Asi Taulava
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| Alias | The Powerful |
|---|---|
| Jersey No. | 59 |
| Position | Center |
| Current Team | Meralco Bolts |
| Personal Info | |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Born | March 2, 1973 Inglewood, California, United States |
| Height | 6 ft. 9 in. |
| Weight | 245 lbs. |
| College | Brigham Young University-Hawaii |
| Career Highlights | |
| Draft | 1998, Direct Hire by Mobiline Phone Pals |
| Pro Career | 1999 – present |
| Also played for | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals (1999-2007) Coca Cola Tigers (2007-2010) Meralco Bolts (2010-present) |
| Awards Received | |
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Pauliasi M. Taulava also known as Asi Taulava (born March 2, 1973 in Inglewood, California) is a American-born Filipino-Tongan professional basketball player playing in the Philippines for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Standing 6 ft 9 in (2.13 m) tall and weighing 245 pounds (111 kg), he is considered by many to one of the greatest and most dominant Filipino basketball player to ever play the center position in the PBA. Throughout his 11-year career, Taulava has used his size and strength to overpower opponents for points and rebounds.[1] He is also a many-time member of the Philippines national basketball team in international competitions.
Taulava's individual accolades include the 2003 MVP award and two All-Star Game MVP awards.
However, Taulava is also one of the most controversial figures in Philippine basketball due to his numerous issues about his citizenship since he arrived in the local basketball scene in 1997.
He is also known for his dyed hair, although he has also shaved his head bald numerous times in the past.
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[edit] Philippine Basketball League
In 1997 Taulava, a 6.9 ft inch center from Tonga, along with several Filipino-foreign cagers bannered Blu Detergent in the PBL Vis-Min Cup, where he showed some promise. In 1998, Blu management included Taulava to their roster in the PBL Centennial Cup.
Asi emerged as one of the top players in the league, alongside Tanduay rival Eric Menk. The two had a rivalry of sorts when both players matched-up in two games between Blu and Tanduay.
Taulava led the Detergent Kings and Tia Marias to the semi-finals but failed to lead his team in the finals due to severe bleeding and insomnia.
[edit] PBA career
[edit] Talk 'N Text Phone Pals
He was directly hired by the Mobiline Phone Pals to boost up their frontline. From 1999 to 2002, he was only able to lead the team to a single finals stint which happened during the 2002 Commissioner's Cup but they ended up as runners-up.
2003 became a fruitful year for Taulava when he led the Phone Pals to the All-Filipino Championship while being named as the Best Player of the Conference. At season's end, he became the first Fil-foreign cager since Great Taste's Ricardo Brown in 1985 to win the Most Valuable Player Award.
In 2004, they ended up at third place. Taulava, along with teammate Jimmy Alapag, was named as the co-MVP of the All-Star Game held in Cebu City.
During the 2004-05 PBA season, the Department of Justice announced that Taulava and five other Fil-foreign cagers have irregular documents. PBA commissioner Noli Eala indefinitely suspended him and some of the other players. But, the Phone Pals was still able to have a good elimination round record of 12-6. Then, a series of controversies rocked during the course of the Philippine Cup Finals as the Phone Pals lost in five games. In the Fiesta Conference, he led them again to the finals but still lost to the San Miguel Beermen in five.
During the 2005 offseason, Taulava played for Team Pilipinas in the William Jones Cup and the Brunei Cup tournaments.
During the 2005-06 PBA season, Taulava was named MVP of the All-Star Game held in Cagayan de Oro City in 2006 as he led the South All-Stars to a 122-120 win over the North All-Stars.
In 2006-2007, the Phone Pals reached the semi-finals during the Philippine Cup but lost to the Barangay Ginebra Kings in six games. On the following conference, the team reached the finals despite his absence. However, they were still not able to get the crown against the Alaska Aces.
[edit] Coca-Cola Tigers
On November 2007, he was traded to the Coca-Cola Tigers in exchange for Ali Peek and the Tigers 2008 first round pick.[2] Asi's numbers and style of play was then rejuvenated with the new team,[3] thus lift the Tigers from the wildcard to quarterfinals but eventually lost to the Alaska, 2-0.
