Ricky Brown (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Vidal Brown also known as Ricky Brown, is a former Filipino American
professional basketball player. He was drafted by the Houston Rockets
in the 3rd Round of the NBA Draft
. Brown played college ball at Pepperdine University
, where he was All-West Coast his Junior and Senior years, and Southern California Player of the Year in 1979. He played for the Philippine National team-Northern Cement coached by Ron Jacobs in the 1980 Jones Cup in Taiwan, where the Philippines won the championship defeating Taiwan, Sweden, Italy, and the United States. Brown also played for the De La Salle Green Archers
in 1982.
After his stint with the amateur Northern Cement national training pool then owned by Eduardo Cojuangco and De La Salle Green Archers, he moved on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association
, where he became the first-ever Filipino-American to play as a 'local' in the PBA. Brown was the 1983 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie of the Year and 1985 Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player. He was also in the Philippine Basketball Association Mythical Five
in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1988. He played for the Great Taste Coffee Makers
and the San Miguel Beermen
, where he won a total of 7 championships during his PBA career. His ability to evade his defenders and score as well as pin point assists made him one of the best point guards in the Philippine Basketball Association
. His moniker then was "The Quick Brown Fox". He holds the All-time PBA career scoring average (23.1 ppg) and PBA All-time Best Assist Average (7.3 per game).
Ricky also made a movie with the great comedian, Dolphy
, in 1987 titled 'Action Is Missing: Crack Platoon', which previewed in the 1987 Manila Film Festival. In 2000, Brown was named a member of the PBA's 25 Greatest Players
. In October 2009, Ricky was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame along with former teammates Alan Caidic, Samboy Lim, and Hector Calma.
The year of San Miguel's Grand Slam—3 championships in the same year—Ricky was an integral member of a powerhouse starting five on a San Miguel team that included Hall of Famers Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, and Ramon Fernandez. Many feel this was one of the greatest teams put together in Philippine basketball history.
Brown is now the Principal of Ross Middle School in Artesia, California, and is the first ever Filipino-American Principal to be named in the prestigious ABC Unified School District. Ricky's Mother, the former Connie Vidal, is from Santa Cruz, Manila. Ricky is married to the former Lorma Sahagun, a Filipina from Ilocos Norte, and has two sons, Justin and Kevan. Kevan was born in Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan, Greenhills, an affluent suburb of Metro Manila.
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
professional basketball player. He was drafted by the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in the 3rd Round of the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
. Brown played college ball at Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
, where he was All-West Coast his Junior and Senior years, and Southern California Player of the Year in 1979. He played for the Philippine National team-Northern Cement coached by Ron Jacobs in the 1980 Jones Cup in Taiwan, where the Philippines won the championship defeating Taiwan, Sweden, Italy, and the United States. Brown also played for 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...
in 1982.
After his stint with the amateur Northern Cement national training pool then owned by Eduardo Cojuangco and De La Salle Green Archers, he moved on to play professional basketball 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...
, where he became the first-ever Filipino-American to play as a 'local' in the PBA. Brown was the 1983 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie of the Year and 1985 Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player. He was also in the Philippine Basketball Association Mythical Five
Philippine Basketball Association Mythical Team award
The Philippine Basketball Association Mythical Team is the award given to the best player in each of the five basketball positions: point guard, shooting guard , small forward, power forward and center. A Mythical Second Team was institutionalized in 1984.-Mythical Team Selections:-Mythical first...
in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1988. He played for the Great Taste Coffee Makers
Great Taste Coffee Makers
Great Taste Coffee was one of the Pioneer teams in the Philippine Basketball Association . The company was then known as the Consolidated Foods Corporation and their chief products included well known brands like Presto Ice Cream, N-Rich Coffee Cream, Jack & Jill Fun Snacks, Great Taste Coffee...
and 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...
, where he won a total of 7 championships during his PBA career. His ability to evade his defenders and score as well as pin point assists made him one of the best point guards 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...
. His moniker then was "The Quick Brown Fox". He holds the All-time PBA career scoring average (23.1 ppg) and PBA All-time Best Assist Average (7.3 per game).
Ricky also made a movie with the great comedian, Dolphy
Dolphy
Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr. , known by his screen name Dolphy, is a Filipino comedian-actor in the Philippines. He has appeared in a number of works on stage, radio, television and movies.-Biography:Dolphy was born on P. Herrera St...
, in 1987 titled 'Action Is Missing: Crack Platoon', which previewed in the 1987 Manila Film Festival. In 2000, Brown was named a member of the PBA's 25 Greatest Players
PBA's 25th Anniversary All-Time Team
The Philippine Basketball Association’s 25 greatest players were named at the league’s silver anniversary in 2000. -See also:* Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award...
. In October 2009, Ricky was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame along with former teammates Alan Caidic, Samboy Lim, and Hector Calma.
The year of San Miguel's Grand Slam—3 championships in the same year—Ricky was an integral member of a powerhouse starting five on a San Miguel team that included Hall of Famers Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, and Ramon Fernandez. Many feel this was one of the greatest teams put together in Philippine basketball history.
Brown is now the Principal of Ross Middle School in Artesia, California, and is the first ever Filipino-American Principal to be named in the prestigious ABC Unified School District. Ricky's Mother, the former Connie Vidal, is from Santa Cruz, Manila. Ricky is married to the former Lorma Sahagun, a Filipina from Ilocos Norte, and has two sons, Justin and Kevan. Kevan was born in Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan, Greenhills, an affluent suburb of Metro Manila.