Enrico Villanueva

Last updated

Enrico Villanueva
Enrico Villanueva - NLEX - 2015-1209 (23617588396).jpg
Villanueva with the NLEX Road Warriors in 2015
Personal information
Born (1980-06-23) June 23, 1980 (age 43)
Pasay, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school Ateneo de Manila University
College Ateneo de Manila University (1998–2002)
PBA draft 2003: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Batang Red Bull Thunder
Playing career2003–2017
Position Center / power forward
Career history
2003–2007 Red Bull Barako
2007–2008 San Miguel Beermen
2008–2009 Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants
2009–2012 Barangay Ginebra Kings
2012–2013 Barako Bull Energy Cola
2014 GlobalPort Batang Pier
2014 Air21 Express
2014–2017 NLEX Road Warriors
Career highlights and awards

Jose Enrico Pascual Villanueva (born June 23, 1980) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He last played for the NLEX Road Warriors of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Contents

Amateur career

Villanueva first played for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in the UAAP Juniors division leading them to numerous winning seasons and championships. He moved to the college ranks in 1998 and led the Ateneo Blue Eagles to several final four appearances and two UAAP Finals appearances, eventually winning the basketball crown in 2002 over their rivals, the De La Salle Green Archers.

He also had several chances to win the Most Valuable Player award but lost to DLSU's Don Allado in 1999 and teammate Rich Alvarez in 2000 and 2001 before finally winning it in his final season in 2002.

In the Philippine Basketball League, Villanueva began playing with Blu Detergent in 1999 before leading the Ateneo sponsored Hapee-NENACO team to the PBL title in 2002 over his former team Blu.

PBA career

Batang Red Bull Thunder

In 2003, Villanueva applied for the 2003 PBA draft, in one of the deepest drafts in PBA history. He was eventually selected seventh overall by Batang Red Bull Thunder. In his rookie season, he averaged modest numbers of 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds playing a limited role as a reliever of veterans Davonn Harp and Mick Pennisi. [1]

However, after Harp and Pennisi were shelved for failing to further prove their Filipino lineage (Pennisi has since returned to the league), he saw his playing time increase along with his production. Despite a sorry performance in the 2004-05 PBA Philippine Cup, he managed to lead Red Bull to a fourth-place finish in the 2005 PBA Fiesta Conference. By season's end, he was named as the Most Improved Player by the league and became the new face of the franchise.

In the 2005–06 PBA season, he became a two-time All-Star representing the North All-Stars. He led Red Bull to the 2005–06 PBA Fiesta Conference championship where he was named as the Best Player of the Conference over Purefoods' Kerby Raymundo.

He again led the Bulls to the finals in the 2006 PBA Philippine Cup but lost to Purefoods, 4-2, in a rematch of the Fiesta Cup finals. By season's end, he was included in the PBA Mythical Team but lost in the MVP race to Purefoods' James Yap.

San Miguel Beermen

In May 2007, Villanueva was traded to the San Miguel Beermen for Rommel Adducul. At the time the trade was being consummated, he was playing for the national team. [2]

Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants

On March 26, 2008, Purefoods center Rommel Adducul announced that he had cancer and would not be able to play while getting treatment. His team, Purefoods, was then forced to look for a legit center and turned to Villanueva to fill the void. In a four-team trade, Purefoods acquired Villanueva, sending energetic forward Marc Pingris to San Miguel (known as Magnolia at that time). [3]

Barangay Ginebra Kings

In 2009, Villanueva was then shipped to Ginebra in a three-team trade which involved the Kings, Purefoods and Burger King. [4] While playing for Ginebra, he reunited with college teammates Rich Alvarez and Paolo Bugia, and was tasked to back up oft-injured Eric Menk.

Barako Bull Energy Cola

In 2012, Villanueva was shipped to Barako Bull via a complicated five-team, eight-men trade. [5]

On November 9, 2012, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury after hurting his right knee in a game against Air21. [6] He incurred a similar injury two seasons ago on his left knee while playing for Ginebra.

GlobalPort Batang Pier

In 2013, Villanueva was traded to GlobalPort Batang Pier for Willie Miller and Hans Thiele. In his first official function in his new team, he appeared on stage together with the GlobalPort players during the 2013 PBA draft. [7] However, only appeared seven games in a GlobalPort uniform as he was still recuperating from his injuries.

Air21 Express/NLEX Road Warriors

On March 18, 2014, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud approved the trade that sent Villanueva to Air21 Express for Carlo Sharma and Ronnie Matias. [8] When NLEX bought the franchise from Air21, he was one of the veteran players absorbed by the new team, now known as NLEX Road Warriors.