In the 2007-2008 season, Taulava averaged 13.5 points, 1.9 assists, 12.5 rebounds, 0.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
On March 29, 2008, in an out-of-town game on Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Taulava tossed in seven points, including a short stab with 11:11 left in the third quarter which made him the 58th member of the PBA 5,000-point club.
Taulava made his 12th PBA All-Star appearance in the 2010 PBA All-Star Weekend, as he played in the All-Star Game at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Palawan. The 2003 MVP awardee was part of the South team’s First 5 alongside Kelly Williams, Eric Menk, Cyrus Baguio and James Yap.[4] They eventually lost the game against the North All-Stars, 133-130.
[edit] Meralco Bolts
On September 22, 2010, he was traded to the expansion team Meralco Bolts in exchange for Jason Misolas and Khasim Mirza as part of a three-team deal with the Barako Bull Energy Boosters.[5][6] When asked upon the center's arrival to the new team, coach Ryan Gregorio said: "Asi (Taulava) is a great welcome addition for us. We definitely need size since it is only Marlou (Aquino) who’s our legitimate center." He also added: "His addition certainly deepens our rotation up front. I am very happy that we got him (Taulava). With him on the team, it improves our team in a flash. Like I said before, if we can fast-track things we will. This is a big development for us."[7] However after the departure of Marlou Aquino to the Barako Bull Energy Boosters, Taulava became Meralco's only center.
Taulava made his 2010-11 season debut for the Bolts on October 3, 2010, against the Barangay Ginebra Kings, wearing the number 55 instead of his more common number 88. The Filipino-Tongan player recorded 7 points and 8 rebounds in his first game with Meralco.[8] His first double-double came twelve days after, as he scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 84-92 loss against his former team Talk N' Text.
Meralco opened the 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup with a game against the Barangay Ginebra Kings on February 18, 2011.[9] In his first game of the year, the Filipino-Tongan player recorded a season high with 23 points and 10 rebounds but the Bolts eventually lost to Ginebra 115-98.[10]
As of now, he is wearing the number 5 because it is also the number he wore in his recent stints at international competitions.
[edit] PBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Correct as of July 22, 2011[11]
[edit] Season
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Mobiline | 37 | 43.1 | .459 | .000 | .604 | 12.0 | 3.4 | .5 | .8 | 17.7 |
| 2000 | Mobiline | 12 | 40.6 | .524 | .000 | .569 | 13.9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .5 | 21.5 |
| 2001 | Mobiline/Talk 'N Text | 22 | 39.1 | .452 | .200 | .631 | 12.8 | 1.5 | .5 | 1.3 | 19.9 |
| 2002 | Talk 'N Text | 10 | 37.3 | .430 | .000 | .747 | 11.3 | 5.4 | .8 | 1.2 | 21.3 |
| 2003 | Talk 'N Text | 54 | 42.2 | .493 | .254 | .544 | 13.7 | 3.6 | .5 | 1.3 | 23.4 |
| 2004-05 | Talk 'N Text | 34 | 37.5 | .554 | .378 | .667 | 11.1 | 2.0 | .8 | .8 | 20.2 |
| 2005-06 | Talk 'N Text | 41 | 35.1 | .491 | .125 | .455 | 13.0 | 1.6 | .5 | 1.1 | 14.9 |
| 2006-07 | Talk 'N Text | 29 | 31.3 | .534 | .000 | .617 | 10.9 | 2.1 | .1 | .8 | 16.6 |
| 2007-08 | TNT/Coca-Cola | 45 | 32.0 | .448 | .250 | .490 | 12.5 | 1.9 | .4 | .6 | 23.5 |
| 2008-09 | Coca-Cola | 32 | 36.7 | .439 | .308 | .552 | 12.8 | 2.9 | .5 | .5 | 16.9 |
| 2009-10 | Coca-Cola | 31 | 32.1 | .369 | .000 | .591 | 11.4 | 3.1 | .2 | .3 | 11.2 |
| 2010-11 | Meralco | 31 | 23.0 | .481 | .000 | .495 | 7.9 | .7 | .2 | .5 | 17.5 |
| Career | 378 | 35.8 | .475 | .248 | .566 | 12.0 | 2.5 | .4 | .8 | 16.8 |
[edit] International career
In 2002, Taulava played for Team Philippines in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, Korea. Taulava showed promise during the said tournament in the center position while also had a hard time on guarding Chinese center Yao Ming. In the end, the Philippines went home without a medal after suffering a harsh defeat in the semifinals against host Korea and lost in the bronze medal match against Kazakhstan.
