Enrico Villanueva
From Hoopedia
Jose Enrico Villanueva (born June 23, 1980 in Pasay City, Philippines) is a 6 ft 5 (1.96 m) and 210 lb (95 kg) who is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 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.
He is considered as one of the most popular players in the PBA today and has his share of controversies for his bruising play and off-the-field incidents. He is nicknamed by many as the Raging Bull and E-Vill.
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Amateur career
Villanueva first played for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in the UAAP Juniors division leading them to numerous winning seasons and championships. He moved to the college ranks in the mid-90's 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.
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 playing the bigger roles. This continued during the 2004 Fiesta Conference when Red Bull claimed runner-up honors to Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Finals.
However, after Harp and Pennisi were shelved for failing to further prove their Filipino lineage (Pennisi has since returned to the team), 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 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 was named as the Best Player of the Conference, in a still debatable decision, 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.
During the 2006-07 season, Villanueva has gained the reputation of being booed almost every game by the fans. This began during the semifinal series of the Philippine Cup against San Miguel that involved a face-to-face exchange with Danny Ildefonso.
Villanueva was traded to the San Miguel Beermen for Rommel Adducul in May 2007, while Villanueva was playing for the national team.
National Team
Villanueva is a member of the Team Pilipinas, the RP team coached by Chot Reyes. 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 suited up for the team again in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2007 and the Southeast Asia Basketball Association Championship 2007.
Feud with Joseph Yeo
Villanueva is vividly remembered for his recent on and off the court feud with Coca-Cola's Joseph Yeo.
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. An physical exchange happened during the waning moments of the first half between both players. But after the game, a parking lot incident happened between Yeo and Villanueva. They were both sanctioned with fines by the commissioner and both players has since promised to end the feud.
Personal life
He is married to Bing Hao, his longtime girlfriend.
Accomplishments
UAAP
- 2002 Men's Basketball Most Valuable Player
Philippine Basketball Association
- 2004-05 PBA Most Improved Player
- 2005-06 PBA Fiesta Conference Best Player
- 2005-06 PBA Mythical Team
