The Philippine Basketball Association's Top Players
Updated: 02/10/2012
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AKTV on IBC brings back the fierce action of ball competition in the 37th season of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner's Cup.
Get to know some of PBA's top players!

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Air21 Express's Florendo "RenRen" Ritualo Jr. is from De La Salle University and was a member of the Philippine National Team. Born on June 14, 1979 in Quezon City, RenRen is the son of former PBA player Florendo Ritualo, Sr.
Some of RenRen's or "The Rainman"'s achievements are the following: 2002 Rookie of the Year, 2002 Sixth Man of the Year, 2003 PBL's Greatest Players of All-time awardee, 2008 All-Star 3-Point Shootout Champion, and a 3-time PBA All-time placer.
Basketball specialists describe RenRen Ritualo as "the second coming of Allan Caidic."
Photography: AKTV / PBA
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Lewis Alfred "L.A." Tenorio was born on July 9, 1984 in Nagusbu, Batangas. He attended high school in San Beda, and played for the Blue Eagles when he went to the Ateneo De Manila University in college. He now plays for the Alaska Aces.
He started playing basketball at the young age of six.
Nicknamed "The Lieutenant" and "Showtime L.A.," he became a two-time PBA All-Time placer and was awarded the 2009-2010 Most Improved Player honor.
His biggest asset includes his outsized hands that are considered disproportionately large at about 170 cm at 60 kilograms. Aside from basketball, he also enjoys golfing and biking.
Photography: AKTV / PBA
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Barako Bull Energy's Willie "The Thriller" Miller was born on July 13, 1977 in Olongapo City.
After his amateur career as a member of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, he had a short stint with Tanduay in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL). He also played with the Nueva Ecija Patriots in Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), and made it to the MBA Mythical Five in 1999.
He joined the PBA in 2001 and was the top overall pick of the Batang Red Bull Thunder in the draft. In 2002, he was named PBA's Most Valuable Player.
Other achievements of Miller: 2006-07 Most Valuable Player, 3-Time First Mythical Team member, and 2-Time Best Player of the conference.
Photography: AKTV / PBA
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Although born and partly raised in the Philippines, Mark Caguioa spent his adolescent years in the U.S. and played for the Glendale Community College.
Born on November 19, 1979 in San Juan City, Caguioa was drafted by the Barangay Ginebra Kings in 2001. He has since made his mark in the PBA, and was nicknamed "The Spark" and "The Furious" (half of the "The Fast and The Furious" backcourt partnership with teammate Jayjay Helterbrand).
He was named 2001 Rookie of the Year and was thrice a member of the First Mythical Team lineup.
Also popular for his different hairstyles, he is a cousin of PBL commissioner and sports comentator Chino Trinidad.
Photography: AKTV / PBA
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Before his marriage to TV host Kris Aquino, James Yap was already well-known for his explosive performance on the hardcourt. The Escalante City, Negros Occidental, native was also an athletic teenager, as he was into football, track and field, and baseball during his high school days.
He went to the University of the East in college and played for the Red Warriors. Yap helped in getting the Warriors' campaign for the Final Four in 2002 and was named UAAP Most Valuable Player in 2003.
After his 2001-2004 stint in the PBL, Yap joined the PBA and was drafted by the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants. He became the PBA Most Valuable Player from 2005 to 2006 and from 2009 to 2012. He was also a 2-Time member of the First Mythical Team.
"Big Game James" or "King James"'s birthday is February 15, 1982.
Photography: AKTV / PBA
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Mac Mac Cardona was born on November 3, 1980 in Mandaluyong City.
Nicknamed "Captain Hook" because of his patented running hook shots or "tear drop shots," Mac Mac played for the De La Salle Green Archers first in 2001, before joining the PBA in 2005.
He was named the 2006-07 Best Player of the Conference and was a one-time First Mythical Team member.
Photography: AKTV / PBA
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"The Spiderman" Arwind Santos is a four-time PBA All-Star awardee, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and was the 2010-11 Best Player of the Conference.
Born in Angeles City, Pampanga, on June 10, 1981, Santos attended college at the Far Eastern University where he played with the FEU Tamaraws.
In 2003, he led the Tamaraws against the Blue Eagles to a UAAP title.
He joined the PBA in 2006 after a fruitful PBL career from 2003 to 2006. In the PBA, he became a four-time PBA All-Star member and two-time Defensive Player of the Conference awardee.
Photography: AKTV / PBA
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A Bataan-native, Gary "El Granada" David, started his basketball career as an intramural player for the Lyceum of the Philippines University.
He then joined the PBL in 2003 and was a member of the Philippine Team that brought home the gold medal in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games.
He joined the PBA in 2004. After a slow start, Gary became one of the most improved players in the league and was awarded a place in the 2006-07 First Mythical Team. He was in the 2006-07 All-Defensive Team and was also that year's Most Improved Player.
Also nicknamed "Mr. Pure Energy," Gary's birthday is July 13, 1978.
Photography: AKTV / PBA
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Celebrating his birthday this Valentines Day, 22-year-old Paul Lee was the Rain or Shine Elastopainters' second pick during the 2011-2012 PBA Draft.
Hailing from Makati City, "Lethal Weapon" Lee was the UAAP season 72 Most Improved Player while playing for the University of the East Red Warriors.
Photography: AKTV / PBA
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Point guard Jimmy "Mighty Mouse" Alapag played for the California State University in San Bernardino before getting a spot in the Philippine Basketball Team in 2002 and getting drafted to the PBA in 2003.
Born in Upland, California, on December 30, 1977, Jimmy made it to the RP Team training pool and played in the 2002 PBA Governor's Cup with the Selecta RP Team.
In 2003, he joined the PBA and played for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters. He became the 2010-11 Most Valuable Player, 2003 Rookie of the Year, a three-time First Mythical Team member, and an eight-time All Star member.
He is married to actress LJ Moreno.
Photography: AKTV / PBA
