Pinoy BasketBalista

Combo-Forwards are also known as  Cornerman or Stretch Four, for the layman term they are just Small-Forwards who can play the Power-Forward position and vice versa. They are players who's undersize to be a Power Forward but too big for the Small Forward . It can also be, a Small-Forward who has the skills of a Power-Forward and vice versa. In the NBA the famous cornerman or Stretch Four are Rashard Lewis, Paul Pierce, Derrick Williams, Lamar Odom, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony


In the 80's there were rare case of Combo-Forwards because most of the playing forwards are switchable to center position not until in the mid 80's when in the likes of Chito Loyzaga came to the league. Then there's Alvin Patrimonio who has good height and set of talents for the forward position and been a dominant force in the 90's. After years Combo-Forwards in the PBA became common because of new breed of tall guys that has speed and size.



Special Mention who are not in the list:

1. Joe DeVance
2. Nelbert Omolon
3. Nino Canaleta
4. Cliff Hodge
5. John Ferriols
6. Jared Dillenger
7. Mark Isip

#10 Vic Pablo

Pablo is one of the players in the 90's to watch because he can make a show out of his high leaping ability and can Dunk with no respect.
As a SF, he can shoot in the arc and as PF he can post and dunks his guards. Pablo probably a silent killer in the 90's, who can make high stats that no one even notice.

Height: 6'4

Career information
PBA draft 1993 Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Ginebra San Miguel

Career history

• 1993-1994 Pepsi Mega Bottlers
• 1995 San Miguel Beermen
• 1995-1999 Formula Shell Zoom Masters
• 2000-2007 Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
• 2007-2008 Barangay Ginebra Kings

Career highlights and awards

• 1998 PBA Mythical Second Team
• 2002 PBA Mythical First Team

#9 Noli Locsin

Locsin probably the Bulkiest and heavyweight player to play in combo-forward position.
During his years, he's too small for the position but because of his bulk size he able to compensate with the height.
Locsin actually can leap and dunk despite with his weight, in his age he can still dunk like what he did in 2013 all star game.

Height : 6'2

Career information
PBA draft 1994 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Tondeña 65 Rhum Masters

Career history

• Barangay Ginebra Kings (1994-1999)
• Pop Cola Panthers (1999-2000)
• Tanduay Rhum Masters (2001)
• Red Bull Thunder (2002)
• Talk 'N Text Phone Pals (2003)
• Sta. Lucia Realtors (2004-2005)

Career highlights and awards

• PBA All-Star (1994-96, 1999)
• 1996 PBA Mythical Second Team
• 1997 PBA Mythical Second Team

#8 Nic Belasco

Belasco started as a center in his draft because of his height then later shifted to forward. As a forward his specialty is his defense, because of his good upper body and good high leaping ability. Belasco occasionally shifting to SF when there's enough big men on the floor, he has good perimeter shots so shifting to SF is not a problem for him.


Height : 6'6

Carrer History 
PBA draft 1997 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Sunkist Orange Juicers

Career history

• 1997–1999 Sunkist Orange Juicers/Pop Cola Panthers
• 1999–2006 San Miguel Beermen
• 2006–2007 Alaska Aces
• 2007–2008 Welcoat Dragons
• 2008–2009 Coca-Cola Tigers
• 2009–2010 Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
• 2010 Sta. Lucia Realtors
• 2012 Westports Malaysia Dragons
• 2012 Powerade Tigers
• 2012—present Alaska Aces

Career highlights and awards

• PBA Mythical First Team (2005)
• 2x PBA Mythical Second Team (2001–2002)
• PBA PBA All-Defensive Team (2006)

#7 Rudy Hatfield

Hatfield is a promising SF in defense and offense, because of his bulk size he can out match his defender on the post. As a PF, he can still defend any guy bigger than him because of his muscles that no one can penetrates.

