Sidney Onwubere Explained

Sidney Onwubere
Nationality:Filipino / Nigerian
Position:Power forward
Team:NorthPort Batang Pier
League:PBA
Number:7
Birth Place:Valenzuela, Philippines
Birth Date:1 August 1993
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
College:EAC
Draft Year Pba:2017
Draft Round Pba:1
Draft Pick Pba:8
Draft Team Pba:Phoenix Fuel Masters
Career Start:2017
Team1:TNT KaTropa
Years1:2017–2018
Team2:Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Years2:2018–2020
Team3:NorthPort Batang Pier
Years3:2021
Team4:Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Years4:2021–2024
Team5:NorthPort Batang Pier
Years5:2024–present
Highlights:
High School:Immaculate Conception Academy (Dasmariñas, Cavite)

Sidney Nelson Onwubere (born August 1, 1993) is a Filipino-Nigerian basketball player for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is a former star player for the EAC Generals. He was selected by the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the 2017 PBA draft, but was traded to the TNT KaTropa the same day.

Early life and high school career

Onwubere is the son of a Nigerian father and a Filipina mother.[1] In high school, he played for the EAC-ICA Brigadiers, winning Defensive Player of the Year in the NCAA Season 87 Juniors' division, and earning a spot in the Mythical Team.[2]

College career

Onwubere moved up to the NCAA seniors' division, and played for the EAC Generals. In his rookie season, he was involved in a scuffle with Arellano guard James Forrester.[3] He was given a one-game suspension.[4] He only averaged 2.5 points, 2.8 rebounds in 10.7 minutes in 13 games in Season 89.[5]

In Season 90, he had 15 rebounds, 10 points, and 2 blocks in a win against the Mapúa Cardinals.[6]

In Season 91, the Generals got their first win after five games against the San Sebastian Stags, with Onwubere contributing 13 points and 14 rebounds.[7] He was suspended one game for being involved in a parking lot altercation with players from a rival school.[8] He led all players with 24 points and 9 rebounds in a loss to Arellano.[9] The Generals finished dead last that season.[10]

In Season 92, Onwubere had 18 points and 19 rebounds in a loss to the JRU Heavy Bombers.[11] In their rematch, he led the Generals to the win with 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals.[12]

In Season 93, he had nine turnovers and a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds in a win over the CSB Blazers.[13] In a win over Perpetual Altas, he finished with 21 points (with four being crucial free throws), 17 rebounds, three assists and a block after playing nearly 40 minutes of action in the win.[14] He finished the first round of eliminations with averages of 14.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game.[15] In a win against the Bombers in the second round of eliminations, he had 28 points and nine rebounds.[16] The Generals failed to make the Final Four, finishing with a 7–11 record. In his final season, Onwubere averaged 18 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 blocks,[17] earning him a spot in the Mythical Five.[18]

Professional career

PBA D-League

Onwubere played for the Racal Tile Masters in the D-League. In the 2017 Aspirants' Cup, his team made it to the Finals, where they lost to the Cignal-San Beda Hawkeyes.[19]

TNT KaTropa

Onwubere was selected by the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the 2017 PBA draft, but was traded to the TNT KaTropa the same day along with Justin Chua for Jonjon Gabriel and Phoenix's 2019 second round pick.[20] He debuted with six points, nine rebounds and a steal off the bench.[21] He was traded to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

Onwubere was traded along with Kris Rosales and a 2018 first-round pick in exchange for Jericho Cruz.[22] He broke out in the 2020 PBA season, averaging 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in the elimination round.[23] After that season, he was traded to the NorthPort Batang Pier.

NorthPort Batang Pier

On January 20, 2021, Onwubere, along with Clint Doliguez, was traded to the NorthPort Batang Pier for Bradwyn Guinto. He averaged a plus/minus of 7.8, good for fourth in the league.[24]

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel

On November 9, 2021, Onwubere was traded to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for Arthur dela Cruz.[25] He suffered a high ankle sprain in a game against the Magnolia Hotshots in the Governors' Cup, which put him out initially for the rest of the conference and the season.[26] Despite the diagnosis, he recovered quickly enough to play again that conference.[27]

PBA career statistics

As of the end of 2023–24 season[28]

Season-by-season averages

|-| align=left rowspan=2| | align=left | TNT| rowspan=2|18 || rowspan=2|7.3 || rowspan=2|.371 || rowspan=2|.278 || rowspan=2|.333 || rowspan=2|1.5 || rowspan=2|.3 || rowspan=2|.6 || rowspan=2|.2 || rowspan=2|1.8|-| align=left | Rain or Shine|-| align=left | | align=left | Rain or Shine| 20 || 5.0 || .278 || .167 || .313 || 1.0 || .2 || .3 || .1 || 1.4|-| align=left | | align=left | Rain or Shine| 12 || 15.5 || .328 || .214 || .514 || 3.4 || .3 || .1 || .3 || 5.8|-| align=left rowspan=2| | align=left | NorthPort| rowspan=2|25 || rowspan=2|18.8 || rowspan=2|.413 || rowspan=2|.263 || rowspan=2|.524 || rowspan=2|3.7 || rowspan=2|.9 || rowspan=2|.5 || rowspan=2|.5 || rowspan=2|6.4|-| align=left | Barangay Ginebra|-| align=left | | align=left | Barangay Ginebra| 17 || 4.3 || .364 || .300 || .500 || 1.2 || .1 || .2 || || 1.2|-| align=left | | align=left | Barangay Ginebra| 20 || 9.2 || .333 || .235 || .576 || 2.9 || .5 || .3 || .3 || 2.8|-class=sortbottom| align="center" colspan=2 | Career| 112 || 10.2 || .366 || .243 || .504 || 2.3 || .4 || .3 || .2 || 3.3

