#AskKKS : Top 10 PBA Role Players

Here is another #AskKKS entry, this time from our friend @iyovictor:

Okay, that is a tough one considering we only started watching the PBA actively/religiously around 1995 onwards and didn't really take notice of other teams outside of the popular ones (Ginebra, San Miguel, Purefoods, Alaska) at the time.

Today, we can rattle off a few names but we will not be as bold to rank them as Top 10 All Time (out of respect to whoever we will miss (and we know we will/might miss quite a few). For starters, let us take out Marc Pingris who is a role player at best but because of his tenacious and contagious hustle and energy (plus the good looks, humility and Sotto ties), was propelled to being a legitimate superstar (when had he been given a different face to work with and not be associated with all the showbiz stuff, would be just another "pulot boy/ garbage points workhorse" ala Freddie Abuda in the 90s). Same with Rudy Hatfield.

So what merits a role player? Well, for one, he is NOT the guy you build a franchise around. He is not a household name, is mostly loved by purists and not the every day, casual fan. He does the little things, that some times make headlines, but most of the time just helps the team win games.

Here we go. Not the Top 10 All Time, but our choice for 10 Best Role Players (whose careers we were able to follow).


Freddie Abuda, San Miguel
The Scavenger, during the mid to late 90s, was legendary for making the surprise putback shots, grabbing crucial boards and basically just picking up the scraps from star Nelson Asaytono and then blossoming Danny Ildefonso. The way Abuda contributed for his team was basically how Marc Pingris carried himself for Gilas 2 in the FIBA Asia. No plays, no isolation calls, just pure hustle and grit. The University of Cebu star who was picked 10th overall by Coney Island/ Purefoods in 1993 was even asked to guard and stop superstar-level imports (re: better than the imports today) during his heyday.

Benny Cheng, Ginebra
Is it really that hard to believe that Cheng was a one-time NCAA MVP with the Mapua Cardinals? Seriously. The guy looked a little goofy in the PBA, so that was rather surprising but hey-- he played his role for Ginebra (then under coach Robert Jaworski, Sr.) to a "T." If Ginebra needed some firepower, he could deliver. If Ginebra needed a stop-- he was one of the guys that they would rely on to play small forward while his tag team brother Wilmer Ong (who could be on this list but that would be too generous of us) at center. High basketball IQ that, had he been taller, or maybe more "fit" and "athletic" could have given him a longer PBA career.

Bitoy Omolon, Santa Lucia
Nothing says "fit" and "athletic" quite like Omolon, a 6"4 specimen out of Bukidnon who is currently on the San Miguel Beermen's roster as a reserve. He made a name for himself with Santa Lucia, which drafted him 8th overall in 2004 as a stopper and Freddie Abuda-like player. How good was Omolon at his peak? Well, he put the cuffs on a lot of imports and even local superstars thanks to his versatility and exceptional footwork on the court.

Wyne Arboleda, Air21
No frills, no thrills, pure defensive-minded point guard with a jump shot (and a nasty right cross. Or was it the left? Lol). Seriously though, the 5"11 Arboleda had it all if you are looking for an old school caliber point man who can distribute on offense and help anchor your defense. Tough as nails. Just lacked the footspeed and maybe a little bit of that sexiness that could have made him a household name.

Terry Saldana, Ginebra
Marc Pingris has nothing on Saldana who is basically the true Dennis Rodman of all Philippine Basketball. Rebounder. Tenacious defender. Tough. OG. We were only able to witness a few games, when he was already near retirement (Gordon's Gin/ Ginebra, then with Toyota in the reunion game), but even at that advanced age he was tearing it up. He wasn't trying to make any plays outside of what he knew-- rebound, defend, run.

Zaldy Realubit, Pop Cola
Vastly under-rated center in the mid 90s IMHO. Had a nice, reliable jumper, could rebound and even play the post from time to time. Not a star, but definitely reliable. Like a less muscular, less dominant, young Sonny Thoss.

Jireh Ibanes, Rain or Shine
If you could win a Defensive Player of the YEAR award for just locking down James Yap in the PBA Finals of ONE conference and not even playing as much the entire year, then hell, you deserve to be in this list of ours.

Ronald Tubid, Ginebra
Not the budding superstar one in Shell, and not the past-his-prime with Petron/ San Miguel. We are talking about the Ronald Tubid that played for Ginebra-- 6th man material, could score and defend. Whatever role was given to him, whatever the team needed him to be-- that was Tubid for Ginebra.

Bong Ravena, Purefoods
Lost in all the lovefest for "The Captain" Alvin Patrimonio and his buddy Jerry Codinera, is a skilled shooting guard/ small forward armed with all the tools and tricks of the trade but never the opportunity to shine. While most laud his son Kiefer Ravena for his on-court wizardry, we recall watching Ravena with the Pasig Rizal Pirates in the MBA wherein he played maybe a season or two as "The Man" and lived up to the billing. But yeah, with Purefoods (and Mobiline later on, we think), Ravena was basically a poor man's, less pogi Dondon Hontiveros.

Nic Belasco, San Miguel
A lot of folks would probably question Belasco's inclusion on this list, considering that for a time he was hailed as the "savior" of the RFM franchise. Well, he didn't really shine there. Where Belasco got his turn in the limelight was with the Beermen, wherein he reinvented (or maybe unleashed) himself and started taking threes instead of looking lost in the paint. Thanks to having dominant low post players like Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena, Belasco was able to "explore" around in the perimeter and use his gifts to even play some lockdown wing defense.

Who are your favorite PBA role players? Hit us up @kilikilishot on Twitter!