Height : 6'3

Career History
PBA draft 1999 / Direct Hire
Selected by the Tanduay Rhum Masters

Career history

• 1999–2001 Tanduay Rhum Masters
• 2001 Pop Cola Panthers
• 2002–2005 Coca-Cola Tigers
• 2006–2007, 2010–2011, 2012–2013 Barangay Ginebra Kings/Barangay Ginebra San Miguel

Career highlights and awards

• 1-time PBA Mythical First Team (2003)
• 2-time PBA Mythical Second Team (2000-01)
• 2-time PBA All-Defensive Team (2002-03)
• 2002 PBA All-Filipino Cup Finals MVP
• 2003 PBA Reinforced Best Player of the Conference
• 2003 PBA Defensive Player of the Year
• 2003 PBA All-Star

#6 Ranidel de Ocampo

RDO is a big man that has a good hand in permeter, as PF he can trick his defender wether to drive or shoot in the long range. As a SF, RDO is has the speed enough to match up the smaller and quicker opposing SF.

Height : 6'6

Career History
PBA draft 2004 Round: 1st / Pick: 4th overall
Selected by the FedEx Express

Career history

• 2004–2008 Air21 Express
• 2008–present Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters

Career highlights and awards

• PBA All-Rookie Team (2005)
• 5x PBA All-Star (2007-2011, 2013)
• PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP (2013)
• 3x PBA Mythical First Team (2012–2014)
• PBA Governors' Cup Best Player Of The Conference (2014)

#5 Chito Loyzaga

During in the 80's ,  his size was a big advantage for the position. As a SF he out matched anyone he undersizes but in PF he also a big guy a pain to stop.
Chito prime weapon is his defense, he can defend all position because of his quickness and size. He's one of the only guy that can Alvin Patrimonio in the paint because they both has the same body and IQ.

Height : 6'2

Career history

• 1981 YCO-Tanduay
• 1983 Toyota
• 1984–1985 Great Taste
• 1986–1993 Ginebra San Miguel

Career highlights and awards

• 7× PBA All Defensive Team (1985–1987, 1989–1992)
• PBA Mythical Second Team (1986)
• Humanitarian/Citizenship Award (1993)

#4 Kelly Williams

In his rookie years he became an unstopable force in the PBA that no Forward can able to outstand him. He has a high leaping ability and with good upper body stength.
Like other combo-forward, he can post in the paint and also can shoot in the range . If it's not only of his illnes that limits his capability, he could been a force nature in the PBA

Height: 6'7

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)

#3 Nelson Asaytono

A talented Combo-Forward with extra exceptional in offense, when he's in red hot, he can drive you or shoot you in the face that's way he got the name 'The Bull' for being unstoppable. He got everything but not the MVP and now getting snubbed in the 40 Greatest Players selection.
Height: 6'3
Career information PBA draft 1989 Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall Selected by the Purefoods Hotdogs Pro career 1989–2006 Career history

• 1989–1991 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs
• 1992–1996 Swift/Sunkist
• 1996–1999 San Miguel Beermen
• 2000–2001 Pop Cola Panthers
• 2002–2006 Red Bull Barako

Career highlights and awards

• 3× PBA Mythical First Team (1992, 1993, 1997)
• 4× PBA Mythical Second Team (1994–1996, 1998)
• 2× PBA Best Player of the Conference (1997 All-Filipino Cup, 1998 All Filipino Cup)
• 10× PBA All-Star (1989–1993, 1995–1999)

#2 Arwind Santos

Arwind probably the most under appreciated player in the PBA, despite the massive achievements he does not get a better recognation to the masses.
Santos is one of a kind of forward who's good in offense and defense. As SF he can shoot a good perimeters shots and when in PF he can post ups and defend big men


Height : 6'4

Career information
PBA draft 2006 Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Air21 Express

Career history

• 2006–2009 Air21 Express
• 2009–present San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• PBA All-Rookie Team (2007)
• 6x PBA Mythical First Team (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13)
• PBA Mythical Second Team (2006-07)
• 7x PBA All-Defensive Team (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13)
• 2x PBA Defensive Player of the Year (2007-2008, 2010-2011)
• 2x PBA Best Player of the Conference (2011 Governors Cup, 2013 Governors Cup)
• PBA 2x Finals MVP (2011 Governors Cup, 2014-2015 Philippine Cup)
• 6x PBA All-Star (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13)
• PBA Blitz Game MVP (2007)
• PBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)
• PBA Most Valuable Player (2013)

