Jayjay Helterbrand
 |
| File:Helterbrand.jpg | |
| No. 13 – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard / Shooting guard |
| League | PBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 14, 1976 Novaliches, Quezon City, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kentucky State |
| PBA draft | 2000: Direct Hire |
| Selected by the Barangay Ginebra Kings | |
| Playing career | 2000–present |
| Career history | |
| 2000–present | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Anthony Helterbrand (born as Lamberto Romero Vicente, Jr. on October 14, 1976 in Quezon City, Philippines), better known as Jayjay Helterbrand, is a Filipino-American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. Known by many as Helter Skelter, he is also known, along with backcourt tandem Mark Caguioa, as one-half of the so-called, The Fast and the Furious.
Early life
Helterbrand was born in Quezon City to Lamberto Heras Vicente and Melanie Jimenez Romero. The name on his birth certificate was Lamberto Romero Vicente, Jr. His father later died, and his mother took him along with his brother Francis and sister Rowena to the US when he was six. His mother remarried a US serviceman Ronald Helterbrand and changed his name to Anthony Helterbrand in 1986 at the age of 10.[1]
PBA career
He played one game for the Batangas Blades in the Metropolitan Basketball Association before signing with the Barangay Ginebra Kings in March 2000. He was recruited by Ginebra (by coach Ron Jacobs) to play back up for Bal David as preparation to supplant him in the starting lineup.
Helterbrand started being noticed when he began coming into the game with eventual 2001 PBA Rookie of the Year Mark Caguioa. Their exciting play led to them being called as the "Bandana Brothers" for the headbands they wear during games. During the 2004 PBA season, the fantastic duo were tagged as "The Fast and The Furious," the moniker has since been used to describe them. His tandem with Mark Caguioa is one of the most popular and arguably the best backcourt tandem in the league history.
In 2003, he went back to the States after his first contract with Ginebra expired and negotiation for a new one fell through. He came back at the start of 2004 and was a major contributor in the team's back-to-back championships that year.
Injury sidelined him for five months at the start of 2005 but has mainly recovered and even won two MVP awards for the year, the Brunei Cup and the 2005 PBA All-Stars. He is considered to be one of the best point guards in the league.
After he returned to Ginebra, he quickly made an impact and was named the Comeback Player of the Year by the PBA Press Corps. He assumed the starting point guard chores after Bal David got injured and was subsequently released. He was also named MVP in Team Pilipinas' victorious run in the Sultan Cup in Brunei.
In 2008, he was again included in the RP Training Pool headed by Coach Yeng Guiao.
In 2009, Helterband was awarded the Best Player of the Fiesta Conference for leading the Kings to the finals, and he eventually won the Season MVP. However, the Team Pilipinas couldn't elevate to a much higher finish as they lost to the Korean national team in the battle for 7th place in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship. An unusual Helterbrand finished his stint with a 1-11 from the three point area.
On June 8, 2009, he was awarded the 2007-2008 PBA season MVP, his first MVP award as a professional since entering the league in 2000.[2]
Personal life
Jayjay is married to actress RR Enriquez.
References
External links
- Who is Helterbrand?
- Helterbrand Basketball Statistics
- Mark Caguioa's College Basketball Statistics
- Barangay Ginebra Kings
- Ginebra Online
Template:Philippines Squad 2007 FIBA Asia Championship