25 Legendary PBA Players from Bulacan

Last Updated on May 15, 2020 by ITPM

Bulakenyos love basketball. It is no secret that we have great ballers from all around the province. We have plenty of talented players, summer basketball clinics, basketball courts, and local leagues all year round. In fact, we have basketball tournaments from inter-barangay, inter-town, interschool like Bulacan Private Schools Association (BulPriSA) district meet, Malolos City Private Schools Association (MACIPRISA), and more.

Filipinos LOVE basketball. And for most Filipino ballers, becoming a PBA player is an ultimate dream. The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is the top professional basketball league in the country. Here are 25 Bulakenyos who lived their dream, and became great PBA players from Bulacan.

PBA Players from Bulacan

1. Angelus “Bogs” Raymundo (Hagonoy)

Bogs Raymundo hails from Sto. Rosario, Hagonoy. He played for the Columbian Dyip (formerly Kia Carnival) team in the PBA for a few years. He now plays for the Davao Occidental Tigers in the MPBL. He is a 6-foot-6 Forward/Center.

2. Aris Dionisio (Bustos)

Aris Dionisio is a 6-foot-5 talented power forward who hails from Bustos. He played for the Manila Frontrow Stars team of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball (MPBL) League before getting drafted and becoming a PBA player. He is now playing for the Magnolia Hotshots.

3. Arthur Dela Cruz (Hagonoy)

Arthur Dela Cruz is the son of coach Art Dela Cruz, who is also a PBA legend. As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Both father and son are proud PBA players from Bulacan. He is a 6 foot 4 forward playing for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. He hails from Hagonoy.

4. Arturo “Art” Dela Cruz (Hagonoy)

Coach Art Dela Cruz (together with coach Erik Spoelstra) is a 6-foot-2 former PBA player who is a defensive specialist from Hagonoy. He played for the super San Miguel Beermen team in the 90s. He is now part of the coaching staff of the Columbian Dyip team in the PBA. His son currently plays for Ginebra San Miguel. Both father and son are proud PBA players from Bulacan.

5. Bobby Jose (Bocaue)

Bobby Jose is a proud Bulakenyo from Bocaue. He is a 6-foot-3 forward and former PBA player. He played for a number of years with San Miguel Beermen.

6. Celino Cruz (Hagonoy)

Coach Celino Cruz is a deadly left-handed shooter from Sta. Monica, Hagonoy. A 5-foot-8 point guard who played for several PBA teams. He last played for the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants before retiring in 2012.

7. Chito Victolero (Sta. Maria)

Coach Chito Victolero is a former PBA player from Sta. Maria. He is a nifty 5-foot-10 point guard and last played for the NLEX Road Warriors of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is currently the head coach of the Magnolia Hotshots which won a championship back in 2018.

8. Chris Baluyot (Hagonoy)

The next in our roster of PBA players from Bulacan is Coach Chris Baluyot. He is a 6-foot-3 swingman from Hagonoy. He played for Air21 in the 2007-08 PBA season. He is now part of the coaching staff of the Bulacan Kuyas team in MPBL.

9. Eddie Laure (Norzagaray)

Coach Eddie Laure (together with his son EJ Laure and daughter Eya Laure) is a native of Zamboanga Del Norte. He is married to a Bulakenya and lives now with his family in Norzagaray. He is a 6-foot-3 small forward and played for different teams in the PBA. He last played for the Mahindra Enforcer in the 2015-2016 PBA season before retiring. He is currently part of the coaching staff of the Laguna Heroes team in MPBL.

10. Elpidio “Yoyoy” Villamin (City of San Jose Del Monte)

Yoyoy Villamin is known as the Bicolano Superman in the PBA, but little did we know he is married to a Bulakenya from San Jose Del Monte. They lived there even before his basketball career flourished. He is a 6-foot-3 power forward that played for various PBA teams in his career from the 80s up to the 90s. He last played for San Miguel Beermen in the PBA in 1998, then played for the Iloilo Megavoltz (MBA) before retiring in 2000.

11. Glenn Capacio (Sta. Maria)

Coach Glenn Capacio is a native of Leyte who played for various PBA teams during his career. He is married to a Bulakenya from Sta. Maria and lived there with his family. He is a 6-foot-1 combo guard with uncanny perimeter shooting. He is now a full-time coach for various collegiate and professional leagues in the Philippines.

