Peter June Simon
Encyclopedia
Peter June Simon is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association
playing for the B-Meg Llamados. In the 2008 PBA
All-Star Game, he was voted as the Most Valuable Player.
-based aficionados, PJ Simon was one of the biggest collegiate basketball heroes in Davao. He built his reputation as one the fiercest and most exciting basketball warriors down south by joining in various competitions and leaving his marks on them. He collected three Most Valuable Player trophies in the collegiate leagues in Davao City
and reigned five times as the Sultan of Slams.
. Although his career with the Eagles did not start well, he caught fire as the 2001 MBA First Phase progressed. He was at the forefront of the Eagles onslaught in several games. He once sparked a fourth-quarter rally to upset the league-leading Negros Slashers
. He engaged with Laguna Lakers
' Biboy Simon in a fiery shootout and at the same time registering his career-high 25 points. Coming off the bench, he scored a new career-high 28 points as they outclassed Nueva Ecija Patriots
during which he made five Blitz Three baskets in the game. In his best outing as an Eagle, PJ Simon fired yet another new career-high 41 points as he defied all guards thrown at him by the Patriots at their own turf.
At the end of the season, PJ Simon's hard work and heroics on the hardcourt paid off as he was named as the Discovery Player of the Year.
Also while playing in the MBA, he became a member of the Philippine national basketball team. In his first stint with the tricolors, PJ Simon scored 14 points to backup Reynel Hugnatan
as the MBA All-Stars opened its 25th William Jones Cup
campaign on a high note, tripping the much taller Russian club Lokomotive Novosibirsk, 78-68, at the Taipei Physical Education College
Gym.
, the Lamoiyan Corporation's Philippine Basketball League
franchise. In no time, he created a big mark in the star-studded 2002-03 PBL Challenge Cup. For his efforts, PJ Simon was selected into the Second Mythical Team during the Individual Players Achievement Awards. He also helped the team barge into the Finals. In his first PBL Finals appearance, PJ Simon led Dazz in a losing cause by scoring 18 points as they surrendered to the Welcoat Paintmasters in overtime in Game 1 at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City
.
Although Dazz failed to win the title, a change of the team's name had boded well for the Lamoiyan franchise's fortunes. Hapee Toothpaste opened its championship run in the 2003 Sunkist PBL Unity Cup by defeating Viva Mineral Water
behind the blazing guns of PJ Simon and Ryan Dy. Then in the deciding Game 5 of Unity Cup finals, Hapee rode again on the heroics of PJ Simon to capture the crown. For that, he and teammate Rich Alvarez
were later awarded by the PBL Press Corps as co-Final MVPs.
In the 2003 PBL-CBF Dual Meet Finals, PJ Simon and Allan Salangsang
combined for 35 points off the bench as they powered Fash Liquid to beat Grachiya Energy Boosters, 86-76, at the Cebu Coliseum.
The following conference, PJ Simon edged out other illustrious cagers to bag the 2003-04 PBL Platinum Cup MVP with the print, radio, and TV media solidly rallying behind him. Joining PJ Simon in the Mythical Team were Jojo Tangkay
, Fash teammate Rich Alvarez
, and future Purefoods teammates James Yap
and Ervin Sotto
. He also led his team in another title, beating the Welcoat Paintmasters in a hotly-contested five-game series.
as the forty-third overall pick in the 2001 PBA Draft
. He toiled for a while in the MBA and PBL where he further enhanced his skills.
But like his stints in the MBA and PBL, his PBA
career did not start hot as he played behind fellow star rookie James Yap
. In Purefoods' seventh game in the 2004-05 Philippines Cup, however, PJ got his game going as he led Purefoods in a come-from-behind win over Alaska
, by scoring four of his team-high 18 points in the final eleven seconds of the game.
In his first three seasons in the PBA, PJ Simon only showed flashes of his brilliance far and wide. In the 2007 PBA Fiesta Cup
, he was named Accel PBA Player of the Week for the period May 6 to 13. He came up with a team-high 22 points in a game against Coke
on May 4 then on May 13, he exploded for PBA career-high 31 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Purefoods in routing Ginebra
, 117-105.
The 33rd season
of the PBA proved to be the coming-out party for PJ Simon. While he was still in the giant shadow of his more famous teammates, he created his niche by being the super sub for his team. As Purefoods set a franchise-record of 7-0 to start a season, PJ was the biggest hero in two of those wins. He scored 15 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter to lead Purefoods to its fifth straight win as they massacred Ginebra, 103-76, on November 4, 2007.
Then ten days later, he once more top scored Purefoods by making 22 points in their 100-81 rout on Air21, tying the franchise's best to start in the All-Filipino.