On October 13, 2014, he stated that he skipped most of last season as he underwent tedious rehabilitation process in both knees for him to get back healthy for the next season. He also mentioned that the influx of younger, athletic, and bigger players has challenged him to “reinvent” himself to find his place in the rotation of incoming NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez. [9]

PBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GSGames started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

[10] [11]

Season-by-season averages

YearTeamGPMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2003 Red Bull 4319.7.431.000.5564.51.0.2.47.4
2004–05 Red Bull 7429.3.446.000.4916.51.7.6.611.7
2005–06 Red Bull 6730.4.433.167.5338.02.3.41.312.9
2006–07 Red Bull 5823.7.441.154.4725.91.4.5.710.7
San Miguel
2007–08 Magnolia 3927.8.467.000.4546.91.2.5.710.3
Purefoods
2008–09 Purefoods 3629.3.387.167.6418.51.0.6.710.5
2009–10 Barangay Ginebra 4920.0.418.000.5665.21.2.4.56.7
2010–11 Barangay Ginebra 3118.5.430.000.5965.81.3.4.46.7
2011–12 Barangay Ginebra 3820.0.452.000.5795.01.1.2.46.7
2012–13 Barako Bull 1425.9.382.167.6457.72.1.4.510.1
2013–14 GlobalPort 74.0.000—1.000.3.1——.3
Air21
2014–15 NLEX 3417.4.413.000.6482.9.9.4.35.0
2015–16 NLEX 3415.2.429.000.6602.7.6.3.54.1
2016–17 NLEX 613.5.500—.2502.5.5.31.04.7
Career53023.5.432.093.5375.81.3.4.68.9

National team

Villanueva was a member of the Team Pilipinas, the RP team coached by Chot Reyes. He played for the country in the 2005 FIBA Asia Champions Cup and the 2005 Brunei Cup. He is remembered during the Champions Cup for pulling the leg of Sagesse Lebanon's Stephen Howard after an altercation, resulting in his ejection. He also suited up for the team again in the 2007 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, 2007 SEABA Championship and the 2012 William Jones Cup.

Personal life

Villanueva is married to Nobina "Bing" Hao. [12]

Controversies

Feud with Joseph Yeo

Villanueva is vividly remembered for his on and off the court feud with former college rival and one-time teammate at Air21, Joseph Yeo.

Their feud began during the PBA-sanctioned Ateneo-La Salle Dream Games in December 2005, pitting past and present Ateneo and La Salle players in an exhibition game. The incident saw Yeo elbowed Villanueva at the forehead, resulting in Yeo's ejection from the game. Villanueva eventually hit the game-winner in that contest. At that time, Yeo was still an amateur playing for Harbour Centre in the Philippine Basketball League and since it was a PBA-sanctioned game, commissioner Noli Eala gave Yeo a three-month probation after being selected by Coke in the 2006 PBA draft.

Another incident happened during a 2006 PBA preseason game at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Sports Center in Manila when both players were reportedly involved in a physical and verbal exchange. However, the league did not sanction both players.

The most recent came in a 2006–07 Philippine Cup game between Red Bull and Coca-Cola at the Araneta Coliseum. A physical exchange happened during the waning moments of the first half between both players. But after the game, a parking lot incident broke between Yeo and Villanueva. They were both sanctioned with fines by the commissioner and both players have since promised to end the feud.

Feud with Ryan Araña

On September 26, 2014, a tune-up game between Rain or Shine and NLEX was stopped after he and his former college rival, Rain or Shine guard Ryan Araña exchanged blows. [13] As a result of the altercation, he was fined Php 40,000. [14]

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References

  1. ↑ "Basketball Player Profiles Enrico Villanueva by John Louie Ramos | Sporting Life 360". Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Red Bull trades Villanueva to San Miguel; Adducul to Red Bull – Basketball.Exchange.ph".
  3. ↑ "Shocking PBA trade: Villanueva to Purefoods, Pingris to Magnolia – Basketball.Exchange.ph".
  4. ↑ "Trade Grades: Enrico Villanueva to Ginebra Deal | Patay Ang Butiki!!! | Blogging Philippine Basketball". Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Tenorio to Ginebra, Casio to Alaska in blockbuster 5-team trade".
  6. ↑ "ACL injury confirmed for Enrico Villanueva | InterAksyon.com | Sports5". Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ "PBA: Barako Bull reacquires Willie Miller, sends GlobalPort Enrico Villanueva".
  8. ↑ "Air21 gets frontcourt help as PBA approves Enrico Villanueva trade". March 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Fit-again Enrico Villanueva looking to recapture old form with new team NLEX".
  10. ↑ PBA-Online.net
  11. ↑ RealGM.com
  12. ↑ "Guy talk with hoop stars Enrico Villanueva and Wesley Gonzales". The Philippine STAR .
  13. ↑ "PBA tune-up game between Rain or Shine, NLEX halted as former college rivals Arana, Villanueva trade punches".
  14. ↑ "ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features".
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