In 2005, Taulava was added in the Team Pilipinas Training Pool of Chot Reyes. He was part of the country's third-place finish in the William Jones Cup tournament behind Passing Lane Sports of the United States and host Chinese Taipei. Taulava also led Team Pilipinas to the championship of the 5th Brunei Sultan Cup.
In 2006, Taulava participated in the team's 110-102 victory over the Dennis Rodman led American team on May 1.
In 2007, Taulava was once again a national team member in 2007 FIBA Asia Championship in Japan. Despite Taulava's tremendous showing at the center position, the team failed to pass the preliminary round which was considered the "group of death" losing to eventual champion Iran and Jordan and winning only one game against China.
In 2008, he was again named to the RP Training Pool under Coach Yeng Guiao.
In 2010, he played for the Smart Gilas during the Stankovic Cup Asia Tournament helping the team to a 4th place finish.
Along with Kelly Williams, the Filipino-Tongan player was granted the permission to play for the Smart Gilas for the 2010 Asian Games in November.[12] The team eventually reached the 6th place in the tournament. In January 2011, Taulava declared his availability for Smart Gilas to represent the country at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, which will be held in Wuhan, China. The 2003 MVP also said: "I’ll make all the necessary sacrifice for Team Pilipinas and our country. Let’s all unite for flag and country and make 2011 a year for Philippine basketball."[13] In August 2011, Taulava joined the Smart Gilas Team for the 2011 William Jones Cup; in the preliminary round of the tournament, the Philippine team compiled a promising 5-2 record, before being eliminated in the semifinals by Iran. On August 9, 2011, during a game against Malaysia, Taulava got involved in an altercation with Yoong Jing Kwaan. The episode happened in the third quarter of the match; with less than 20 seconds remaining in the period, Taulava suddenly went down on the floor in pain after Yoong Jing Kwaan grabbed and squeezed his private parts. The Fil-Tongan then stood up, chased the Malaysian player and hit him twice in the head. The two were later tossed out with 7.4 seconds left in the period.[14] Smart Gilas eventually won, 86-68. Taulava would later apologize for his actions.[14]
In 2011, Taulava announced his plan to retire from international competitions after the stint at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship. Taulava has been a member of the Philippines national basketball team since 2002.
[edit] Awards and Accomplishments
[edit] PBA
- Member, PBA 5,000 point club
- 2003 PBA Most Valuable Player
- 2004 PBA All-Stars Game Most Valuable Player (shared with Jimmy Alapag)
- 2009 Defensive Player of the Year
- All-Filipino Best Player of the Conference ( 2003 )
- Reinforced Finals MVP ( 2003 )
- All-Star MVP ( 2006–2007 )
- 2009 PBA PBA All-Defensive Team
- 2003 PBA PBA All-Defensive Team
- 2003 Mythical First Team
- 2008 Mythical First Team
- 2009 Mythical First Team
- 2002 Mythical Second Team
[edit] International
- 2002 Philippines-Chinese Taipei Basketball Series
- 2002 Philippines-Qatar Basketball Series
- 2002 Philippines-Melbourne Tigers Basketball Series
- 2002 Four Nations Invitational Tournament (Italy), 3rd place
- 2002 Asian Games, 4th place
- 2005 William Jones Cup, 3rd place (Bronze)
- 2005 Brunei Cup champions
- 2006 Philippines-Lebanon Basketball Series
- 2006 Brunei Cup champions
- 2007 FIBA Asia Champions Cup
- 2007 SEABA champions
- 2007 William Jones Cup, 3rd place (Bronze)
- 2007 Four Nations Invitational Tournament (Philippines) champions
- 2007 Philippines-Kuwait Basketball Series
- 2007 FIBA Asia Championship, 9th place
- 2009 Philippines-Australian Great White Sharks Basketball Series
- 2009 Philippines-PBA All-Star Exhibition Series
- 2009 SEABA champions
- 2011 Smart Ultimate All-Star Challenge (Smart Gilas)
- 2011 William Jones Cup, 3rd place (Bronze)
[edit] Controversy
Taulava's citizenship has been questioned ever since he arrived in the PBL in 1998. A government scrunity from 1999-2000 about the alleged number of fake Fil-foreign cagers led to his deportation in April 2000. Taulava proved his citizenship when he returned to the country in 2001. Three years later, his name became a subject of DOJ's scrunity on the said issue that led to his indefinite suspension in the PBA.
