Kerby Raymundo

Kerby Mariano Raymundo (born January 19, 1981) is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association. Known as "The Kid," he was a former star player with the Letran Knights during his NCAA years.

Amateur career

It was only in Raymundo's junior year in Jose Rizal Institute (high school) that he started playing basketball. He was discovered by Mollet Pineda, a former Colegio de San Juan de Letran player and coach.

Raymundo played for Letran in the NCAA from 1997–1999 and made significant impact for the Knights alongside future PBA players Chris Calaguio and Willie Miller. From 1998-1999, he was a member of the Knights' back-to-back NCAA championships with victories over five-peat champion San Sebastian Stags and the JRU Heavy Bombers, respectively. He was named NCAA MVP in 1999. He also played for the Philippines in the 1999 Southeast Asian Games as the country won the gold medal.

He played for Red Bull in the Philippine Basketball League, teaming up with future teammates Jimwell Torion, Lordy Tugade, Junthy Valenzuela, and Fil-American recruit Davonn Harp, but never led the Energy Kings to a title in his only stint in 1999. His auntie Nena Pizarro, a former head of Department of Education, was the one who falsified his transcript in order for him to enter the PBA Draft early. He was later suspended for a year.

PBA career

Red Bull Barako

Raymundo joined the PBA at the age of 19 when Red Bull made the decision to move to the PBA from the PBL making him the second youngest player to join the league. He played six games for Red Bull in his debut in the 2000 All-Filipino Cup, but was banned by the league for the rest of the season after finding out that Raymundo falsified his requirements to enter the league. The league required players who have graduated from high school in 1996, while Raymundo graduated only a year later before going to Letran.

He would later return in 2001 for the Thunder, becoming one of the vital cogs, along with Davonn Harp, Mick Pennisi, Jimwell Torion, former collegiate teammate Miller and import Antonio Lang, to lead Red Bull to their first championship over the San Miguel Beermen in the Commissioner's Cup.

Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs

In 2002, Raymundo was shipped to Purefoods. In his first year with the franchise, he led the team to a Governor's Cup championship. Raymundo also received the Finals MVP award under then-interim coach Ryan Gregorio.

He was again instrumental in Purefoods' 2006 PBA Philippine Cup crown, along with James Yap and Marc Pingris.

After Rey Evangelista retired in 2008, Raymundo assumed the role of team captain.

He was sidelined with a knee injury when Purefoods took home the 2009–10 PBA Philippine Cup trophy.

On March 28, 2011, Raymundo became the 63rd player to join the PBA’s 5,000-point club.^[1]

On April 2, 2011, Raymundo became the 33rd player in PBA history to collect at least 2,000 defensive rebounds.^[2]

On December 3, 2011, Raymundo became the 41st player in PBA history to collect at least 1,000 offensive rebounds.^[3]

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel

Before PBA 2011-2012 second conference unfold this coming February 12, 2012 B-MEG (formerly known as Purefoods) traded former team-captain and stalwart Kerby Raymundo and received Ginebra high flying forward JC "The Rocket" Intal.

Coach Tim Cone eagerly awaits Intal since Alaska years and now one of his wishes was granted under the umbrella of Cojuangco's Group of Companies with a three-way trade deal and Kerby's dream even before he set foot on the big league in Asia donning Gin Kings jersey and showing his stuffs under the name of the most popular team in PBA.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud, who has the right to revise or veto transactions that he deems imbalanced, gave his stamp of approval to the trade as is.

“The three-way trade was fairly sound and reasonable,” he said. “The teams gave and received players and picks of relative even value and use for their respective purposes.” ^[4]

Meralco Bolts

After Meralco Bolts got eliminated in the Governor's Cup Semifinals series against San Mig Coffee Mixers, the Bolts traded big man Jay-R Reyes for him. This trade reunites him with Ryan Gregorio, his former coach in Purefoods.^[5]

National team

He is a many-time member of the Philippine national basketball team, and was considered as a possible team captain in 2009.^[6]

References

External links

• Kerby Raymundo's PBA Profile
• B-Meg Llamados Basketball

Preceded by Willie Miller	NCAA Seniors' Basketball Rookie of the Year 1997	Succeeded by Christian Coronel
Preceded by Chris Calaguio	NCAA Seniors' Basketball Most Valuable Player 1999	Succeeded by Jose Manalo