Marcio Lassiter
Encyclopedia
Marcio Tsongo Lassiter is a Filipino-American professional basketball player currently playing for the Powerade Tigers of the Philippine Basketball Association
. He just completed his stint with the Philippine national basketball team, Smart Gilas
. Considered the best all-around sharpshooter in the PBA when Smart Gilas
played as a guest team in the league, Lassiter plays the swingman
position. He graduated and played college basketball for Cal State Fullerton.
to continue his basketball career at the community college level.
Recruitment ranking Rivals.com. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
title and was on their way to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament known as the "Big Dance," just the second time with the first being 30 years prior. They ended up, however losing in the first round to the much taller and bigger no. 3 seeded team of the Wisconsin Badgers
.
Marcio's second and last year at Cal State Fullerton was also a great one. He was just 1 of 2 returning seniors. Lassiter received the Lyle Parks, Jr., Hustle Award from the Titan Athletics Club and his teammates voted him the Andrew Awad Toughness Award for inspiration, named in honor of the late former Titan player. He was described by Titans coach Bob Burton as “a tremendous defender (and) a really outstanding shooter.”
Because of the fall though of the PBL, Marcio was then picked up by Smart Gilas
Pilipinas National Team.
In the 2010-2011 Commissioner's Cup, and due to the leave of absence by Barako Bull Energy Boosters in Philippine Basketball Association
, Smart Gilas
the team with whom he has been playing for, was the replacement of the Barako. Played 13 games, averaging 38 minutes per game (#1 in the league), 13.5 points per game (#14 in the league), 36.9% (24/65) from the 3-point line (#17 in the league), #10 in the league for most points over all (176 total) with a game high of 22, 3.08 assists per game (#16 in the league), 1.15 steals per game (#9 in the league) and 5.31 rebounds per game. He was ranked #16 over all in efficiency at 30.79%.
. At that time, there had been no announcements regarding an extension of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National program. It was not until August 16, 2011 that an extension of the program was revealed. Gilas management revealed the names of those targeted to be retained, including Lassiter. Despite word that offers were set to take place that next day, nothing was done to retain any of the players initially mentioned, and they were even given the "OK" to continue with the draft. This was quite unfortunate for the Smart Gilas
program, being that many of the players were waiting for an offer and still undecided with a chance to pullout of the draft. On August 28, 2011, Marcio Lassiter was selected 4th overall in the draft by Powerade Tigers. Smart Gilas
teammate JV Casio
was also chosen by the Tigers as 1st overall.
, he is a member of the Philippines men's national basketball team that is bannered by collegiate and amateur standouts whose ultimate goal is to reach the 2012 London Olympics. He participated in the FIBA Asia Stanković Cup 2010
, represented the team in the 2010 Asian Games Basketball Tournament
and also made a huge impact in the most recent tournament at the 2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup
that took place in Manila.
In the recent rare event due to the NBA lockout, the Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend took place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Marcio scored 9 points in their game against the Smart All-Stars (Kobe Bryant
, JaVale McGee
, Kevin Durant
, James Harden
, Tyreke Evans
, Derrick Williams
, Derrick Rose
, Chris Paul
, and Derrick Fisher) while playing his well known, efficient, and commendable style of defense.
. He has an older brother named Jolinko. He currently lives in Manila with his long time US-born Filipina girlfriend/fiancée Jerlyn Pangilinan and their young son, Montaé Izaiyah. Lassiter graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Kinesiology. His family is also related to the Filipino comedian Joey Guila.
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. He just completed his stint with the Philippine national basketball team, Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
. Considered the best all-around sharpshooter in the PBA when Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
played as a guest team in the league, Lassiter plays the swingman
Swingman
A Swingman is a basketball term denoting a player who can play both the small forward and shooting guard positions, and, in essence, swing between the shooting guard and small forward positions." Swingmen males are often between 6'5" and 6'8" .John Havlicek, who played for the Boston Celtics in...
position. He graduated and played college basketball for Cal State Fullerton.
High school career
Multi-talented performer for the Washington High Eagles and Coach Jeremy Lee in San Francisco. He is a four-year varsity letterman who earned All-Academic Athletic Association honors three times. He also was all-district as a senior as a power forward and center and all-city as a sophomore and junior as a shooting guard. As a senior averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds. He turned down an academic scholarship to University of San FranciscoUniversity of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
to continue his basketball career at the community college level.
