Mark Cardona
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alias | Captain Hook |
|---|---|
| Jersey No. | 9 (Changed form 17) |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Current Team | Talk N' Text Phone Pals |
| Personal Info | |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Birth | November 13, 1981 Mandaluyong , Metro Manila |
| Height | 6 ft. 1
high school= Jose Rizal University in. |
| Weight | {{{weight_lbs}}} |
| College | De La Salle University-Manila |
| Career Highlights | |
| Draft | 2005 5th overall by Air21 Express |
| Pro Career | 2005 – present |
| Also played for | DLSU Green Archers (UAAP), ICTSI (PBL), Harbour Centre (PBL) |
| Awards Received |
|
Mark "Macmac" Cardona is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals Team in the Philippine Basketball Association. Nicknamed "Captain Hook" because of his patented teardrop shots, otherwise known as the running hook, Cardona owes his monicker to UAAP commentator Jude Turcuato.
Playing as a shooting guard or the No.2 spot, Cardona is one of a few players who can create, execute and complete a play with very little assistance from his teammates. With a decent shot from the outside, the ability to dish out assists, and a steady dribbling skill, he is considered a triple-threat on the hardcourt.
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[edit] Biography
Mark Reynan Mikesell Cardona was born on November 3, 1981 at Mandaluyong, Metro Manila (now Mandaluyong City) to Reynaldo Cardona and Criselda Mikesell.
The youngest of five children, Macmac got his elementary education from various schools, which include NAMEI Polytechnic Institute, Jose Rizal College (now a University), Isaac Lopez Elementary School, and a public school in Cardona, Rizal.
He spent most of high school at Carson High School in the United States where he finished Level 10, which did not qualify him for a diploma. Mac eventually came back home to the Philippines and took the DECS (now DepEd) Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) to be eligible for admission to College.
[edit] Amateur career
With the intent of using his basketball skills as a passport to a good college education, he walked in for a tryout with the De La Salle University-Manila (DLSU) Green Archers basketball team. And, as cliché as it seems, the rest is history.
Despite several controversies and allegations, primarily regarding his residency and eligibility, Macmac went on to win the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Rookie of the Year award with the Green Archers in 2001. Cardona was also part of the UAAP 67th season Mythical Five and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the same season.
Cardona played for ICTSI-La Salle in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) from 2002-2005, where he was awarded top rookie honors as PBL Top Newcomer. After ICTSI's departure from the league, Cardona joined Harbour Centre in the 2005 PBL Unity Cup, where he was named MVP of the conference.
During his stint at the PBL, he was consistently named to the Mythical Team and also received recognition as the league's Scoring Sensation.
[edit] Professional career
On August 2005, Cardona was picked fifth overall by the Air21 Express during the annual 2005 PBA Draft of Asia's first ever pay-for-play league, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Before the season started, he was eventually traded to the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals.
Despite a slow start in his rookie season, Cardona played significant minutes under Derrick Pumaren who replaced Joel Banal as the team's Head Coach. He is currently part of the starting line-up of the Phone Pals.
Only in his sophomore year in the league, and with a current career-high of 38 points, resetting his previous 30+ career outputs three times within two weeks, Cardona proves to be every bit the explosive player that he is. Todate, he is the only player to be named PBA Press Corps' Player of the Week seven times within one conference: the 2007 Fiesta Conference.
As a confirmation of his explosiveness and a testament to his overall tenacity as a player, Cardona recently received the PBA Conference Best Player award for the 2007 Fiesta Conference. He was also an official nominee for the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award of the 2006-2007 season.
