Pinoy BasketBalista

In PBA, Fil-Foreigners are classified to be at least has Filipino bloodlines and legit to play in Pro Basketball however during the Fil-Shams controversy there were a lot of Fil-Foreigners got rejected by the commission. Some of them gone a lot of procedure and documentation just to prove their lineage of legitimacy.


[ check out the TOP 5 Fil-Shams in PBA ]

There are a lot of technicality about someone to be called as Fil-Foreigner, is it about where he born but both parents are Filipino or it's just all about the ethnicity? In this ranking, it caters only those who are Fil-Foreigners that has legit foreign blood and not those pure Filipino, meaning those have HALF-FOREIGN BLOOD. It means players like Cariaso, Alapag, Caguioa, Helterbrand , Ryan Reyes and Cabagnot are not included in the list.

[ check out the Players that are NOT Fil-Ams but 100% Pinoy ]


Notes: The ranking is based on the achievements of a Fil-Foreigner and the longer they have tenured in PBA. Some cases like Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes, Mark Caguioa and JJ Helterbrand were not all considered to be Fil-Foreigners because they are pure Filipino who just happened to be grew up in US for a longer time.

Danny Seigle came ahead on Kelly Williams because despite of Williams had MVP, Danny had better achievements plus the tenure he had

#10 Sonny Thoss

#9 Mick Pennisi

  Ethnicity: Filipino - Australian

An Australian-Filipino, Pennisi is a very good left-handed 3-point shooter. He played five seasons with the Townsville Crocodiles before moving to the Philippines. In the 2007-08 PBA Philippine Cup, he was the third highest 3-point field goal shooter behind his former teammate Mike Hrabak and Ren-Ren Ritualo. His career high is 29 points.

He averaged 10.8 points in the 2007 Season. He also averaged 7.6 Rebounds.

Career history
1995–1999 Townsville Crocodiles (Suns)
2000–2008 Red Bull Barako
2008–2011 San Miguel Beermen
2011 Petron Blaze Boosters
2011–present Barako Bull Energy Cola

Career highlights and awards

• 2-Time PBA All-Star (2003, 2009)
• 5x PBA Champion (2001-2001,2005-2006,2009,2011)
• AKTV Bloopers on PBA Best Actor award (For humor purposes only)

#8 Davonn Harp

  Ethnicity : Filipino - American

 Unlike all the Fil-Shams, Davonn Harp played a lot longer before he finally deported in 2009. During his  legitimacy he achieved a lot of awards including the 2000 Rookie of the Year. He's probably the most awarded Fil-Shams. However in 2009, Harp was proven legit Fil-Am that's later has been invalidated but his reason of not coming back in the Philippines could be another story probably some other criminal case, check out this article Davon Harpp invalidates Deportation case

Career Achievements

• Defensive Player of the Year 2002
• Rookie of the Year 2000
• Mythical First Team 2002
• Mythical Second Team 2001
• All-Defensive Team 2002
• Best Player of the Conference 2002 Commissioners' Cup
• Finals Most Valuable Player 2002 Commissioners' Cup
• 2001 Commissioners' Cup
• Most Points 2002
• Most Defensive Rebounds 2002
• Most Minutes Played 2002
• Most 2-Pointers Made 2002

#7 Rudy Hatfield

#6 Gabe Norwood

  Ethnicity : Filipino-American

Norwood was the first overall pick in the 2008 PBA Draft by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. During the 2009 PBA All-Star Week, Norwood won in the Slam Dunk Contest among locals. Unfortunately, he failed to beat the 2006 NCAA Slam Dunk Champion and Barangay Ginebra Kings import, David Noel, who won the same contest but among the imports.

He won the 2008–09 PBA Rookie of the Year for his promising performance inside the court. He was also named into the Second Mythical Team in the same awards night. In the 2010 All-Star Game in Puerto Princesa, Norwood won the Handy Fix All-Star Game MVP for his highlight dunks and moves and also because of his baskets in the critical moments of the game. He had 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block. He led the North All-Stars to a 133–130 win over the South All-Stars.

Career History
 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Pro career 2008–present

Career highlights and awards

• PBA Rookie of the Year (2009)
• PBA Mythical Second Team (2009)
• PBA All-Rookie Team (2009)
• PBA Slam Dunk Champion (Locals Division) (2009)
• 2x PBA All-Defensive Team (2010, 2013)
• PBA Defensive Player of the Year (2010)
• PBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (2010)
• 3x PBA All-Star (2010–2012)

#5 Kelly Williams

Ethnicity : Filipino - American

When the Realtors took the first overall draft right in 2006, they did not hesitate to pick Kelly Williams over two-time UAAP MVP Arwind Santos, who was later picked second overall by the Air21 Express. During his rookie season, he normed averages of 17.3 points and 9.6 rebounds earning him the Rookie of the Year award, making him the second Realtor to do so after Jun Limpot in 1993. In his sophomore year, he improved his game immensely, helping his team win their second championship overall and grabbing the league's Most Valuable Player award along the way.


