Pocholo Villanueva

Pocholo "Cholo" Iñigo Villanueva (born November 24, 1982) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He currently serves as the head coach for the Tanduay Rum Masters. He previously served as the assistant coach for the Bay Area Dragons. He was drafted with the thirteenth overall pick of the 2008 PBA draft by the Air21 Express. From 2001 to 2007, he played for the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP where he won a championship in 2007 and was named co-Finals MVP with JVee Casio.[1]

Pocholo Villanueva
Villanueva in 2008
Batangas City Embassy Chill
PositionHead coach
LeagueMPBL
Personal information
Born (1982-11-24) November 24, 1982
Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolColegio San Agustin Makati
CollegeDe La Salle University
PBA draft2008: 2nd round, 13th overall pick
Selected by the Air21 Express
Playing career2008–2011
PositionShooting guard
Coaching career2011–present
Career history
As player:
2008–2011Burger King Whoppers / Air21 Express
As coach:
2011–2014Air21 Express (assistant)
2014–2018JRU Heavy Bombers (assistant)
2016–2018GlobalPort Batang Pier (assistant)
2016–presentDe La Salle Lady Archers
2018–2020Makati Skyscrapers / Super Crunch
2021Manila Stars
2022–presentTanduay Rum Masters / Batangas City Embassy Chill
2022–2023Bay Area Dragons (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

Barangay Ginebra traded Paul Artadi, Rafi Reavis, and the rights to 2009 PBA draft 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 Villanueva to Ginebra and acquiring the rights to 2009 Rookie draft eighteenth pick Orlando Daroya and future picks. However, he chose to retire and pursue a career in coaching.[2]

Coaching career

On 2011, Villanueva joined his former coach in La Salle, Franz Pumaren as the assistant coach in then newly formed PBA team, Shopinas.com Clickers. The team was later renamed as Air21 Express. He stayed as assistant coach and team manager until the team was bought by NLEX Road Warriors in July 2014.

In March 2014, he joined the coaching staff of JRU Heavy Bombers under the leadership of Vergel Meneses. He helped them get into the Final Four of the NCAA once again.

In 2018, Villanueva joined the Makati Skyscrapers (later the Makati Super Crunch) of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), leading Makati to a 21–4 record in the 2018–19 MPBL season, and up to a 20–4 record in 2019 before resigning in December 2019, citing Makati's management "has a different direction" for the team.[3]

In 2021, Villanueva returned to the MPBL to coach the Manila Stars for the 2021 MPBL Invitational.[4]

After his stint in Manila, in February 2022, Villanueva was confirmed as the head coach for Batangas City of the MPBL and Filbasket (where it competes as the Tanduay Rum Masters), bringing over the core of the old Makati team that he handled from 2018 to 2019.[5]

In 2022, Villanueva was named as assistant coach of Hong Kong-based team Bay Area Dragons.[6]

As program director

In 2022, Villanueva became the program director of the La Salle Greenies, the high school team of his college alma mater.[7] He hired his former teammate Renren Ritualo, to be its head coach.

Personal life

Villanueva married his college sweetheart, former DLSU courtside reporter, Agnes Tapia in a ceremony at Santuario de San Antonio Parish on December 12, 2012. Reception followed at the Filoil Flying V Arena, which was transformed from a basketball court to a formal red carpet event.

References
  1. Leongson, Randolph B. (August 2, 2020). "La Salle's 2007 'redeem team' the most special for Franz Pumaren". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  2. "Burger King re-signs swingman David, gives 3 others new contracts". GMA News Online. August 20, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  3. del Carmen, Lorenzo (December 23, 2019). "Makati coach Cholo Villanueva on sudden resignation: 'Management believes in going another direction'". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  4. "Cholo Villanueva takes over as Manila coach in MPBL". Tiebreaker Times. November 24, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  5. Joble, Rey (February 16, 2022). "MPBL: Cholo Villanueva excited to take over as new Batangas coach". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  6. "Cholo Villanueva tapped as Bay Area Dragons deputy coach". ABS-CBN News. August 25, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  7. Terrado, Reuben (June 29, 2022). "LSGH eyeing more ex-Green Archers, says Cholo Villanueva". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
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