In the Finals, PJ Simon had four scintillating games. Purefoods lost however to Sta. Lucia in seven games. But nevertheless, PJ Simon averaged 13.3 points to firmly establish himself as Purefoods' primary offensive off the bench.
Owing to his impressive performance in the 2007-08 PBA Philippine Cup
, he was selected in a reserve role to take part in the All-Star Game
held in Bacolod City
. And PJ did not disappoint those who thrust him into that position as he made the most out of the opportunity. Although he only played for 20 minutes, he scored 29 points on 11-of-14 field goals and 4-of-4 on the line to tow the South team in a thrilling victory in overtime over the North squad, 163-158. With that, he was cited as the Most Valuable Player, his first major PBA award.
In the 2009-10 Philippine Cup Finals
, Purefoods swept Alaska, 4-0, to be crowned 2009-2010 PBA Philippine Cup
champions.
The Llamados entered the 2010-11 PBA Philippine Cup as defending champions. In the first round of the tournament, Simon averaged 17.4 points per game, while the team ended the Classification Phase with a 7-7 record. On November 10, 2010, Simon scored a career-high 42 points against the Air21 Express
. The Davao City native and two-time MVP James Yap
led the team to the quarter-finals, in which the Llamados scored back-to-back wins against the Meralco Bolts
. For the series, Simon averaged 29.0 points and his contributions helped the Llamados to overcome Meralco in two games. However, they couldn't keep up the momentum in the semi-finals after losing to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in six games.
His older siblings are Maricris and Anthony, both have families of their own and are based in Mindanao.
PJ Simon and Charisma Peña of Northwest Airways have dated.
PJ Simon is a member of Victory
.
Along with close friend and Purefoods teammate James Yap
, PJ Simon guested at ABS-CBN
's Pinoy Big Brother
on April 23, 2008.
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...
playing for the B-Meg Llamados. In the 2008 PBA
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...
All-Star Game, he was voted as the Most Valuable Player.
College
To the uninitiated, PJ Simon was a relatively unknown. But to the hardcore basketball fans, and especially the MindanaoMindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
-based aficionados, PJ Simon was one of the biggest collegiate basketball heroes in Davao. He built his reputation as one the fiercest and most exciting basketball warriors down south by joining in various competitions and leaving his marks on them. He collected three Most Valuable Player trophies in the collegiate leagues in Davao City
Davao City
The City of Davao is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines....
and reigned five times as the Sultan of Slams.
Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA)
Having created a status in various collegiate and commercial leagues in Mindanao, PJ Simon was easily handpicked to be a part of the Davao Eagles in the Metropolitan Basketball AssociationMetropolitan Basketball Association
The Metropolitan Basketball Association or Metroball was a professional basketball league in the Philippines founded in 1998.The MBA overtook the Philippine Basketball Association's plans on regionalization when the league adopted a home-and-away format where teams, instead of representing...
. Although his career with the Eagles did not start well, he caught fire as the 2001 MBA First Phase progressed. He was at the forefront of the Eagles onslaught in several games. He once sparked a fourth-quarter rally to upset the league-leading Negros Slashers
Negros Slashers
The Negros Slashers also known as the RCPI-Negros Slashers was a former professional basketball team in the Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998 to 2002. The team enjoyed considerable success, winning the MBA National Championship in 2002, the last season of the said league...
. He engaged with Laguna Lakers
Laguna Lakers
The Laguna Lakers was a former professional basketball team in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998-2001. The team was owned by Bert Lina, owner of the Federal Express franchise in the Philippines...
' Biboy Simon in a fiery shootout and at the same time registering his career-high 25 points. Coming off the bench, he scored a new career-high 28 points as they outclassed Nueva Ecija Patriots
Nueva Ecija Patriots
The Nueva Ecija Patriots was a former professional basketball team in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1999–2001. 2002 PBA MVP Willie Miller was familiar for his initial years with the team when he played for the Patriots from 1999-2000...
during which he made five Blitz Three baskets in the game. In his best outing as an Eagle, PJ Simon fired yet another new career-high 41 points as he defied all guards thrown at him by the Patriots at their own turf.
At the end of the season, PJ Simon's hard work and heroics on the hardcourt paid off as he was named as the Discovery Player of the Year.
Also while playing in the MBA, he became a member of the Philippine national basketball team. In his first stint with the tricolors, PJ Simon scored 14 points to backup Reynel Hugnatan
Reynel Hugnatan
Reynel Frances T. Hugnatan is a Filipino Professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association...
as the MBA All-Stars opened its 25th William Jones Cup
William Jones Cup
The R. William Jones Cup is an international basketball tournament held annually in Taipei, Taiwan. It was named after Renato William Jones, a basketball promoter and one of the founders of the International Basketball Federation .The Jones Cup tournament started in 1977 and is held annually...
campaign on a high note, tripping the much taller Russian club Lokomotive Novosibirsk, 78-68, at the Taipei Physical Education College
Taipei Physical Education College
Taipei Physical Education College is a municipal college on Dunhua North Road, in Songshan District, Taipei, Republic of China . It was founded in 1968.- Current squad :- External links :* *...
