Ren-Ren Ritualo
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Florendo Ritualo Jr. (born June 14, 1978) is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Talk N' Text Phone Pals. Nicknamed Renren and The Rainman, Ritualo is also a member of Team Pilipinas.
Born June 14, 1978 in Manila.
Height: 5'11" and weighs: 192 lbs.
Position: Forward/Guard
Jersey Number: 14
PBA 2002 No. 7 Over-all Pick 1st Round Air 21 Express
traded to the Talk N Texts Phonepals in 2006 in a 3 team deal.
College: Dela Salle State University (DLSU)
Early life
Ritualo is the son of former PBA player, Florendo Sr., who played for the now-disbanded Great Taste franchise during the league's infant years. Ritualo followed his father's footsteps, playing for the San Beda Red Cubs in the NCAA Juniors under Ato Batolado before going to the UAAP Seniors team of De La Salle University-Manila (DLSU) Green Archers.De La Salle Green Archers
Ritualo was part of De La Salle's historic four-peat in the UAAP from 1998-2001 together with the group of Don Carlos Allado, Dino Aldeguer, Mac Cuan and later Mike Cortez and Mark Cardona.After his playing days, DLSU retired Ritualo's #4 jersey, joining Lim Eng Beng, as the only two players in Green Archers' history to have its number retired.
Accomplishments
- UAAP Mythical Five (1997-2001)
- UAAP Finals MVP (twice)
- UAAP Champion (1997-2001)
Philippine Basketball League
During his UAAP stint, Ritualo signed up with Tanduay in the Philippine Basketball League in 1998 in a limited role for the team as the Centennial Rhum Masters took a runner-up finish in the 2nd Yakult PBL Centennial Cup tournament. After Tanduay left the PBL, Ritualo was the key player for Tanduay's Colt 45 team in the 1999 PBL Challenge Cup, when the team placed third in the tournament.After Colt45 decided to leave the league, Ritualo joined Welcoat Paints in late-1999. Ritualo led Welcoat to three PBL titles from 1999-2002 before jumping to the PBA.
In 2003, Ritualo was named as one of PBL's Greatest Players of All-time.
Accomplishments
- PBL Mythical Five
- PBL Most Valuable Player
- PBL Champion (1999, 2000, 2001)
- Member of the PBL's 20 Greatest Players
Philippine Basketball Association
FedEx/Air21 Express
Ritualo was selected as the eight overall pick in the 2002 PBA Draft by expansion team FedEx Express. But before Ritualo was set to join FedEx, he was part of the RP National Training Pool for the 2002 Busan Asian Games. But Ritualo was cut from the team and returned to his mother team.Ritualo had a strong rookie for FedEx and by season's end, he was named as the 2002 PBA Rookie of the Year and also the 2002 Sixth Man of the Year winner by the PBA Press Corps.
Ritualo also recorded a 40-point output against the same Purefoods team on January 27, 2006 during Game three of the Fiesta Conference Semi-Finals series. Ritualo led Air21 to a third place finish, the highest in franchise history.
Ritualo, also was the first local player in PBA history to have four games in a career with at least eight three pointers in each of those games.
He has also participated in two PBA All-Star games, when he was part of the North All-Stars in the 2005 All-Star Game in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and the 2006 edition in Cagayan de Oro City.
Talk N Text Phone Pals
On May 8, 2006, Ritualo, along with Patrick Fran, was traded from Air21 to the Talk N' Text Phone Pals in exchange for Leo Avenido and two future first round draft picks, which is believed to be in 2007 and 2008.With Ritualo's addition, as well as the trade that sent Alaska Aces slotman Don Allado to the Phone Pals for Willie Miller and John Ferriols, the Phone Pals are considered as one of the deepest lineups in the 2006 Philippine Cup. However, the Phone Pals never made it past the wildcard phase, ending their season.
Accomplishments
- 2002 PBA Rookie of the Year
- 2002 PBA Sixth Man of the Year
- PBA All-Star
Team Pilipinas
In 2005, Ritualo was a member of the RP National Training Pool. Ritualo was part of the Team Pilipinas squad in the 2005 FIBA-Asia Champions Cup with the host squad placing fifth in the eight nation tournament. During a match against Sagesse of Lebanon, Ritualo's numerous three-pointers in the second half, sparked a short-lived comeback by the filipinos before losing 100-90.Ritualo was also included in the Team Pilipinas squad for the Global Hoops Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada. During one game, Ritualo drained nine triples in a loss to Passive Lane Sports.
At this time, that Ritualo was somewhat "rumored" to be signed up by the New Jersey Nets after one of the Nets coaching staff saw Ritualo's performance. The Nets have asked 3 tapes of Ritualo's game. The Philadephia 76ers have also inquired about him.
Ritualo was a member of Team Pilipinas' successful championship in the 5th Sultan's Cup in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam in September.
In 2006, Ritualo scored 17 points as Team Pilipinas defeated the American squad led by former NBA star Dennis Rodman 110-102 on May 1 at the Araneta Coliseum. Ritualo is currently listed to play for the national squad in the 2006 Jones Cup, but rumors are reported that his mother team will not allow Ritualo to join the said tournament.
External links
- [Air21Express.com: Renren Ritualo Profile]
- [link] INQ7.net: Miller, Ritualo, 4 others traded
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