3x3 basketball

Onwubere was also a member of the Team Manila roster for the 2016 FIBA 3x3 All Stars in Doha, Qatar. He played with Rey Guevarra, CJ Perez and Bright Akhuetie in this competition. The team finished seventh out of eight competitors.[29]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Henson. Joaquin M.. October 30, 2017. Clean sweep. February 11, 2022. Philstar.com.
  2. Web site: Giongco. Mark. October 24, 2011. San Sebastian's Calvin Abueva bags NCAA MVP award. February 11, 2022. INQUIRER.net. en.
  3. Web site: Sacamos. Karlo. August 17, 2013. Commotion mars EAC-Arellano game. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  4. Web site: Reyes. Marc Anthony. August 25, 2013. Letran trips SBC, rules first round. February 11, 2022. INQUIRER.net. en.
  5. Web site: Sacamos. Karlo. July 1, 2014. NCAA PREVIEW: Intact EAC Generals look to make Final Four jump. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  6. Web site: Sacamos. Karlo. August 4, 2014. EAC Generals down hapless Mapua Cardinals behind collective effort to snap skid. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  7. Web site: Terrado. Reuben. July 31, 2015. Ex-pro Andy De Guzman savors winning feeling as EAC Generals nip Stags. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  8. Web site: Icasiano. Nissi. September 24, 2015. NCAA suspends Perpetual Help, EAC players for parking lot brawl. February 11, 2022. RAPPLER. en-US.
  9. Web site: You are being redirected.... February 11, 2022. arellano.edu.ph.
  10. Web site: Terrado. Reuben. April 3, 2016. Igee King back from injury layoff, Jorem Morada rejoins Generals for NCAA Season 92. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  11. Web site: Terrado. Reuben. July 21, 2016. Teytey Teodoro nails go-ahead jumper as JRU nips EAC to get back on winning track. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  12. Web site: Leongson. Randolph B.. August 30, 2016. Controversial finish gives EAC close win over JRU. February 11, 2022. INQUIRER.net. en.
  13. Web site: Jose. CHELSEIA JEANNE. July 16, 2017. Sidney Onwubere vows to limit turnovers as EAC Generals take on Letran Knights. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  14. Web site: August 28, 2017. Sidney Onwubere regains form as CJ Perez returns among weekly standouts in NCAA Season 93. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  15. Web site: September 2, 2017. MVP race frontrunners Prince Eze, CJ Perez lead top standouts after first round in Season 93. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  16. Web site: September 19, 2017. Generals defuse Bombers to move to fourth spot in NCAA Season 93. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  17. Web site: Leongson. Randolph B.. October 17, 2017. Onwubere bids EAC goodbye on a winning note. February 11, 2022. INQUIRER.net. en.
  18. Web site: Dioquino. Delfin. Lyceum's CJ Perez adds MVP award to impressive NCAA season. February 11, 2022. Rappler. en.
  19. Web site: Ballesteros. Jan. April 6, 2017. Cignal San Beda overcomes Racal in Game 3 thriller to claim D-League championship. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  20. Web site: Ramos. Gerry. November 9, 2017. TNT acquiring Sidney Onwubere from Phoenix for Jonjon Gabriel in swap of first-round picks. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  21. Web site: December 30, 2017. A DNP in Katropa's season opener, rookie Sidney Onwubere makes solid debut and vows to continue to improve. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  22. Web site: Sacamos. Karlo. February 15, 2018. TNT adds Kris Rosales to package to gain PBA approval for Jericho Cruz trade. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  23. Web site: Terrado. Reuben. January 20, 2021. Guinto beefs up RoS frontline as PBA approves trade with NorthPort. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  24. Web site: Terrado. Reuben. November 10, 2021. Sidney Onwubere in Top 10 of this PBA statistical category before trade. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  25. Web site: Ramos. Gerry. November 9, 2021. Ginebra trades Art Dela Cruz to NorthPort for Sidney Onwubere. February 11, 2022. Spin.ph. en.
  26. Web site: Ramos. Gerry. Feb 14, 2022. Onwubere out for rest of season as Ginebra injury list swells. 2022-02-15. Spin.ph. en.
  27. Web site: Terrado . Reuben . February 26, 2022 . Ginebra gets a }} boost as Sidney Onwubere returns to action ]. 2022-06-29 . Spin.ph . en.
  28. Web site: Sidney Onwubere Player Profile, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel - RealGM . basketball.realgm.com.
  29. Web site: Leongson. Randolph B.. November 19, 2016. Akhuetie-led Manila bows out early in 3×3 All-Stars. February 11, 2022. INQUIRER.net. en.