12. Gregorio “Joy” Dionisio (Bocaue)

Gregorio “Joy” Dionisio, of Crispa Redmanizers, hails from Bocaue. His name will be forever celebrated as the first-ever player to make the first shot in PBA history on April 9, 1975.

13. John Billy Mamaril (Bocaue)

‎Billy Mamaril is the son of former PBA player and legend, Romy “Mama” Mamaril. Both father and son are proud PBA players from Bulacan. He is a ‎6 foot 6 Forward/Center playing for the San Miguel Beermen. He hails from Bocaue.

14. Jonas Villanueva (Bocaue)

Coach Jonas Villanueva is the cousin of Senator Joel Villanueva, who is also a great basketball player back in the days. Jonas’ family is a well-respected religious and political clan from Bocaue. He is a 6-foot guard and last played for the NLEX Road Warriors of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

 15. Joseph “Ogie” Gumatay (Bocaue)

Coach Ogie Gumatay is an ace point guard PBA player from Bocaue. He played for the Barako Bull team in the PBA. He is now part of the coaching staff of the Bulacan Kuyas team in MPBL.

16. Michael Mabulac (Plaridel)

The next in our roster of PBA players from Bulacan is Michael Mabulac from Sta. Ines, Plaridel. He is a former Jose Rizal University (NCAA) and Cagayan Valley (MPBL) stalwart before getting drafted to be a PBA player. He is a 6 foot 3 forward and is now playing for the San Miguel Beermen.

17. Narciso “Ciso” Bernardo (Sta. Maria)

Coach Ciso Bernardo is an olympian and a PBA legend from Sta. Maria. He is part of the Philippine Basketball team that played for the 1960 and 1972 Summer Olympics. He coached the champion team Crispa Redmanizers in the 1984 PBA First All-Filipino Conference. He passed away in December 2008.

18. Nilo Cruz (Pulilan)

Nilo Cruz is a 6-foot-2 PBA player from Lumbac, Pulilan. He played for various teams in the early years of the PBA from the mid 70s up to the 80s.

19. Norberto Brian “Norbert” Torres (Calumpit)

Norbert Torres is ‎a 6-foot-6 Power forward‎ / ‎Center who is playing for ‎the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Both of his parents are from Calumpit.

20. Paolo Mendoza (Bocaue)

Coach Paolo Mendoza is a 5-foot-11 scoring machine point guard who played in the PBA for Sta. Lucia Realtors and Powerade Tigers. He may be from QC, but his family’s roots are from Bocaue. He is currently the coach of the UPIS Junior Maroons in UAAP.

21. Rodney Santos (Meycauayan City)

Coach Rodney Santos (at the right in the picture) is a proud Bulakenyo from Meycauayan City. His PBA monicker is The Slasher for his slashing ability going to the basket. He is a 6 foot 2 forward who played for several PBA teams. He is now an assistant coach for the UP Fighting Maroons.

22. Romulo “Big Mama” Mamaril (Bocaue)

Romy Mamaril is a PBA legend. Originally from Bocaue, he is now living in Pangasinan as a businessman. His son, Billy Mamaril, is still a PBA player. Both father and son are proud PBA players from Bulacan. He is a 6-foot-6 center known for being a tenacious rebounder and shot-blocker.

23. Tony Dela Cruz (Meycauayan City)

Coach Tony Dela Cruz is a Filipino-American former professional basketball player. He is a 6-foot-5 versatile power forward that can man multiple positions. He is currently part of the coaching staff for the Alaska Aces of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). His family’s roots are from Meycauayan.

24. Totoy Marquez (Hagonoy)

Totoy Marquez is the half-brother of another PBA legend, Joey Marquez. He is now residing at San Pablo, Hagonoy. He played for several PBA teams in the 80s and 90s.

25. Vergel Meneses (Bulakan/Malolos)

And the last but definitely not least in our roster of PBA players in Bulacan is Coach Mayor Vergel Meneses of Bulakan. He is arguably the best Bulakenyo basketball legend. His PBA moniker is the “Aerial Voyager” because of his great athletism and acrobatic layup shot underneath the basket. He is a former PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a many-time member of the Philippine National team. He is also part of the 40 Greatest Players in PBA History.

As Bulakenyo, we are proud of their achievements in the PBA. We will surely continue cheering and supporting PBA players from Bulacan in and out of the basketball court.

Follow our Bulakenyo.ph Facebook page as well for the related post. A lot of our fellow Bulakenyos shared information on PBA Players from Bulacan in their comments. You can also comment on this post for other PBA players from Bulacan that we might have missed.