Rich Alvarez

Early life and college career

Alvarez spent his early years in Yokosuka, Japan, where he got his start on the basketball court with Nile C. Kinnick High School's varsity team. After graduating, he moved to the Philippines to study at Ateneo de Manila University, quickly becoming a key player for the Blue Eagles. Known for his relentless energy and scrappy play, he earned the UAAP MVP award as a sophomore in 2000, edging out standouts like Mike Cortez, Enrico Villanueva, and Cyrus Baguio.

He repeated as MVP in 2001, though Ateneo fell short of the title as the Green Archers claimed their fourth straight championship. The breakthrough came in 2002, when Alvarez led a supporting cast of LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier, Wesley Gonzales, and Gec Chia to upset the heavily favored Green Archers, securing Ateneo's first UAAP crown since 1988. During his amateur career, he suited up for Hapee-Nenaco/FASH and Pioneer Insurance in the Philippine Basketball League, and also represented the Philippines at the 2003 SEA Games.

PBA career

Alvarez was drafted first overall by the Shell Turbo Chargers in the 2004 PBA Draft, ahead of former college rival James Yap. He played his first PBA game in the team's second game after coach John Moran benched him in the first game, believing he was not ready. When Leo Austria took over coaching duties, Alvarez's playing time increased, and he won Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 8.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 72 games. As the Shell franchise prepared to leave the league, he was traded to the Alaska Aces along with Tony dela Cruz, where he struggled in his only appearance during the 2005–06 PBA Fiesta Conference.

Before the 2006 PBA Philippine Cup, he was traded to the Red Bull Barako for two first-round picks, reuniting him with former college teammates. In 2008, he was traded to Purefoods in exchange for Barako's 2011 first-round pick. The following year, he was part of a multi-player deal that sent him to the Ginebra Kings. In 2010, he and Doug Kramer were traded to Air21 for Yancy de Ocampo.

After his Air21 contract expired, he signed with Talk 'N Text for the 2010–11 season, initially on a one-conference contract, but stayed through the 2012–13 season due to his contributions off the bench. In his final year with Talk 'N Text, he averaged career-low numbers of 0.4 point, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.2 assist in 20 games. After being without a team for the entire 2013–14 season, he joined the tryouts of KIA when the franchise was accepted as an expansion team, earning a spot on the Kia Sorento for the 2014–15 season.

Did You Know?

• Alvarez began dating R&B singer Kyla (real name Melanie Calumpad) in 2005.
• He proposed to Kyla in January 2011 after six years of dating.
• Their son, Toby Elsiah, was born on May 5, 2013.