Gym.
Philippine Basketball League (PBL)
Following the disbandment of the MBA in July 2002, PJ Simon was immediately enlisted by Dazz Dishwashing LiquidHapee Complete Protectors
The Licealiz Shampoo Hair Doctors is a basketball team currently playing in the Philippine Basketball League and is owned by the Lamoiyan Corporation. As with any team in the semi-pro PBL, the team regularly changes names, takes a leave of absence, then comes back and competes again...
, the Lamoiyan Corporation's 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:...
franchise. In no time, he created a big mark in the star-studded 2002-03 PBL Challenge Cup. For his efforts, PJ Simon was selected into the Second Mythical Team during the Individual Players Achievement Awards. He also helped the team barge into the Finals. In his first PBL Finals appearance, PJ Simon led Dazz in a losing cause by scoring 18 points as they surrendered to the Welcoat Paintmasters in overtime in Game 1 at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City
Lucena City
Metro Lucena has an estimated population of 700,000 which is mostly concentrated in the flat south-central portion of Quezon, which includes the cities of Lucena and Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria, Lucban & Pagbilao . The people are often characterized as friendly and hardworking...
.
Although Dazz failed to win the title, a change of the team's name had boded well for the Lamoiyan franchise's fortunes. Hapee Toothpaste opened its championship run in the 2003 Sunkist PBL Unity Cup by defeating Viva Mineral Water
Magnolia Purewater Wizards
The Magnolia Purewater Wizards is a basketball team currently playing in the Philippine Basketball League and is owned by San Miguel Corporation-San Miguel Lagerlite Beermen:* Paul Alvarez* Allan Caidic* Yves Dignadice* Jerry Codinera* Jong Uichico...
behind the blazing guns of PJ Simon and Ryan Dy. Then in the deciding Game 5 of Unity Cup finals, Hapee rode again on the heroics of PJ Simon to capture the crown. For that, he and teammate 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...
were later awarded by the PBL Press Corps as co-Final MVPs.
In the 2003 PBL-CBF Dual Meet Finals, PJ Simon and Allan Salangsang
Allan Salangsang
Allan Salangsang is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Asean Basketball League who currently plays for the Philippine Patriots. He was drafted twenty-seventh overall by Tanduay in 2001....
combined for 35 points off the bench as they powered Fash Liquid to beat Grachiya Energy Boosters, 86-76, at the Cebu Coliseum.
The following conference, PJ Simon edged out other illustrious cagers to bag the 2003-04 PBL Platinum Cup MVP with the print, radio, and TV media solidly rallying behind him. Joining PJ Simon in the Mythical Team were Jojo Tangkay
Jojo Tangkay
Jercules "Jojo" Tangkay is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who notably played for the Welcoat Dragons. He was drafted 16th overall by Sta. Lucia in 2001....
, Fash teammate 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...
, and future Purefoods teammates James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
and Ervin Sotto
Ervin Sotto
Ervin Sotto is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2004 PBA Draft by the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs...
. He also led his team in another title, beating the Welcoat Paintmasters in a hotly-contested five-game series.
Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)
While still playing for Fash in the PBL, Purefoods offered him a two-year contract as a rookie free agent. He was actually drafted by the Sta. Lucia RealtorsSta. 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...
as the forty-third overall pick in the 2001 PBA Draft
2001 PBA Draft
The 2001 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which will allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. It was held on January 14, 2001 at the Glorietta Activity Center at Makati City.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:...
. He toiled for a while in the MBA and PBL where he further enhanced his skills.
But like his stints in the MBA and PBL, his PBA
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...
career did not start hot as he played behind fellow star rookie James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
. In Purefoods' seventh game in the 2004-05 Philippines Cup, however, PJ got his game going as he led Purefoods in a come-from-behind win over Alaska
Alaska Aces (PBA)
The Alaska Aces is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of the Alaska Milk Corporation and the owner of 13 PBA championships with the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference as their latest...
, by scoring four of his team-high 18 points in the final eleven seconds of the game.
In his first three seasons in the PBA, PJ Simon only showed flashes of his brilliance far and wide. In the 2007 PBA Fiesta Cup
2007 PBA Fiesta Conference
-Barangay Ginebra-San Miguel series:-Talk 'N Text-Air21 series:-Red Bull-Talk 'N Text series:-Alaska-San Miguel series:-Third-place playoff:-Finals:Prior to Game 1, Sandwich performed "Laban kung Laban," the TV theme song of the PBA....
