Ren-Ren Ritualo
From Hoopedia
Ren-Ren Ritualo
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| Team | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | |
| Position | Guard | |
| Height | 6 ft 2 | |
| Weight | 165 lbs | |
| Born | June 14, 1979 in Manila, Philippines | |
| College | De La Salle University-Manila | |
| Drafted | 8th overall in the 2002 by the Air21 Express | |
| Years Pro | 5 | |
| Other Teams | Air21 Express 2002-2006 | |
Florendo Ritualo Jr. (born June 14, 1979 in Manila, Philippines) is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals. Nicknamed Ren-Ren and The Rainman, Ritualo is also a member of the Philippine national basketball team, and is the son of Maria Yasoña De Ramos of Lumban, Laguna.
Basketball pundits describe Ren-Ren Ritualo as the second coming of Allan Caidic - only thinner.
His lean frame notwithstanding, Ritualo didn't let this get in the way of achieving several milestones in his career.
After leading De La Salle University to three championships, Ritualo set out to conquer a bigger stage - the PBL.
Together with Yancy de Ocampo and Jojo Manalo, Ritualo helped steer the Welcoat Paintmasters to a basketball dynasty in the late 90s up to the early 2000s.
Ritualo, a deadshot from practically every corner of the hardcourt, capped his rise to the basketball firmament when he was drafted in the PBA.
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Philippine Basketball League
During his UAAP stint, Ritualo signed up with Tanduay in the Philippine Basketball League in 1998 in a limited role for the team as the Centennial Rhum Masters took a runner-up finish in the 2nd Yakult PBL Centennial Cup tournament. After Tanduay left the PBL, Ritualo was the key player for Tanduay's Colt 45 team in the 1999 PBL Challenge Cup, when the team placed third in the tournament.
After Colt45 decided to leave the league, Ritualo joined Welcoat Paints in late-1999. Ritualo led Welcoat to three PBL titles from 1999-2001 before jumping to the PBA.
In 2003, Ritualo was named as one of PBL's Greatest Players of All-time.
Accomplishments
- PBL Mythical Five
- PBL Most Valuable Player
- PBL Champion (1999, 2000, 2001)
- Member of the PBL's 20 Greatest Players
Philippine Basketball Association
FedEx/Air21 Express
Ritualo was selected as the eight overall pick in the 2002 PBA Draft by expansion team FedEx Express. But before Ritualo was set to join FedEx, he was part of the RP National Training Pool for the 2002 Busan Asian Games. But Ritualo was cut from the team and returned to his mother team.
Ritualo had a strong rookie for FedEx and by season's end, he was named as the 2002 PBA Rookie of the Year and also the 2002 Sixth Man of the Year winner by the PBA Press Corps.
Ritualo also recorded a 40-point output against the same Purefoods team on January 27, 2006 during Game three of the Fiesta Conference Semi-Finals series, held in the Ynarez Sports Complex. Ritualo led Air21 to a third place finish, the highest in franchise history.
Ritualo, also was the first local player in PBA history to have four games in a career with at least eight three pointers in each of those games.
He has also participated in two PBA All-Star games, when he was part of the North All-Stars in the 2005 All-Star Game in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and the 2006 edition in Cagayan de Oro City.
Talk N Text Phone Pals
On May 8, 2006, Ritualo, along with Patrick Fran, was traded from Air21 to the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals in exchange for Leo Avenido and two future first round draft picks, which is believed to be in 2007 and 2008.
With Ritualo's addition, as well as the trade that sent Alaska Aces slotman Don Allado to the Phone Pals for Willie Miller and John Ferriols, the Phone Pals are considered as one of the deepest lineups in the 2006 Philippine Cup. However, the Phone Pals never made it past the wildcard phase, ending their season. In the 2007 Philippine Cup Ritualo is averaging 13.83 PPG in the 18 Games in the Elimination Round.
Accomplishments
- 2002 PBA Rookie of the Year
- 2002 PBA Sixth Man of the Year
- PBA All-Star
- 2002 PBA Mr. Quality Minutes of the Year Award
Team Pilipinas
In 2005, Ritualo was a member of the RP National Training Pool. Ritualo was part of the Team Pilipinas squad in the 2005 FIBA-Asia Champions Cup with the host squad placing fifth in the eight nation tournament. During a match against Sagesse of Lebanon, Ritualo's numerous three-pointers in the second half, sparked a short-lived comeback by the Filipinos before losing 100-90.
Ritualo was also included in the Team Pilipinas squad for the Global Hoops Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada. During one game, Ritualo drained nine triples in a loss to Passive Lane Sports.
At this time, that Ritualo was somewhat "rumored" to be signed up by the New Jersey Nets after one of the Nets coaching staff saw Ritualo's performance. The Nets have asked 3 tapes of Ritualo's game. The Philadelphia 76ers have also inquired about him.
Ritualo was a member of Team Pilipinas' successful championship in the 5th Sultan's Cup in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam in September.
In 2006, Ritualo scored 17 points as Team Pilipinas defeated the American squad led by former NBA star Dennis Rodman 110-102 on May 1 at the Araneta Coliseum.
