Elpidio Villamin

Elpidio "Yoyoy" Villamin
Personal information
Born (1958-11-07) November 7, 1958
Labo, Camarines Norte, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Listed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight 188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
Playing career 1981–1998
Position Forward / Center
Number 12, 13
Career history
1981–1984 Crispa Redmanizers
1985–1986 Manila Beer Brewmasters
1987–1990 Alaska Milkmen
1991–1995 Swift Mighty Meaties
1996–1997 Pepsi Mega Bottlers
1998 San Miguel Beermen
Career highlights and awards
  • Mythical five (1987)
  • Mythical selection (1988)
  • Member of all-defensive team

Elpidio "Yoyoy" Villamin (born November 7, 1958 in Labo, Camarines Norte, Philippines), is a retired Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Standing 6'3" on a muscular frame, Yoyoy got his nickname because of Filipino singer-comedian Yoyoy Villame as their surnames sounds exactly the same. In the PBA, however, Villamin earned the moniker "Bicolano Superman" because of his strength and ability to dominate on both ends of the court. He played for Solid Mills and later, Asia Pacific Finance Corporation (APCOR) in the MICAA, where he distinguished himself as a valuable "utility man" for being a very good defensive guard, a driving forward and a high-leaping center.

PBA career

Villamin was one of the five players recruited by the Crispa Redmanizers during the final conference of the 1981 PBA season. In 1983, he was Crispa's leading offensive rebounder in the All-Filipino while finishing the conference third overall in rebounds. After five seasons, Yoyoy became the fourth player in the PBA "Protected-list", meaning he cannot be played alongside top centers Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben and Manny Victorino on the same team. In his first season with Hills Bros Coffee Kings in 1987, Villamin finished second in the MVP race to Abet Guidaben, the eventual MVP winner, but his performance merited the award from the Sports Columnists Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP) as their Most Outstanding Pro player of the year in 1987. It was also during this phenomenal season that Villamin came to be known as the other half of Alaska's twin-tower combination known as the "Bruise Brothers" alongside another tough defensive big man Ricky Relosa.

A knee injury slowed him down in later years, starting with his stint with Diet Sarsi, after Alaska dropped him from their lineup beginning the 1991 season, and opted for younger players in a major revamp. He played his final year in the PBA at age 40, one of the very few players to play in the pro league in their 40s, and briefly saw action in the Metropolitan Basketball Association.

References

External links

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