#1 Alvin Patrimonio

• 1995 PBA Sportsmanship Award
• 1999 PBA Sportsmanship Award
• 2000 PBA All-Defensive Team
• 2001 PBA Sportsmanship Award
• 2001 PBA All-Defensive Team
• 2002 PBA All-Defensive Team
• 2002 PBA Governor's Cup Best Player of the Conference
• 2002 PBA Mythical Second Team
• PBA All-Star (1994–96)

   Rey drafted in  1994 All-Filipino Conference, along with 2 other rookies Vince Hizon and Peter Naron. He's been part of the  1994 Asian Game in Hiroshima, Japan as an alternative because the San Miguel stars were plague with injuries.
     Rey is a silent a shy type guy but tough and beasting in Defense. He won a bunch of Sportmanship Awards subsequently winning the Defensive titles. In 2002 he had his best career where he won his first ever and one only Best Player conference award in Governors Cup where they won the Championships. He got the 3 major awards in that Season where-list a mark of his best performance in his entire career. 


He played with Purefoods in all of his career, after The Captain( Alvin Patrimonio) retired in PBA, he took over the Captain role and then in 2008 he pass it down to Kerby after he retires in 2008.

#4 Marc Pingris

• 2005–2008           Purefoods Chunkee Giants / Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants
• 2009–present    Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants / B-Meg Llamados / San Mig Coffee / San Mig Super Coffee Mixers / Purefoods Star Hotshots

• 8x PBA Champion (2006 Philippine, 2009-10 Philippine, 2012 Commissioner's, 2013 Governors', 2013-14 Philippine, 2014 Commissioner's , 2014 Governor's)
• 2x PBA Finals MVP (2006, 2013)
• PBA Most Improved Player (2006)
• 3x PBA Mythical Second Team (2006, 2013, 2014)
• 7x PBA All-Defensive Team (2006, 2008, 2010–2013, 2013-2014)
• 8x PBA All-Star (2005-2012)
• PBA All-Star Game MVP (2011)
• 42nd Member of PBA 1,000 offensive rebound club
• 3x Defensive Player of the Year (2006, 2013, 2014)
• PBA Grand Slam Champion (2014)

• 9-time PBA All-Defensive Team (1989, 1991-98)
• 3-time PBA Mythical First Team (1993-94, 1998)
• 5-time PBA Mythical Second Team (1988-89, 1991-92, 1997)
• 2-time PBA Sportsmanship Award (1994, 1996)
• 1994 PBA All-Filipino Cup Best Player of the Conference
• 1994 PBA Defensive Player of the Year
• 1998 PBA Governor's Cup Best Player of the Conference
• 2000 PBA 25 Greatest Players of All Time
• 2003 PBL 20 Greatest Players of All-Time
• PBA All-Star (1989-1999, 2004)
• #44 retired by Purefoods

Jerry is part of the  Purefoods Big Rookies draft with Patrimonio, Lastimosa and Capacio. He's been team up with Alvin Patrimonio for over 12year not until he got traded in 1999 for Andy Seigle.

A perennial member of the All-Defensive Team, he was given the moniker "Defense Minister" for his tireless manning of the post. In fact, the 6-5 Codiñera was also a terror on the offensive end who was blessed with an unerring 18-foot jumpshot not normally found in big men. He came close to winning an MVP award in 1993 but lost to Patrimonio in the tightest race for the prestigious trophy in league history.

He is also a member of the 25 Best Players of all Time of PBA and Philippine men's national basketball team of the 1994 Asian Games.

