The List: Top 10 Players in Ginebra History

The List: Top 10 Players in Ginebra History

Jaemark Tordecilla, with Reynaldo Belen and Jay P. Mercado · Thursday, March 22, 2012 · 3:43 am







The team has gone through many names over the years: Gilbey’s Gin, Ginebra San Miguel, Añejo, Gordon’s Gin, and finally, officially, Barangay Ginebra. Still, through all these, the spirit stays the same: Never say die.

In this week’s installment of The List, we count down the 10 greatest players in the history of the PBA’s most popular franchise.

But before we get to the Top 10, here are some honorable mentions:

Francis Arnaiz


(1984-1986)

The PBA’s original “Mr. Clutch” was Robert Jaworski’s bosom buddy, and the duo was responsible for the team’s sudden rise in popularity upon their transfer to the franchise. A mestizo looker from Ateneo, he was Vince Hizon before Vince Hizon. He retired abruptly in 1986, just before Ginebra won its first PBA title, but he remains in the heart of old-school fans.

Vince Hizon


(1994-1998)

Originally known for his good looks, “The Prince” quickly proved to Ginebra fans that he was not just a pretty boy. His combination of a sweet outside stroke, fearless drives to the hoop, and rugged defense endeared him to the Barangay faithful.

Rudy Hatfield


(2006-2007, 2009-2012)

The “H-Bomb” is one of the most colorful players to ever don the Ginebra uniform. An energy guy, he often feeds off the mammoth crowd that comes to support the Gin Kings. And even though his stint with the team has been marked by prolonged absence, he will certainly go down as a memorable character.

Dante Gonzalgo


(1986-1993)

The league’s original Iron Man, Gonzalgo also had one of the coolest nicknames in the PBA: The Bicol Express. It was a great nickname, because like a train, he often ran down opponents with his combination of size and speed in the backcourt. Younger fans don’t remember that he was Ginebra’s top scorer in the late ’80s — earning a berth in Jaworski’s 1990 Philippine team to the Asian Games in the process — before retiring due to injuries in 1993.

Pido Jarencio


(1992-1998)

After being a super scorer in the college ranks, Jarencio’s first few years in the PBA were a disappointment. A tweener guard, he just couldn’t seem to find his mark in the league. That was until he joined Ginebra in 1992. He kept the team in many games with his hot shooting hands, and killed off rallies by opposing teams, earning him the nickname “The Fireman”.

10. Rudy Distrito




(1987-1992)

Hitting the greatest shot in the history of the franchise — as Distrito did in Game Seven of the 1991 Open Conference — is enough to put anyone on this list. But beyond The Shot, Distrito typified the perfect Jaworski player: rugged and fearless.





9. Marlou Aquino




(1996-1999)

At first glance, a No. 9 ranking seems a little low for Marlou Aquino, who was once touted as Ginebra’s savior. Then again, with all his talent and skill, Aquino should have had a better career, just as he should have had a better ranking. Still, he led the Gin Kings to a championship in 1997, ending a six-year drought.

8. Noli Locsin




(1994-1999)

Noli Locsin is part of a long line of burly players who played under Jaworski. But he wasn’t just a banger; despite his frame, he was one of the most graceful and athletic players in the PBA during his heyday. Listed generously at 6-foot-2, he nonetheless battled bigger men night in and night out for Ginebra, etching his name forever in the heart of its fans.

7. Dondon Ampalayo




(1986-1993)

At his peak, Ampalayo’s popularity was second only to Jaworski’s, not just in Ginebra, but in all of the PBA. “The Magic Man” from Cebu debuted to much acclaim in 1986, winning Rookie of the Year honors. A mobile power forward with three-point range who can drive and score underneath the basket, Ampalayo looked like he was about to rule the league.

He was Añejo’s main man in its All-Filipino title run in 1988, but injuries ravaged his body, and Ginebra fans were robbed from seeing one of the most talented players in franchise history in what should have been the best years of his career.



6. Chito Loyzaga




(1985-1993)

He was a lockdown defender — he was reportedly the toughest matchup for Alvin Patrimonio early in the latter’s career — and a dynamite offensive player who can play all five positions. He was one of Jaworski’s most reliable disciples, so indispensable that he became part of the 1990 Asian Games team, and his longevity in a Ginebra uniform seals his lofty position in franchise history.



