriors, on November 21st,2008, will be hosting their first "Filipno Heritage Night" versus the Chicago Bulls. To no surprise the Arena was sold out in thirty days. I will be involved as part of this historic event. Now, the Warriors are planning another Filipino heritage Night for late March or Early April. Little did the NBA know that Basketball is the unifying sport of our people. Hopefully, they will honor our people and our culture at all the venues throughout the NBA woth special nights like this. Thank you for acknowledging me and this accomplishment that has stood alone since the beginning of the National Basketball Association. I hope on day to see another young "Pinoy" reaching his dream of competing at the best level of basketball in the world, the NBA.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Raymond Townsend
Former Golden State Warrior
RT Basketball Executive Director
Posted by: Raymond Townsend | Friday, November 14, 2008 at 10:56 AM
i think there are several errors that should be corrected in the height of players. Danny Siegle is taller that Dennis Espino Dennis Espino is at6'6 1/2 , Danny Siegle is at 6'7 source PBA actual measurements
Posted by: tallthomasian | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 05:33 AM
Hey tallhomasian!
How tall are you?
Posted by: Shouting Thomas | Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 09:27 AM