Marlou Aquino
Filipino center known as "The Skyscraper" and PBA Rookie of the Year.
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Marlou Bucao Aquino, born on October 7, 1972, is a retired Filipino professional basketball player. His most recent role was as team consultant for the Pangasinan Heatwaves in the MPBL. In his playing prime, fans called him "The Skyscraper," and he formed one half of Ginebra San Miguel's "Twin Towers" alongside Edward Joseph Feihl.
Professional career
Aquino was selected first overall in the 1996 PBA draft by Ginebra San Miguel. He started as a rookie under head coach Robert Jaworski. After leading the Kings to the All-Filipino finals, he earned the nickname "The Skyscraper" and was paired with point guard Bal David as "David and Goliath. He finished his rookie season averaging 17.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.8 blocks in 40.7 minutes per game, becoming the first Ginebra player since Dondon Ampalayo in 1986 to win Rookie of the Year.
In his second season, he helped the Gordon's Gin Boars win the 1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup, averaging 17.9 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks over 64 games. Before the 2000 season, he was traded to the Sta. Lucia Realtors for Jun Limpot and Banjo Calpito. Lucia, he won his second championship in the 2001 Governor's Cup against the San Miguel Beermen, and his third in the 2007–08 Philippine Cup against the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.
In 2010, he was acquired by the Barako Bull Energy Boosters. When the Energy Boosters took a leave of absence for the 2011 Commissioner's Cup, he was signed by the Meralco Bolts, where he ended his PBA career. He returned to competitive basketball in February 2018 with the Bulacan Kuyas of the MPBL, then transferred to the Bacoor City Strikers for the Datu Cup starting June 12, 2018.
Player profile
Before joining the pros, Aquino was a PBL star for Nikon and Stag Pale Pilsen, though a controversy over his academic standing at Adamson University marked that period. He then moved to the professional league and made an immediate impact. Throughout his career, he was known for his variety of hook shots and under-goal stabs, while remaining a strong shot-blocker and rebounder. These skills made him one of the premier centers in Philippine basketball, and he also played for the Philippine national team twice.
Career statistics and honours
Medals
- Bronze Asian Games — 1998 Bangkok Team
- Gold SEA Games — 1991 Manila Team
- Gold SEA Games — 1995 Chiang Mai Team
- Gold William Jones Cup — 1998 Taipei Team
Tables copied from the source article, totals included as the source gives them: Wikipedia: Marlou Aquino (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wide tables scroll sideways.
Did You Know?
- He won a record-setting four PBL Most Valuable Player of the Year awards.
- He was famous for his so-called "Kili-kili Shot" (a shot from under the opponent's armpit).
- He played for the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP.
More in Philippines Men's National Basketball Team Players
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Marlou Aquino (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Statistics, medals and awards: the tables of the source article.
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