College recruitment
|}Recruitment ranking Rivals.com. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
City College of San Francisco
Selected Co-Most Valuable Player of the Coast Conference North in 2006-07 for Coach Justin Labagh and the CCSF Rams, who were ranked No. 4 in the state going into the playoffs and finished 28-6. Earned second-team Northern California all-state honors. He ranked among the Top 100 JC players in California. Averaged 14 points as a sophomore. Averaged 12 points as a freshman. Marcio led team in scoring both years. But team lost in the 2007 Regional playoffs to West Hills, 80-79. Lassiter’s junior college coach Justin Labagh at City College of San Francisco said, “Marcio brings consistency to the team - he is always ready to play, he has a basketball sense that realizes that shooting is just one part of the game, he is a complete player.”California State University Fullerton
Marcio provided an offensive spark off the bench as well as a strong defensive presence on the wing during the 2007-08 season, playing in 32 of the team's 33 games. Selected Most Improved Player by his teammates. Transferee from San Francisco City College averaged 3.3 points and 1.0 rebounds and showed the ability to score in bunches. He got a season-high 17 points in a season-high 25 minutes vs. UCR, making 5-of-9 shots, 3-of-6 from the arc. He did not miss a free throw all season, making 18 of 18. On the Labor Day Weekend tour to British Columbia he was the Titans' No. 2 scorer at 12.7 points per game and grabbed 4.0 rebounds to go with 1.5 assists. During his first year at CSUF, the team won the NCAA Big West ConferenceBig West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
title and was on their way to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament known as the "Big Dance," just the second time with the first being 30 years prior. They ended up, however losing in the first round to the much taller and bigger no. 3 seeded team of the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
.
Marcio's second and last year at Cal State Fullerton was also a great one. He was just 1 of 2 returning seniors. Lassiter received the Lyle Parks, Jr., Hustle Award from the Titan Athletics Club and his teammates voted him the Andrew Awad Toughness Award for inspiration, named in honor of the late former Titan player. He was described by Titans coach Bob Burton as “a tremendous defender (and) a really outstanding shooter.”
Professional career
He moved to the Philippines in October 2009 and was the overall #1 pick of the PBL drafted by Magnolia.Because of the fall though of the PBL, Marcio was then picked up by Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
Pilipinas National Team.
In the 2010-2011 Commissioner's Cup, and due to the leave of absence by Barako Bull Energy Boosters in Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
, Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
the team with whom he has been playing for, was the replacement of the Barako. Played 13 games, averaging 38 minutes per game (#1 in the league), 13.5 points per game (#14 in the league), 36.9% (24/65) from the 3-point line (#17 in the league), #10 in the league for most points over all (176 total) with a game high of 22, 3.08 assists per game (#16 in the league), 1.15 steals per game (#9 in the league) and 5.31 rebounds per game. He was ranked #16 over all in efficiency at 30.79%.
Entering the PBA draft
On July 28, 2011, Marcio Lassiter was one of the first 10 applicants for the 2011 PBA Draft2011 PBA Draft
The 2011 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event will be held at Robinson's Place Ermita in Manila on August 28, 2011...
. At that time, there had been no announcements regarding an extension of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National program. It was not until August 16, 2011 that an extension of the program was revealed. Gilas management revealed the names of those targeted to be retained, including Lassiter. Despite word that offers were set to take place that next day, nothing was done to retain any of the players initially mentioned, and they were even given the "OK" to continue with the draft. This was quite unfortunate for the Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
program, being that many of the players were waiting for an offer and still undecided with a chance to pullout of the draft. On August 28, 2011, Marcio Lassiter was selected 4th overall in the draft by Powerade Tigers. Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
teammate JV Casio
JV Casio
Joseph Evans "JV" Casio, is Filipino basketball player for the Philippine national basketball team and the Smart Gilas. He was drafted 1st overall by the Powerade Tigers in 2011.-High School:...
was also chosen by the Tigers as 1st overall.
International career
With Marcio playing for Smart GilasSmart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
, he is a member of the Philippines men's national basketball team that is bannered by collegiate and amateur standouts whose ultimate goal is to reach the 2012 London Olympics. He participated in the FIBA Asia Stanković Cup 2010
FIBA Asia Stanković Cup 2010
2010 FIBA Asia Stanković Cup was the 3rd FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup, the basketball tournament of FIBA Asia was held in Beirut, Lebanon from 7th of August to 15th of August 2010, in Ghazir Club Court involving 10 national teams from Asia....