His #44 jersey was retired along with Rey Evangelista's #7 by the Purefoods franchise on November 9, 2014 before their game against Ginebra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

#2 James Yap

• 11x PBA All Star
• 2005 PBA All Rookie Team
• 2005 PBA Sportsmanship Award
• 2008 PBA Three point shootout Champion
• 2008 PBAPC POW Order of Merit Award
• 2010 People Asia Magazine Men Who Matter
• 2010 PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference (BPC)
• 2011 PBA Mythical Second Team
• 2012 PBA All Star Game MVP
• 2x PBL Mythical First Team (2003, 2004)
• 2x PBA Most Minutes Played (2005, 2006)
• 2x PBA Most Valuable Player (2006, 2010)
• 4x PBA Finals MVP
• 2x PSA Player of the Year (pro basketball) (2006, 2010)
• 3x PBA Mythical First Team (2006, 2010, 2012)
• 2x PBA Most Minutes Played (2012, 2013)
• 3x PBA Philippine Cup Champion (2005-2006, 2009-2010 , 2013-2014)
• 2x PBA Commissioner's Cup Champion (2012, 2014)
• 2x PBA Governors' Cup Champion (2013, 2014)
• PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP (2010)
• 2x PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals MVP (2012, 2014)
• PBA Governors' Cup Cup Finals MVP (2014)
• 6th Member of the PBA 800 three-point club (2012)
• 6th Member of the PBA 900 three-point club (2014)
• PEP Newsmaker Of The Year (2014)

Yap entered the 2004 PBA draft, and was selected as the second overall pick by the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants. The Giants were coming off a disappointing 2003 season, after failing to enter the quarterfinals of the three conferences.  During his rookie season, Yap mostly came off the bench. Bothered by an ailing shoulder, Yap had a slow start in the 2004–05 season but later on, he improved as he had numerous games where he scored 20 or more points.  However, Purefoods failed to get past the quarterfinal round against the Shell Turbo Chargers. Despite leading all rookies in scoring, Yap eventually lost to Rich Alvarez in the Rookie of the Year award race.

In the 2005–06 season, Yap received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard. In the 2005–06 Fiesta Conference, Yap was 4th in the statistical race, behind at the end of the semifinals series, while the Giants finished 4–2 at the series conclusion.



In the classification round of the 2006 Philippine Cup, the Chunkee Giants finished with a 12–4 record. James Yap edged out teammate Kerby Raymundo and Red Bull's Enrico Villanueva for the Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player, this made him, at 24 years of age, the fifth youngest player, and second sophomore to have won the individual award. He was the statistical leader and garnered more than 7000 combined votes from players, the 4-man committee, and the media, almost 5000 votes ahead of the rest of the candidates.  Yap was the first Purefoods player since Alvin Patrimonio to win the MVP award. He was also named to the Mythical First Team alongside teammates Raymundo and Roger Yap, and on-court rivals Enrico Villanueva and Lordy Tugade.


The 2009–10 Philippine Cup, In the Finals, Purefoods swept Alaska, 4–0, to be crowned 2009–2010 PBA Philippine Cup champions.  During their series against the Aces in the finals, Yap scored 24, 32, 14, and 18 points respectively. For leading his team to this incredible feat, Yap was named Best Player of the Conference (BPC),as well as Finals MVP. He also won his second MVP award, for the 2009–2010 PBA season , he was lauded for winning the award despite numerous distractions he had to deal with off the court. During his acceptance speech, Yap tearfully dedicated his latest trophy to his son Baby James.






















Career history

• 4x PBA Most Valuable Player (1991, 1993–1994, 1997)
• 10x PBA Mythical First Team (1989–1994, 1996–1998)
• PBA Mythical Second Team (1995)
• PBA Governor's Cup Best Player of the Conference (1997)
• PBA All-Filipino Cup Best Player of the Conference (1996)
• PBA Commissioner's Cup Best Player of the Conference (1994)
• PBA Press Corps Newsmaker of the Year (1993)
• PBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (1991)
• 13x PBA All-Star
• PBA's 25 Greatest Players
• No.16 retired by San Mig Super Coffee Mixers

OTHER NOTABLE PLAYERS