Nelbert Omolon
Encyclopedia
Nelbert Omolon is a Filipino
professional basketball
player in the Philippine Basketball Association
who currently plays for the Meralco Bolts
. He is a very versatile player who can score inside and outside, and can play multiple positions as well. He was drafted eighth overall in the class of 2004 together that included Rich Alvarez
, Marc Pingris
, James Yap
, Ranidel de Ocampo
, Gary David
, and Wesley Gonzales
.
The youngest of three boys, he was born and grew up in Talakag, Bukidnon
, about a 30-minute drive from the Cagayan de Oro airport. After playing in PCU
, he took his sneakers to the Philippine Basketball League
where he suited up for Osaka-La Salle and ICTSI under coach Franz Pumaren and Welcoat under Coach Leo Austria
.
Omolon scored a personal high 40 points on 11-of-16 shooting in the two-point area and hitting 4-of-5 beyond the arc with nine boards as Sta. Lucia earned its first ever outright semifinals slot on January 13, 2008 with a 123-106 rout over the Air21 Express
.
A player who ever reliable on both ends of the floor due to his unrelenting defense and efficient offense, Bitoy has continued to impress his coaches in the pro league to this day. He is a player who is always tasked to guard the opposing team's best player and even imports. He can be the team MVP of the game and not score a point. Although possessing a limited array of offensive moves, Nelbert has showed he can do it as well on offense. With an improved outside shot these days, he is looked to provide a complimentary role to his more offensive-minded teammates in Meralco.
Omolon already has one ring with the Sta. Lucia Realtors
. He helped the team to clamp on effective defense against James Yap
which put the latter scoreless during the six-minute span of the fourth quarter.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player in the 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...
who currently plays for the Meralco Bolts
Meralco Bolts
The Meralco Bolts is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 2010 when the Manila Electric Company bought the Sta...
. He is a very versatile player who can score inside and outside, and can play multiple positions as well. He was drafted eighth overall in the class of 2004 together that included Rich Alvarez
Rich Alvarez
Richard D. "Rich" Alvarez is a Filipino professional basketball player and currently playing for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. Alvarez was the first overall pick of 2004 PBA Draft by the Shell Turbo Chargers...
, Marc Pingris
Marc Pingris
Jean Marc Pingris, Jr. is a Filipino professional basketball player in the PBA for the B-Meg Llamados. He is a versatile 6-foot-5 forward-center that can post up and shoot mid-range jumpshots. He is half-French and half-Filipino...
, James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, Ranidel de Ocampo
Ranidel de Ocampo
Ranidel Rozal de Ocampo , better known as Ranidel de Ocampo, is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. de Ocampo currently plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters after he was traded by Air21 Express. He is the younger brother of Yancy de Ocampo...
, Gary David
Gary David
Gary David is a Filipino Professional basketball player currently playing for the Powerade Tigers in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is widely perceived as one of the most prolific scorers in the PBA today....
, and Wesley Gonzales
Wesley Gonzales
Wesley O. Gonzales is a Filipino professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association.-Player Profile:...
.
Player Profile
Omolon did not learn how to play when he was a kid. He never even liked the game until he grew from 5’7 as a high school freshman to 6’2 as junior. He then joined a powerhouse Xavier University High School Ateneo de Cagayan basketball squad, a program rich in high school basketball success in Cagayan de Oro City. There his talents were honed as he played his first ever organized basketball under the tutelage of highly-regarded Cagayan de Oro basketball coach, Emmanuel "Manny" Diaz. His teammates included UE stalwart, Jay-Arr Estrada and former NBC (now Liga Pilipinas) player Andrew Neri. That was when Omolon realized he might have a future in basketball.The youngest of three boys, he was born and grew up in Talakag, Bukidnon
Bukidnon
Bukidnon is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Malaybalay City. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte.Bukidnon is...
, about a 30-minute drive from the Cagayan de Oro airport. After playing in PCU
Philippine Christian University
The Philippine Christian University is a private university along Taft Avenue, Manila. It was founded in 1946 through the initiatives of the Laymen of the Evangelical Association of the Philippines. Originally named as Manila Union University, it was renamed as Philippine Christian College...
, he took his sneakers to the Philippine Basketball League
Philippine Basketball League
The Philippine Basketball League is a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. The league is composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars.-History:...
where he suited up for Osaka-La Salle and ICTSI under coach Franz Pumaren and Welcoat under Coach Leo Austria
Leo Austria
Leovino R. Austria , better known as Leo Austria, born in Sariaya, Quezon, is a retired Filipino professional basketball player and former head coach of the Welcoat Dragons and the Shell Turbo Chargers in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is also the 1985 PBA Rookie of the Year...
.
Omolon scored a personal high 40 points on 11-of-16 shooting in the two-point area and hitting 4-of-5 beyond the arc with nine boards as Sta. Lucia earned its first ever outright semifinals slot on January 13, 2008 with a 123-106 rout over the Air21 Express
Air21 Express
The Barako Bull Energy is a Philippine Basketball Association team that began in 2002.Barako Bull is owned by Energy Food and Drinks Inc., a subsidiary of the Linaheim Corporate Services, owners of the defunct Laguna Lakers of the Metropolitan Basketball Association...
.
A player who ever reliable on both ends of the floor due to his unrelenting defense and efficient offense, Bitoy has continued to impress his coaches in the pro league to this day. He is a player who is always tasked to guard the opposing team's best player and even imports. He can be the team MVP of the game and not score a point. Although possessing a limited array of offensive moves, Nelbert has showed he can do it as well on offense. With an improved outside shot these days, he is looked to provide a complimentary role to his more offensive-minded teammates in Meralco.
Omolon already has one ring with the Sta. Lucia Realtors
Sta. Lucia Realtors
The Sta. Lucia Realtors was a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association.The Universal Robina Corporation team is one of the founding members of the PBA. Formerly known as Great Taste and Presto-Tivoli Ice Cream, they have won a total of 6 championships. Sta...
. He helped the team to clamp on effective defense against James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
which put the latter scoreless during the six-minute span of the fourth quarter.