, represented the team in the 2010 Asian Games Basketball Tournament
Basketball at the 2010 Asian Games
Basketball was one of the 42 sports at the 16th Asian Games 2010 at Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The event was held at the 13,000 seat Guangzhou International Sports Arena, Huangpu Gymnasium, Guangti Gymnasium, Ying Dong Gymnasium and Sports and Entertainment Centre.The Philippines, which has made...
and also made a huge impact in the most recent tournament at the 2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup
2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup
The FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011 was the 22nd staging of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the basketball club tournament of FIBA Asia. The tournament was held in Pasig, Philippines from May 28 to June 5, 2011...
that took place in Manila.
In the recent rare event due to the NBA lockout, the Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend took place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Marcio scored 9 points in their game against the Smart All-Stars (Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
, JaVale McGee
JaVale McGee
JaVale McGee is an American professional basketball player who was selected 18th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2008 NBA Draft. He is a center who is listed at 7'0" and 252 lb...
, Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association . A 6'9" small forward/shooting guard who is also capable of playing power forward, Durant was the consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year and the...
, James Harden
James Harden
James Harden may refer to:*James Harden , Northern Irish politician*James Harden , Professional basketball player for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder...
, Tyreke Evans
Tyreke Evans
Tyreke Jamir Evans is an American professional basketball player with Virtus Roma in Italy. He is also under contract with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association , but is not currently playing with them because of the 2011 NBA lockout...
, Derrick Williams
Derrick Williams (basketball)
Derrick LeRon Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was considered one of the top prospects for the 2011 NBA Draft and was selected as the second overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves...
, Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose
Derrick Martell Rose is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association ....
, Chris Paul
Chris Paul
Christopher Emmanuel Paul is an American professional basketball point guard for the New Orleans Hornets.Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake...
, and Derrick Fisher) while playing his well known, efficient, and commendable style of defense.
Team achievements
- 2011 William Jones Cup2011 William Jones CupThe 2011 TAIYEN William Jones Cup is the 33rd tournament of the William Jones Cup that is taking place at Hsinchuang Gymnasium in New Taipei, Republic of China from August 6 to 13, 2011.-Squads:...
participant (Smart Gilas Pilipinas) - 2011 William Jones Cup2011 William Jones CupThe 2011 TAIYEN William Jones Cup is the 33rd tournament of the William Jones Cup that is taking place at Hsinchuang Gymnasium in New Taipei, Republic of China from August 6 to 13, 2011.-Squads:...
3rd place finish (Smart Gilas Pilipinas) - 2011 Southeast Asian Basketball Championships participant (Smart Gilas Pilipinas)
- 2011 Southeast Asian Basketball Championships 1st place finish (Smart Gilas Pilipinas)
- 2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup2011 FIBA Asia Champions CupThe FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011 was the 22nd staging of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the basketball club tournament of FIBA Asia. The tournament was held in Pasig, Philippines from May 28 to June 5, 2011...
participant (Smart Gilas Pilipinas) - 2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup2011 FIBA Asia Champions CupThe FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011 was the 22nd staging of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the basketball club tournament of FIBA Asia. The tournament was held in Pasig, Philippines from May 28 to June 5, 2011...
4th place finish (Smart Gilas Pilipinas) - 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup-Air21-Alaska series:-Talk 'N Text-Air21 series:-Smart Gilas-Barangay Ginebra series:-Finals:- Imports :The following is the list of imports, which had played for their respective teams at least once, with the returning imports in italics...
participant (Smart Gilas Pilipinas) - 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup-Air21-Alaska series:-Talk 'N Text-Air21 series:-Smart Gilas-Barangay Ginebra series:-Finals:- Imports :The following is the list of imports, which had played for their respective teams at least once, with the returning imports in italics...
3rd place finish (Smart Gilas Pilipinas) - 2010 Asian games participant (Smart Gilas Pilipinas)
- 2010 Asian games 6th place finish (Smart Gilas Pilipinas)
- 2010 MVP Champions Cup participant (Smart Gilas Pilipinas)
- 2010 MVP Champions Cup 1st place finish (Smart Gilas Pilipinas)
- 2010 FIBA Asia Stanković Cup participant (Smart Gilas Pilipinas)
- 2010 FIBA Asia Stanković Cup 4th place finish (Smart Gilas Pilipinas)
Personal life
Marcio was born on May 16, 1987, in San Francisco. His mother is Alexandria Eshabarr, who's father is from Ilocos SurIlocos Sur
Ilocos Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Vigan City, located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the provincial capital...
. He has an older brother named Jolinko. He currently lives in Manila with his long time US-born Filipina girlfriend/fiancée Jerlyn Pangilinan and their young son, Montaé Izaiyah. Lassiter graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Kinesiology. His family is also related to the Filipino comedian Joey Guila.