Enrico Villanueva
Encyclopedia
Jose Enrico P. Villanueva (born June 23, 1980 in Pasay City
, Philippines
), better known simply as Enrico Villanueva, and by the nicknames Raging Bull and E-Vill, is a Filipino
professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings
in the Philippine Basketball Association
. He is a former Most Valuable Player in the UAAP for his alma mater the Ateneo de Manila University
in 2002.
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 Don Allado
(1999) and teammate Rich Alvarez
(2000 and 2001) before finally winning it in his final season in 2002.
In the Philippine Basketball League, Villanueva began with Blu Detergent in 1999 before leading the Ateneo sponsored Hapee-NENACO team to the PBL title in 2002 over his former team Blu.
He had a limited role in his rookie season in 2003 with Red Bull with veterans Davonn Harp and Mick Pennisi
playing the bigger roles. This continued during the 2004 Fiesta Conference when Red Bull claimed runner-up honors to Barangay Ginebra in the Finals.
However, after Harp and Pennisi were shelved for failing to further prove their Filipino lineage (Pennisi has since returned to the league), Villanueva saw his playing time increase along with his production. Despite a sorry performance in the 2004-05 Philippine Cup, he managed to lead Red Bull to a fourth-place finish in the 2005 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 season, Villanueva became a two-time All-Star representing the North All-Stars. He led Red Bull to the 2005-06 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 Philippine Cup but lost to Purefoods, 4-2, in a rematch of the Fiesta Cup finals. By season's end, Villanueva was included in the PBA Mythical Team but lost in the MVP race to Purefoods' James Yap
.
Villanueva was traded to the San Miguel Beermen
for Rommel Adducul
in May 2007, while Villanueva was playing for the national team
.
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).
. He played for the country in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2005 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 FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2007
and the Southeast Asia Basketball Association Championship 2007.
.
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.
, Rafi Reavis
, and the rights to 2009
8th pick overall Chris Timberlake
for Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez
, Celino Cruz
, and Paolo Bugia
of Purefoods. Burger King acted as the conduit team, trading Pocholo Villanueva
to Ginebra and acquiring the rights to 2009 Rookie draft eighteenth pick Orlando Daroya and future picks.
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
), better known simply as Enrico Villanueva, and by the nicknames Raging Bull and E-Vill, is a Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings
Barangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
in the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. He is a former Most Valuable Player in the UAAP for his alma mater the Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
in 2002.
Amateur career
Villanueva first played for the Ateneo Blue EagletsAteneo Blue Eagles
The Ateneo Blue Eagles is the name of the collegiate men's varsity basketball team of the Ateneo de Manila University that plays in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the premiere sports league in the country. The collegiate women's varsity basketball team is called the Lady...
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
Ateneo Blue Eagles
The Ateneo Blue Eagles is the name of the collegiate men's varsity basketball team of the Ateneo de Manila University that plays in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the premiere sports league in the country. The collegiate women's varsity basketball team is called the Lady...
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
De La Salle Green Archers
The De La Salle Green Archers are the men's varsity teams representing De La Salle University. The women's varsity teams are referred to as the De La Salle Lady Archers. The school's athletic program participates in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, among others...
.
He also had several chances to win the Most Valuable Player award but lost to Don Allado
Don Allado
Don Carlos Allado is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association....
(1999) and teammate Rich Alvarez
Rich Alvarez
Richard D. "Rich" Alvarez is a Filipino professional basketball player and currently playing for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. Alvarez was the first overall pick of 2004 PBA Draft by the Shell Turbo Chargers...
(2000 and 2001) before finally winning it in his final season in 2002.
In the Philippine Basketball League, Villanueva began 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
In 2003, Villanueva applied for the PBA Rookie Draft, in one of the deepest drafts in PBA history. He was eventually selected seventh overall by Batang Red Bull Thunder.He had a limited role in his rookie season in 2003 with Red Bull with veterans Davonn Harp and Mick Pennisi
Mick Pennisi
Michael Alfio Pennisi , better known as Mick Pennisi, is a Filipino-Australian professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Barako Bull Energy. He was automatically hired by Red Bull in 2000...
playing the bigger roles. This continued during the 2004 Fiesta Conference when Red Bull claimed runner-up honors to Barangay Ginebra in the Finals.
However, after Harp and Pennisi were shelved for failing to further prove their Filipino lineage (Pennisi has since returned to the league), Villanueva saw his playing time increase along with his production. Despite a sorry performance in the 2004-05 Philippine Cup, he managed to lead Red Bull to a fourth-place finish in the 2005 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 season, Villanueva became a two-time All-Star representing the North All-Stars. He led Red Bull to the 2005-06 Fiesta Conference championship where he was named as the Best Player of the Conference over Purefoods' Kerby Raymundo
Kerby Raymundo
Kerby Mariano Raymundo is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
.