It is claimed that Taulava's mother, Pauline Hernandez Mateeaki, was born in the Samar Province. However, the documents are said to be inaccurate. Some reports even claim Hernandez was born in Tonga. While Taulava is now cleared by the Justice Department,[15] it remains to be seen if his citizenship will be questioned again in the near future.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Halili, Mico (September 24, 2010). "The Final Score: Asi Taulava - 6’11". GMA News. http://www.gmanews.tv/sports/tfs/latest/201793/the-final-score-asi-taulava-69. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
- ^ Cordova, Calvin (November 28, 2007). "Pals trade Asi Taulava to Coca-Cola Tigers". Global Nation. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/sports/view/20071128-103603/Pals_trade_Asi_Taulava_to_Coca-Cola_Tigers. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ "Taulava shows the way for Coke". ABS-CBN News. January 19, 2010. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/01/19/10/taulava-shows-way-coke. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ "Taulava to make 12th PBA All-Star appearance". ABS-CBN News. April 22, 2010. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/04/22/10/taulava-make-12th-pba-all-star-appearance-sunday. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
- ^ Galvez, Waylon (September 22, 2010). "Powerade Ships man Asi to Meralco". Manila Bulletin. http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/278524/powerade-ships-asi-meralco. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ Beltran, Nelson (September 23, 2010). "Asi Taulava shipped to Meralco on 6-player deal". abs-cbnNEWS.com. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/22/10/asi-taulava-shipped-meralco-6-player-deal. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ Lopez, Jeric (September 24, 2010). "Ryan: Asi a welcome addition". Manila Standard Today. http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideSports.htm?f=2010/september/24/sports2.isx&d=2010/september/24. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ Castillo, Musong (October 3, 2010). "Meralco debuts by beating Ginebra in PBA". Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20101003-295822/Meralco-debuts-by-beating-Ginebra-in-PBA. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
- ^ Ochoa, Francis (February 18, 2011). "A league return to its roots: Commissioner’s Cup marks PBA return to 3-conference format after nine long years". Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://www.inquirer.net/sports/articles/Commissioners-Cup-marks-PBA-return-to-3-conference-format-after-nine-long-years.html. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
- ^ "Kings rein in Bolts". PBA.ph. February 18, 2011. http://www.pba.ph/news/entry/763. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ http://www.pba-online.net/profile/Asi-Taulava/
- ^ "PBA OKs inclusion of Taulava, Williams to Gilas". abs-cbnNEWS.com. September 20, 2010. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/20/10/pba-oks-inclusion-taulava-williams-gilas. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ Henson, Joaquin (January 16, 2010). "Asi calls for unity in hoops crusade". The Philippine Star. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=648607&publicationSubCategoryId=69. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
- ^ a b Villar, Joey (August 10, 2011). "Gilas repels Malaysia, faces Korea today". Philstar.com. http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=715160&publicationSubCategoryId=69. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
- ^ "Asi gets closure on citizenship rap". The Philippine Star. September 9, 2010. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=610461&publicationSubCategoryId=69. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
| Preceded by Jeffrey Cariaso |
PBA All-Filipino Cup Best Player Award 2003 |
Succeeded by Eric Menk |
| Preceded by Willie Miller |
PBA Most Valuable Player 2003 |
Succeeded by Eric Menk |
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