Tonyboy Espinosa Explained

Tonyboy Espinosa
Birth Date:25 April 1974
Nationality:Filipino
Career Start:1997
Career End:2006
Career Position:Point guard
Career Number:3
Draft Pick Pba:24
Draft Round Pba:3
Draft Year Pba:1997
Draft Team Pba:Mobiline Phone Pals
Height Ft:5
Height In:8
Weight Kg:66
College:De La Salle
Team:Magnolia Hotshots
Position:Assistant coach
League:PBA
Coach Start:2015
Team1:Mobiline Phone Pals
Years1:1997–1999
Team2:Batangas Blades
Years2:2000–2002
Team3:Purefoods TJ Hotdogs
Years3:2004–2005
Team4:Coca-Cola Tigers
Years4:2005–2006
Cyears1:2015–present
Cteam1:Star/Magnolia Hotshots (assistant)
Cyears2:2021–present
Cteam2:Purefoods TJ Titans
Highlights:As assistant coach:

As player:

  • MBA champion (2001)
  • 2x PBA All-Star Buzzer-Beater Contest champion (1997, 1998)

Antonio "Tonyboy" Espinosa (sometimes spelled as Tony Boy) is a Filipino former basketball player and basketball coach who serving as one of the assistant coaches under Chito Victolero of the Magnolia Hotshots in the PBA.

Playing career

La Salle

Espinosa played for De La Salle Green Archers from 1991 to 1995 under Derrick Pumaren, and later with Virgil Villavicencio, and played with future colleague Jason Webb. In the 1991 UAAP Finals, he played against FEU Tamaraws led by another future colleague Johnny Abarrientos. With the Green Archers leading, 76–71, Espinosa was called for his fifth foul on Johnny Abarrientos. But the referees failed to send the La Salle guard out of the game, letting some seconds run down before Adi Papa was sent in as his replacement. La Salle won the game, but the FEU coach Arturo Valenzona protested and eventually claimed the title, because La Salle did not appear on the rematch game after the protest.[1]

Professional

Espinosa was drafted by Mobiline Cellulars in 1997, and played on the team until 1999.[2] He played with Batangas Blades.[3] He was free agent until 2004, when he was signed by then James Yap-led Purefoods TJ Hotdogs.[4] [5] He also played on Coca-Cola Tigers from 2005 until 2006.

Coaching career

Espinosa was hired in 2015 when Jason Webb was appointed as an assistant coach in Star Hotshots. That time, another former Green Juno Sauler joined the staff. When Webb was demoted, he was retained.[6]

He was assigned as head coach of Purefoods TJ Titans of the PBA 3x3.[7]

References

  1. Web site: Remember this strange end to the FEU vs La Salle finals in 1991? . 2024-02-03 . Spin.ph . en.
  2. Web site: Henson . Joaquin M. . Sporting Chance . 2024-02-03 . Philstar.com.
  3. Web site: Blades subdue Stars for second straight win . 2024-02-03 . Philstar.com.
  4. Web site: Beltran . Joey Villar, Nelson . Espinosa trey lifts Hotdogs . 2024-02-03 . Philstar.com.
  5. Web site: Espinosa, Yap nagbida sa Purefoods . 2024-02-03 . Philstar.com.
  6. Web site: 2022-07-31 . Steely Magnolia: Jalalon stars as Hotshots see off NLEX to reach Philippine Cup semis . 2024-02-03 . ESPN.com . en.
  7. Web site: Purefoods Titans offer title win to injured teammate Val Acuna . 2024-02-03 . Spin.ph . en.