Ford Arao

Ford Arao

Ateneo Blue Eagles
Position	Assistant coach
League	UAAP
Personal information
Born	(1984-10-29) October 29, 1984 (age 40)
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school	San Beda (Manila)
College	Ateneo
PBA draft	2010: 2nd round, 14th overall pick
Selected by the Meralco Bolts
Playing career	2010–2016
Position	Center / power forward
Coaching career	2014–present
Career history
As player:
2010	Meralco Bolts
2016	Byaheng SCTEX
As coach:
2014–2022	NLEX Road Warriors (assistant)
2016–present	Ateneo (assistant)
2018–2019	Philippines (assistant)
2024–present	Ateneo JHS
Career highlights and awards
As assistant coach 3× UAAP men's champion (2018, 2019, 2022) NCAA men's champion (2014) As player NCAA juniors' champion (2002) NCAA juniors' Mythical Five (2002)

Claiford A. Arao (born October 29, 1984) is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player. He was the fourteenth overall draft pick by Meralco in the 2010 PBA draft. He played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles during his collegiate career, in which he now serves as an assistant coach.

Playing career

Arao played high school basketball in San Beda College High School. The San Beda Red Cubs won the 2002 NCAA juniors' basketball title with Arao as their starting center. ^[1] Arao then played collegiate basketball in Ateneo de Manila University from 2003 to 2007. The Ateneo Blue Eagles reached the UAAP finals in 2003 and 2006, and fell short each time.

Arao was drafted by the Meralco Bolts in the 2010 PBA Draft. Arao played only one game in the Philippine Basketball Association. ^[2] He played for three minutes, without registering anything from that lone game.

In 2016, Arao returned to playing competitive basketball as he signed with Byaheng SCTEX of the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League. ^[3]

Coaching career

During Boyet Fernandez's first coaching stint with San Beda, Arao was one of his assistant coaches. ^[4]

Arao was chosen as one of Yeng Guiao's deputies in the Philippine national team during the buildup for the 2018 Asian Games and 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. ^[5]

In 2024, he was appointed as head coach of the Ateneo High School basketball team. ^[6]

PBA career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games 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

^[7]

Season-by-season averages

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2010–11	Meralco	1	3.0	.000	.000	.000	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
Career		1	3.0	.000	.000	.000	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

References

1. "Two basketball programs that are worlds apart". Yahoo News. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
2. INQUIRER.net (2010-08-29). "2010 PBA Rookie Draft Results". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
3. Joble, Rey (March 6, 2016). "SCTEX joins PCBL as Chairman's Cup opens Sunday in Malolos". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
4. "PH youth coach Jamike Jarin lined up to be next San Beda coach after Boyet Fernandez". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
5. "Young Arao grateful to be chosen under Guiao's wing in PH team: 'Sino ba naman ako?'". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
6. Carmen, Lorenzo del (2024-06-24). "Ford Arao takes helm as Ateneo boys' basketball head coach". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
7. Player Profile at PBA-Online!