The PBA's Coolest Monikers

            Nicknames or monikers are normally given to players who have made their mark in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Monikers are normally given for different reasons. It could be based on his style of play, his physical attributes, or his geographical roots. No matter the reason, monikers give spice and color to the players and the game. And even if they won’t admit, these nicknames can be quite flattering.

            Allow me to list down 12 of the coolest monikers (my personal favories) ever given out to PBA players. Sure, there were lame ones like Mr. President (for Gabe Norwood for being a deadringer for former US President Barack Obama), or The Skyscraper (for Marlou Aquino being a 6’9 behemoth), or Crunchman (for Alex Cabagnot for playing well at crunch time), but there were still jewels concocted by the broadcast team, the sports scribes and even the fans themselves.

            We list these down in random order:

1.    Mr. Excitement – Paul Alvarez

Perhaps one of the best monikers ever given to a player, it’s a fitting tribute to Bong Alvarez for creating so much excitement when he’s inside the game. Alvarez was a rookie for the Alaska Milkmen in the 1989 season when he rocked the league with his lightning quick plays, his deceptive moves that resulted to steals resulting to thunderous dunks. It was a period when the younger players were starting to replace the pioneers of the league, and Alvarez was definitely one of the leading faces among the young turks.

  Photo c/o All-Time PBA Greats

2.    Big Game James – James Yap

Sure, this may not be an original, as the one who actually carried this nickname was James Worthy of the Los Angeles Lakers back in the 80’s. But there’s no denying how fitting this moniker was for James Yap, who has consistently produced one big game after another during the playoffs. He may not do well in the elimination round but opponents are fully aware of the danger that lurks ahead when having Yap as opponent during the playoffs.

                                                                                                        Photo c/o GMA News

3.    The Beast – Calvin Abueva

Calvin Abueva has always been known as “The Beast” dating back to his San Sebastian days in the NCAA. The tag, authored by the late barker, Rolly Manlapaz, is perfect because of his beastly plays, despite his lithe 6’1 frame. He dominates the inside and is a bundle of energy unmatched by anyone in the PBA today. One of the most polarizing personalities in the league, people close to Abueva actually say that he’s an"angel" off the court, far from the Beast tag that he has carried all throughout these years.

                                                                         Photo c/o Spin.ph

4.    Mr. Clutch – Francis Arnaiz

Originally given to Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, it’s just appropriate that there would be a PBA version of Mr. Clutch. It’s no surprise therefore to have a player dating back in the 70’s be given this moniker – no less than Francis Arnaiz. Arnaiz was the prohibitive favorite to win the Most Valuable Player plum back in the pioneer season of the league, but lost out to Bogs Adornado of Crispa. Even with the teeming talent of the Toyota Comets / Tamaraws back then, Arnaiz’s ability to deliver when the game is on the line is legendary. Whether taken from the outside or through penetrating the lanes and then releasing his patented looping layup (now called the teardrop) that swishes nothing but net, Arnaiz was clutch personified. (Note: The late Pinggoy Pengson also gave him the nick, "The Road Warrior.")

                                                                                                   Photo c/o Toyota Tamaraws FB page

5.    Skyrus – Cyrus Baguio

There have been several high-flyers in the PBA before him – Samboy Lim, Alvarez and Vergel Meneses most notably. It wasn’t easy to come up with a nick for Baguio but through the witty use of his first name, Cyrus, and prefixing this with “Sky” were enough to make casual fans not think twice that this player can hang in the air. Baguio is one of the best hang-time artists ever to play in the PBA, his ability to suspend himself in mid-air when taking the shot, while waiting for his defenders to descend, is a marvel and absolute delight to witness.

                                                                   Cyrus Baguio skies high for a twinner against Joe Devance and Marc Pingris

6.    Fast & The Furious – Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa

The combination of Helterbrand and Caguioa inside the court was mayhem and chaos combined to opposing teams. They drove defenders crazy using their speed and athleticism to get past their more experienced rivals. It wasn’t a coincidence to see these two personify these exciting traits with the most popular ballclub in the land, Ginebra San Miguel. The Fast & the Furious coin came around the same time when the movie franchise namesake became a global phenomenon. By then, the Ginebra version was already establishing its legendary status as one of the best backcourt duos in league history.

                                                                                                                    Photo c/o Rappler.com

7.    The Franchise – Ramon Fernandez

The late Pinggoy Pengson was responsible for this nick, the ultimate compliment that can be given to perhaps the greatest player ever to play in the PBA. The Franchise meant everything when describing the great Ramon Fernandez – a complete, do-it-all winner who would assume full leadership and responsibility for his team in its quest to win PBA titles. He did so in the latter years of Toyota, he continued to do so with Tanduay and San Miguel Beer. But it was when he was a Beer Hausen Brewmaster when Pengson came out with this moniker – an apt description of how franchises, when building its team around one player, should be done. There can be no other Franchise player in the PBA as great as Don Ramon, also called El Presidente.

