Al Solis Explained

Alfonso Solis
Number:8
Position:Shooting guard
Nationality:Filipino
Birth Date:23 December 1962
Birth Place:Davao City, Philippines
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:170
High School:University of the Visayas
College:University of the Visayas
Draft Year Pba:1987
Draft Round Pba:1
Draft Pick Pba:2
Draft Team Pba:Hills Bros.
Career Start:1987
Career End:2001
Years1:1987
Team1:Formula Shell
Years2:1988–1990
Team2:Purefoods Hotdogs
Years3:1991–1995
Team3:Swift/Sunkist
Years4:1996–2000
Team4:Pepsi/Mobiline
Years5:2001
Team5:Batang Red Bull Thunder
Highlights:

Alfonso Solis (born December 23, 1962), better known as Al Solis, is a Filipino retired professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Amateur career

Solis started in 1977 with the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers, UV's high school team. After spending three years of junior basketball, Solis was elevated to the collegiate ranks and lasted until 1984. Simultaneously with his UV stint, he played for several local commercial teams in Cebu. Al became one of the veteran players in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League as he suited up in the very first PABL tournament, playing for Fariñas Transit and then to Cine Suerte under coach Arturo Valenzona.

Solis became a member of the RP Youth team that finished third in the 1984 ABC 19 and under meet in Seoul, South Korea. The following year, he joined the Northern Cement basketball team of coach Ron Jacobs. In 1985, Solis saw action for Lagerlite Beer and after which he went back to Cebu. In his final year in the amateurs, Solis became part of the Lhuillier Jewelers' champion team in the 1986 PABL First Conference.

Professional career

Originally drafted by Hills Bros. (formerly Alaska Milk) in the PBA, Solis was traded to Shell, along with Rey Cuenco in exchange for Bogs Adornado. After placing second to Allan Caidic for the rookie of the year honors in his freshman year, Solis moved to newcomer Purefoods Hotdogs at the beginning of the 1988 PBA season.[1] Al was responsible for leading the Hotdogs to their first-ever PBA championship in 1990, he scored a clutch three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining and two seconds on their shotclock, that gave the Hotdogs a four-point cushion in the deciding Game five of the third conference finals against Alaska Milkmen.

He was offered a P2.6 million contract by the RFM franchise the following season which Purefoods surprisingly didn't match.[2] Solis went on to win four championships with the Swift/Sunkist ballclub. He moved to Pepsi/Mobiline beginning the 1996 PBA season. Al's last stop in the PBA was playing 12 games with Batang Red Bull in the 2001 All-Filipino Cup. After that, he went on to play for Cebu Gems in the MBA.

In his 15 years in the PBA, Solis made the Mythical First team twice and was an All-Star once. He was the 26th player to reach the 5,000-point plateau.

Notes and References

  1. News: Purefoods debut. Manila Standard.
  2. News: Purefoods yields Solis. Manila Standard.