5. Eric Menk




(2002-present)

Over the last decade, Eric Menk was Ginebra’s source of power in the paint. And while age and injury may have finally caught up with Major Pain, fans will forever remember how he carried the team during some of its best years in the PBA during championship runs in 2004, 2005, and 2008. He was the first player in Ginebra history to win the Most Valuable Player award as part of the franchise, winning the league’s top honors in 2005.



4. Bal David




(1996-2004)

In so many ways, “The Flash” is the perfect Ginebra player. He was drafted in 1995, but was left unsigned, and only got a chance because he played so well alongside Marlou Aquino in the PBL — and yet he played nine seasons for Ginebra, eventually becoming the face of the franchise after Jaworski’s departure.



He was fast, but was often out of control. He could shoot, but was often streaky. He was a solid court general, but often took too many risks.




But he overcame all his flaws with a heart as big as anyone who ever played in the PBA. And all those imperfections made him the perfect player for the league’s perennial underdog team.



3. Jayjay Helterbrand




(2000-2002, 2004-present)

Helterbrand won the second MVP award in Ginebra history in 2009, and he did it against all odds. Consider everything he had to go through: Early in his career, he had to take over point guard chores from Bal David, one of the most popular stars in team history. Later on, he had to take over the scoring cudgels when Mark Caguioa had to miss a whole season because of injuries.

And yet, despite those big shadows cast upon him, he was able to shine and etch his own name into the record books among the franchise’s greatest players. It came as no surprise that he was able to make a successful comeback this season after serious injuries. Helterbrand, after all, has aced tougher challenges before.



2. Mark Caguioa




(2001-2008, 2009-present)

In the 2001 draft, Talk ‘N Text made a trade for the No. 4 overall pick, hoping to land an unknown player from southern California. The only problem was, Ginebra also knew about that player, and drafted him with the No. 3 pick.

That player, of course, was Mark Caguioa.

Would Caguioa have become as big a star if he hadn’t ended up with the league’s most popular team? While he had the talent, no other player has benefitted from the love and support of the mammoth Ginebra crowd as much as Caguioa.

On the flipside, Caguioa is the perfect icon to carry the torch for Ginebra in the post-Jaworski era, someone with the swagger to get the fans going, and the game to back it all up. Caguioa needed Ginebra, just as Ginebra needed Caguioa.



1. Robert Jaworski




(1984-1998)

When one says Ginebra, Jaworski is the Alpha and the Omega.

As we wrote two weeks ago:

On the court, he was perpetually unafraid to barrel against bigger men in the lane, on many occasions seemingly willing his team to victory with his huge fighting heart. Off the court, his demeanor toward his fans might be even more remarkable. He was known to always give the time of day to any of his supporters, signing autographs till his hand hurt, smiling and posing for hundreds of pictures, and even joking around with them. It is no accident that Jaworski is the most popular player in PBA history.

By the way, Jaworski has never formally retired from playing basketball. As they say, true legends never say die.



Source: Interkasyon.com

Ayun oh! # 9 ang idol ko! :yaay:

No. 8 naman ang idol ko

my "SPARK" at no.2 and my one and only "The FLASH" at no. 8..

shy wrote:my "SPARK" at no.2 and my one and only "The FLASH" at no. 8..

number 4 yung idol naten

MR. FAST wrote:

shy wrote:my "SPARK" at no.2 and my one and only "The FLASH" at no. 8..

number 4 yung idol naten

oo nga..sori tao lng FASTY..ganito kasi pg nahahati ang isip sa trabaho at pagtatambay.

Eksakto!

1,2,3 un idols ko.

9,8,5,4,3,2, yan ang mga inabutan ko, 1996 noli, bal, vince & marlou :bang:

athankings wrote:9,8,5,4,3,2, yan ang mga inabutan ko, 1996 noli, bal, vince & marlou

Di ko malilimutan yang batch na yan, The Tank, Flash. Prince & Skyscraper, kasi yan yung time na naging adeek ako sa basketball

lahat ata yan naabutan ko. Basta pagkakatanda ko lagi marami tao sa bahay pag Anejo na ang naglalaro.

MC at JJ lang ang inabot ko dito..

Mr.niceguy wrote:MC at JJ lang ang inabot ko dito..

baka ibig mong sabhn pre nang mga anak mo :lol!:

fasty sa youtube ko nlang sila napanood..

Number 10 and 6 naman yung mga unang idol ko.