                                                                                        Photo c/o Toyota Tamaraws FB page

8.    Bicol Express – Dante Gonzalgo

A native of Sorsogon in the plush lands of Bicolandia, Dante Gonzalgo reminded old-timers of the train that shuttled from Manila to Bicol hurling its way on the PNR tracks. An original from the late Smokin’ Joe Cantada, Gonzalgo fitted the description to the T, with his ability to shift gears – playing it slow and coy, then leaving his defender biting the dust with a sudden change of speed penetrating the lanes and going for the easy layup. He didn’t possess the vaunted crossover move when shaking off his opponent, instead, Gonzalgo merely used his court smarts, knowing when to attack at the most unexpected moment.

                                                                                        Photo c/o Classic Ginebra FB page

9.    Chairman of the Boards – Abe King

The PBA already had monster rebounders back in the 70’s, the local who held the record for most number of boards in a game was little-known Jinky Simbulan back in 1975 while playing for the 7Up Uncolas. (Junemar Fajardo eventually surpassed this record with 31 last year). But it was King who made rebounding an art to watch – the powerful “kalawit” boards having originated from him. Just watching King dominate the inside with his innate rebounding and positioning skills were already a spectacle, especially when he did that against bulkier and taller imports. Another invention by Joe Cantada, it was in reference to Cantada’s favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, the Chairman of the Board himself. With a little twist in the moniker, it became the perfect moniker for no less than the King of the Boards himself.

                                                                                                     Photo c/o Toyota Tamaraws FB page

10. Point Laureate – Ronnie Magsanoc

It wasn’t easy to come up with a moniker for Ronnie Magsanoc. He was everything a point guard stood for – exceptional playmaking, nifty passing, deadly outside shooting, and clutch shots all around. But when esteemed sportswriter Al Mendoza came up with Point Laureate as his description of the former UP Maroon sentinel in his Inquirer column back in 1990, it was a perfect fit. Magsanoc was already dominating the league back then, one of the primary catalysts why Formula Shell won its first PBA title back in the 1990 Open Conference against a Sylvester Gray-led Anejo Rum 65. Magsanoc’s game reminded Mendoza and millions of fans how the game can actually be turned into an art, amidst all the physicality and ruggedness. He didn’t hit back despite all the licks endured from the likes of enforcers like Rudy Distrito and Dante Gonzalgo. Instead, he retaliated by making one clutch shot after another, seemingly impossible shots that hit nothing but the bottom of the net in true art form.

                                                                                            Photo c/o All-Time PBA Greats FB page

11. The Sol Train – Sol Mercado

When Solomon Mercado joined the PBA as a rookie in the 2008 season, only a few really knew how he played. Alaska, the team that drafted him, immediately sent him to Rain or Shine in a trade for Joe Devance. Mercado proved his worth almost immediately, teaming up with good friend Gabe Norwood, to give respectability to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. One of the best interior penetrators in the league despite his lack in height, Mercado was as fearless cracking the defense as his blinding speed that left opponents amazed. He had an array of moves to get away from his defender – an ankle-breaking crossover, dribbling wizardry, and unmatched speed, a consistent outside jumper - there was no perfect moniker that could be better than the Sol Train.

                                                                   Sol Mercado pivots his way around Jonas Villanueva's tight defense

12. The Bruise Brothers – Yoyoy Villamin and Ricky Relosa

Ok, not another original, the tag having come from the San Antonio Spurs 6-man gang of bruising defenders made up of the likes of Dave Corzine, Reggie Johnson, Paul Griffin, Mark Olberding, Kevin Restani and George Johnson. And yes, there were only two of them at Hills Bros (now Alaska) – Yoyoy Villamin and Ricky Relosa, ironically, bitter opponents as they played for Crispa and Toyota, respectively, in their younger years. But when the two teamed up for the Coffee Kings, the Uytengsu-owned franchise almost immediately earned respectability after only a season in the PBA. The two teamed up to form one, if not, the most imposing frontline defense in the league back then, matched only by the tandem of Great Taste’s Abe King and Philip Cezar. But what made the Villamin-Relosa tandem famous, apart from their impregnable defense inside, was the moniker given to them that was more than just a perfect description of their style of game.

                                                                                   Photos c/o All-Time PBA Greats FB Page

      They say that when a player is given a nickname by broadcasters, sports scribes and fans, then he is a made commodity already. But nicks can only be special if they fit the description of the players well. These twelve not only have made it big in the PBA, they also possess the coolest monikers in the league’s 45-year old history.