In 2010, Williams, along with team mates Ryan Reyes and Charles Walters, was traded to the Talk N Text Phone Pals for Ali Peek, Nic Belasco, Yousif Aljamal, and Ogie Menor. The deal was brought about by Sta. Lucia's financial problems.

Kelly Williams was out indefinitely for the rest of the 2013-13 season due to a recurring illness.

The 2008 PBA Most Valuable Player is suffering from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, the same illness that caused him to miss a significant chunk of the 2008-09 season when he was still part of the Sta. Lucia Realtors.[8]

He has since returned from his indefinite leave after he discovered an alternative medication.


Career history
2006–2010 Sta. Lucia Realtors
2010–present Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters

Career highlights and awards

• PBA Rookie of the Year (2007)
• PBA All-Rookie Team (2007)
• 2x PBA Mythical First Team (2007, 2008, 2011)
• PBA Most Valuable Player (2008)
• PBA All-Defensive Team (2008)
• PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference (2008)
• PBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2008), (2011)
• 3x PBA Mythical Second Team (2009, 2010, 2012)
• PBA Comeback Player of the Year (2010)
• 5x PBA All-Star (2007-11)

#4 Danny Seigle

Ethnicity: Filipino - American

In 1999, San Miguel acquired Seigle as its direct hire Filipino-foreign cager, after the league instituted a rule for every team to have one Filipino-foreign cager acquired without going through the process of joining the rookie draft.

Seigle won the Rookie of the Year honors[2] but failed to win the coveted Most Valuable Player award, he should have been another Benjie Paras who's the only one received both MVP and Rookie awards on the same year in 1989.

In 2000, Seigle continued to spark big numbers for San Miguel and led the team in regaining the Commissioner's and Governor's Cup titles. He was one of the front runner to win the MVP award, but lost to his teammate Danny Ildefonso. While the Beermen only won the 2001 All-Filipino Conference, they appeared in all three championship series during the year. Once again, he lost to Ildefonso in the MVP race.


In 2013-2014 Philippine Cup, The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters added the All-Star forward Danny Seigle. He made his Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters debut in December 3, 2013 with 13 point and 8 rebounds. January 19, 2014 he made a career high of 21 points as Talk 'n text player versus Brgy Ginebra San Miguel and closes their elimination with lopsided huge win and the 31st local player to reach 8,000 pts in the PBA


Career history
1999–2011 San Miguel Beermen
2011–2013 Barako Bull Energy
2013-Present Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters

Career highlights and awards

• 9x PBA All-Star (1999-2001, 2004-2008, 2011)
• 1999 PBA Rookie of the Year
• 1999 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (Commissioner's Cup)
• 1999 PBA Mythical First Team
• 1999 PBA Governor's Cup Best Player of the Conference
• 1999 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (Governor's Cup)
• 2000 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (Commissioner's Cup)
• 2000 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (Governor's Cup)
• 2000 PBA Mythical First Team
• 2001 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (All-Filipino Cup)
• 2001 PBA Mythical First Team
• 2005-06 PBA Comeback Player of the Year
• 2005-06 PBA Mythical Second Team
• 2006 PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference
• 2006 Brunei Sultan Cup Most Valuable Player
• 2007 FIBA Asia Club Championship Mythical Five Selection

#3 Eric Menk

Ethnicity : Filipino - American


Menk's citizenship has been questioned since he arrived in the PBA in 1999. But unlike fellow Filipino-foreign cager Asi Taulava, Menk had less problems regarding his citizenship.

In 2004-2005 season marked Menk's biggest season yet. He led the Barangay Ginebra Kings to two consecutive PBA titles, winning the transition Fiesta Conference and the Philippine Cup. He also won the Best Player of the Conference honors during the two said tournaments. During the 2005 Fiesta Conference, Menk was suspended indefinitely by the league for failure to show additional documents of his citizenship on time, while spending some time with Team Pilipinas. Despite this, Menk still won the 2004-2005 Most Valuable Player Award.

Even being suspended in Ginebra's remaining games once again in the 2004-2005 Fiesta Conference, he still piled up sufficient statistical points and votes to earn MVP honors. He averaged 17.5 points and a league-best 11.8 rebounds in 71 total games. He won back-to back Best Player of the Conference honors. His 2004 Fiesta Conference championship was his first as a PBA player after leading Tanduay to numerous crowns in the PBL.


In 2008, the Barangay Ginebra Kings would return to the finals against Air21. It was a long, grueling series where Ginebra lost several players to injury. Despite their losses, Ginebra stretched the series 7 games and eventually won their 4th championship in 4 years. Menk performed well in the series, especially in game 7, in front of a record-setting 22,000 plus crowd at the legendary Araneta Coliseum. He finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while earning his 3rd PBA Finals MVP accolade.