, he was named Accel PBA Player of the Week for the period May 6 to 13. He came up with a team-high 22 points in a game against Coke
Coca-Cola Tigers
The Powerade Tigers is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 2002 when the then-San Miguel Corporation-owned Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines bought the RFM-owned Cosmos Bottling Corporation. In 2006, the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company under the Coca-Cola...
on May 4 then on May 13, he exploded for PBA career-high 31 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Purefoods in routing Ginebra
Barangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
, 117-105.
The 33rd season
2007-08 PBA season
The 2007-08 PBA Season was the 33rd season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season was formally opened on October 14, 2007 at the Araneta Coliseum...
of the PBA proved to be the coming-out party for PJ Simon. While he was still in the giant shadow of his more famous teammates, he created his niche by being the super sub for his team. As Purefoods set a franchise-record of 7-0 to start a season, PJ was the biggest hero in two of those wins. He scored 15 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter to lead Purefoods to its fifth straight win as they massacred Ginebra, 103-76, on November 4, 2007.
Then ten days later, he once more top scored Purefoods by making 22 points in their 100-81 rout on Air21, tying the franchise's best to start in the All-Filipino.
In the Finals, PJ Simon had four scintillating games. Purefoods lost however to Sta. Lucia in seven games. But nevertheless, PJ Simon averaged 13.3 points to firmly establish himself as Purefoods' primary offensive off the bench.
Owing to his impressive performance in the 2007-08 PBA Philippine Cup
2007-08 PBA Philippine Cup
The 2007-08 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup or known as the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the first conference of the 2007-08 PBA season. The tournament was formally opened on October 14, 2007 and ended on March 2, 2008...
, he was selected in a reserve role to take part in the All-Star Game
Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Weekend
The Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Weekend is the annual gathering of the best players of the Philippine Basketball Association playing for various events such as the 3-point shootout, skills competition such as Obstacle and Trick-shot challenges, Rookies vs...
held in Bacolod City
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
. And PJ did not disappoint those who thrust him into that position as he made the most out of the opportunity. Although he only played for 20 minutes, he scored 29 points on 11-of-14 field goals and 4-of-4 on the line to tow the South team in a thrilling victory in overtime over the North squad, 163-158. With that, he was cited as the Most Valuable Player, his first major PBA award.
In the 2009-10 Philippine Cup Finals
2009–10 PBA Philippine Cup Finals
The 2009-10 PBA Philippine Cup Finals is the championship basketball best-of-7 series of the 2009-10 PBA Philippine Cup, and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs...
, Purefoods swept Alaska, 4-0, to be crowned 2009-2010 PBA Philippine Cup
2009–10 PBA Philippine Cup
The 2009–10 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup or known as the 2009–10 KFC PBA Philippine Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the first conference of the 2009–10 PBA season. The tournament started on October 11, 2009 and ended on March 3, 2010. The conference featured Smart Gilas as...
champions.
The Llamados entered the 2010-11 PBA Philippine Cup as defending champions. In the first round of the tournament, Simon averaged 17.4 points per game, while the team ended the Classification Phase with a 7-7 record. On November 10, 2010, Simon scored a career-high 42 points against 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...
. The Davao City native and two-time MVP James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
led the team to the quarter-finals, in which the Llamados scored back-to-back wins against 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...
. For the series, Simon averaged 29.0 points and his contributions helped the Llamados to overcome Meralco in two games. However, they couldn't keep up the momentum in the semi-finals after losing to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in six games.
Personal life
PJ Simon is the youngest in the brood of three of Pedro Simon, Jr., a teacher and the late Cristina. PJ is the only athlete in the family, although his father played some basketball but not in the commercial leagues. After his mother succumbed to cancer, his father remarried. From his father and stepmother Flor, Simon has a half-brother and a half-sister.His older siblings are Maricris and Anthony, both have families of their own and are based in Mindanao.
PJ Simon and Charisma Peña of Northwest Airways have dated.
PJ Simon is a member of Victory
Victory Christian Fellowship
Victory Metro Manila is a non-denominational Evangelical church based in the Philippines and a founding member of the Every Nation Churches and Ministries, a worldwide movement of churches...
.
Along with close friend and Purefoods teammate James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, PJ Simon guested at ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
's Pinoy Big Brother
Pinoy Big Brother
Pinoy Big Brother is the Philippine version of the reality television show Big Brother . It follows the same premise as its many foreign counterparts around the world: twelve Philippine residents are forced to live with each other inside a house for about 3 months or at least 100 days...
on April 23, 2008.