Noli Locsin
Slamdunk Champion 1996 with Marlou Aquino Luis Manuel Locsin (born October 19, 1971 in Bacolod), better known as Noli Locsin, is a Filipino retired professional basketball player.[1][2] Dubbed as The Tank, He is best known for his playing years with the Ginebra San Miguel franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 19, 1971 Bacolod |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | De La Salle University |
| PBA draft | 1994 Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall |
| Selected by the Tondeña 65 Rhum Masters | |
| Playing career | 1994–2005 |
| Position | Power forward / Small forward |
| Number | 6 |
| Career history | |
| 1994–1999 | Tondeña 65 Rhum Masters / Ginebra San Miguel / Gordon's Gin Boars / Barangay Ginebra Kings |
| 1999–2000 | Pop Cola 800s / Pop Cola Panthers |
| 2001 | Tanduay Rhum Masters |
| 2002 | Red Bull Thunder |
| 2003 | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals |
| 2004–2005 | Sta. Lucia Realtors |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Playing career
Locsin played for the RP Youth team in 1990 before suiting up for back-to-back UAAP titlist De La Salle Green Archers. He had a brief stint with Triple-V Foodmasters in the Philippine Basketball League prior to its disbandment and then played for Nikon Electric Fan which completed a cinderella finish in the PBL.
When 6-9 Marlou Aquino, the most sought-after rookie, was out of the picture in the 1994 PBA draft, Ginebra, now renamed Tondeña 65, and the team that will pick first in the amateur draft, went for the next best option in Noli Locsin, a burly 6-3 power forward who can barrel his way into the toughest walls of the defenders.
He showed the Tondeña ballclub that it made the right choice when he emerged as the team's leading scorer and the league's leading local rebounder with his rookie season averages of 18.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists in 34.9 minutes.[3] His stats are not enough through as Tondeña's struggles continued, winning just 12 of their 32 games in the 1994 season.
Playing for player-coach Robert Jaworski's "never-say-die" system, he flourished playing power forward while being undersized at only 6-3 without being able to develop outside shooting. A consistent low post threat, Locsin closed the size gap with his strength and skill although he began to fade out as soon as he parted ways with Jaworski.[4] Before the arrival of Fil-Ams in the PBA, Locsin was considered as one of the top bruisers of his time in a time when it was rare for a Filipino player with his bulk to move as quick and leap as he did. Locsin was then traded to Pop Cola in the mid-season in 1999 for Vergel Meneses. He drifted to other PBA teams such as Tanduay and Red Bull before retiring.
References
- Virgil Lopez (August 31, 2010). "Bacolod cager impresses mentors". Sun.Star Cebu. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
- Navarro, June (January 17, 2002). "Fedex releases Locsin, Hawkins". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
- Syd Salazar (October 24, 2011). "20 Best Rookie Seasons in the PBA (played in 2003 - present)". Sydrified.org. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
- Christian Angelo Jacinto (March 21, 2011). "The Preserved Identity: The story of a team of the masses, the story of the Barangay Ginebra Kings". Hoo.ph. Retrieved August 2, 2015.