Career history
1999–2001 Tanduay Rhum Masters
2001–2013 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
2013 San Miguel Beermen
2013 Barangay Ginebra Kings
2013-2014 GlobalPort Batang Pier
2014-present Alaska Aces

Career highlights and awards

• PBA Fiesta Conference Co-Finals Most Valuable Player (2008)
• PBA Most Valuable Player (2005)
• PBA Mythical First Team (2005)
• PBA Philippine Cup Finals Most Valuable Player (2005)
• PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference (2005)
• PBA Fiesta Conference Best Player of the Conference (2004)
• PBA Fiesta Conference Finals Most Valuable Player (2004)
• PBA All-Filipino Cup Best Player of the Conference (1999)
• 10x PBA All-Star (1999–2000, 2003–2007, 2009–2011)
• 3x PBL MVP (1997–1999)
• PBL Rookie of the Year (1997)

#2 Ricardo Brown

Race : Filipino - American

He was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 3rd Round of the 1979 NBA Draft, the only Filipino PBA player to get drafted to NBA though he did not get playing time with the team.
After his stint with the amateur Northern Cement national training pool then owned by Eduardo Cojuangco and De La Salle Green Archers, he moved on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association, where he became the first-ever Filipino-American to play as a 'local' in the PBA. Brown was the 1983 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie of the Year and 1985 Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player. He was also in the Philippine Basketball Association Mythical Five in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1988. He played for the Great Taste Coffee Makers and the San Miguel Beermen, where he won a total of 7 championships during his PBA career. His ability to evade his defenders and score as well as pin point assists made him one of the best point guards in the Philippine Basketball Association. His monikers then were "The Quick Brown Fox" and "Mister Fourth Qwerty". He holds the All-time PBA career scoring average (23.1 ppg) and PBA All-time Best Assist Average (7.3 per game).

The year of San Miguel's Grand Slam—3 championships in the same year—Ricky was an integral member of a powerhouse starting five on a San Miguel team that included Hall of Famers Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, and Ramon Fernandez. Many feel this was one of the greatest teams put together in Philippine basketball history.


Career history
1983–1987 Great Taste Coffee Makers
1985 Northern Cement
1988–1990 San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• 1983 PBA Rookie of the Year
• 1983 PBA Mythical Five
• 1984 PBA Mythical First Team
• 1985 PBA Most Valuable Player
• 1985 PBA Mythical First Team
• 1986 PBA Mythical First Team
• 1987 PBA Mythical Second Team
• 1988 PBA Mythical First Team
• PBA's 25 Greatest Players

#1 Asi Taulava

Ethnicity : Filipino - Tonggan


Taulava is the current oldest player in PBA at the age of 42 and held the oldest player to ever received an MVP award in Pro-Basketball League.

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.

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.

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.

After leading the Bolts for two seasons, he decided to leave the organization after declining a two-year contract extension worth maximum salary. Taulava went to play for the San Miguel Beermen in the ABL. In 2013, he won the ABL Most Valuable Player award.



Career history
1999–2007 Talk 'N Text Phone Pals
2007–2010 Coca Cola Tigers
2010–2012 Meralco Bolts
2012–2013 San Miguel Beermen (ABL)
2013–present Air21 Express/NLEX Road Warriors

Career highlights and awards

• PBA Most Valuable Player (2003)
• PBA Mythical First Team (2003, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2013-14)
• PBA Mythical Second Team (2002, 2009-10)
• PBA All-Defensive Team (2003, 2007-08, 2008-09)
• PBA Comeback Player of the Year (2013-14)
• PBA Reinforced Conference Finals Most Valuable Player (2003)
• PBA All-Filipino Cup Best Player of the Conference (2003)
• PBA All-Star Game MVP; (2004), (shared with Jimmy Alapag), (2006)
• 13-time PBA All-Star
• Member, PBA 5,000 point club
• 2002 Philippines-Chinese Taipei Basketball Series
• 2002 Philippines-Qatar 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 Fiba Asia Championship, 4th place
• 2013 ABL Most Valuable Player

Extra Fact: The #1 and Original Fil-Foreigner in PBA

Robert Jaworski

 Ethnicity : Filipino - Polish-American

Born to a Polish American father Theodore Vincent Jaworski and an Ilocano mother Iluminada Salazar, Jaworksi grew up in the streets of Manila wherein he learned to love the sport of basketball. In the collegiate ranks, his career saw a meteoric rise. In 1964, he played for the University of the East Red Warriors in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) where he delivered a scintillating performance in the 1966 and 1967 UAAP season by winning back-to-back titles for the recto-based Red Warriors.