He again led the Bulls to the finals in the Philippine Cup but lost to Purefoods, 4-2, in a rematch of the Fiesta Cup finals. By season's end, Villanueva was included in the PBA Mythical Team but lost in the MVP race to Purefoods' James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
.
Villanueva was traded to the San Miguel Beermen
San Miguel Beermen
The Petron Blaze Boosters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team has been a member of the league since its inception in 1975 and hold the most PBA titles with 19.The team is owned by the Petron Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippines' largest food...
for Rommel Adducul
Rommel Adducul
Romel Adducul is a professional basketball player from the Philippines who currently plays in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Powerade Tigers....
in May 2007, while Villanueva was playing for the national team
Philippines national basketball team
The men's national basketball team of the Philippines represents the Philippines in international basketball competitions. It is managed by its national basketball federation, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
.
On March 26, 2008, Purefoods center Rommel Adducul
Rommel Adducul
Romel Adducul is a professional basketball player from the Philippines who currently plays in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Powerade Tigers....
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
Marc Pingris
Jean Marc Pingris, Jr. is a Filipino professional basketball player in the PBA for the B-Meg Llamados. He is a versatile 6-foot-5 forward-center that can post up and shoot mid-range jumpshots. He is half-French and half-Filipino...
to San Miguel (known as Magnolia at that time).
National team
Villanueva was a member of the Team Pilipinas, the RP team coached by Chot ReyesChot Reyes
Vincent P. Reyes , better known as Chot Reyes, is a Filipino basketball head coach of the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
. He played for the country in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2005 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 FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2007
FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2007
The FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2007 was the 18th staging of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the basketball club tournament of FIBA Asia. The tournament was held in Tehran, Iran...
and the Southeast Asia Basketball Association Championship 2007.
Feud with Joseph Yeo
Villanueva is vividly remembered for his on and off the court feud with San Miguel's Joseph YeoJoseph Yeo
Joseph Henry L. Yeo , better known as Joseph Yeo, is a Filipino-Chinese professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Petron Blaze Boosters...
.
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
Philippine Basketball League
The Philippine Basketball League is a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. The league is composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars.-History:...
and since it was a PBA-sanctioned game, commissioner Noli Eala
Noli Eala
Jose Emmanuel M. Eala, better known as Noli Eala, was the sixth commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association from 2003 to 2007. Before he became the commissioner of the league, he was a play-by-play commentator of Viva-Vintage Sports, which broadcasts the PBA Games, from the early 1990s...
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
Emilio Aguinaldo College
The Emilio Aguinaldo College is a private school in Manila, Philippines. It runs under the management of the Marian Clinics Incorporated.-Faculties and Schools:The college offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the following disciplines:...
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
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
. 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.
Ginebra
Barangay Ginebra traded Paul ArtadiPaul Artadi
Paul Anthony Dy Artadi is a professional Filipino basketball player for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association....
, Rafi Reavis
Rafi Reavis
Rafael Pangilinan "Rafi" Reavis is a Filipino-American professional basketball player currently playing for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is well-known for his good shotblocking abilities...
, and the rights to 2009
2009 PBA Draft
The 2009 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event was held at Market! Market! in Taguig City on August 2, 2009. The Burger King Whoppers selected Japeth Aguilar of the Ateneo de Manila University and Western...
8th pick overall Chris Timberlake
Chris Timberlake
Chris Timberlake is a Filipino-American professional basketball player in the Philippines who currently plays for the Meralco Bolts...
for Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez
Rich Alvarez
Richard D. "Rich" Alvarez is a Filipino professional basketball player and currently playing for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. Alvarez was the first overall pick of 2004 PBA Draft by the Shell Turbo Chargers...
, Celino Cruz
Celino Cruz
Celino Cruz is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Powerade Tigers. He was drafted by the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals nineteenth overall in 2002....
, and Paolo Bugia
Paolo Bugia
Ramon Paolo V. Bugia is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who plays for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. He was drafted seventeenth overall by the Red Bull Barako in the 2005 PBA Draft.In his rookie year, He averaged 4.0 points per game and 2.6 rebounds...
of Purefoods. Burger King acted as the conduit team, trading Pocholo Villanueva
Pocholo Villanueva
Pocholo Iñigo Villanueva or better known as Cholo Villanueva is a former Filipino Professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. He last played for the Burger King Whoppers. He was drafted thirteenth overall by the Air21 Express in the 2008 PBA Draft...
to Ginebra and acquiring the rights to 2009 Rookie draft eighteenth pick Orlando Daroya and future picks.
Philippine Basketball Association
- 2004-05 PBA Most Improved Player
- 2005-06 PBA Fiesta Conference Best Player
- 2005-06 PBA Mythical Team