Jason Ballesteros
Jason Ballesteros (born October 7, 1985) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafted seventh by the Meralco Bolts in the 2011 PBA draft.[1] He has also played for Smart Gilas.
 Ballesteros during his tenure at Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants | |
| No. 18 – Meralco Bolts | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | PBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 7, 1985 Basista, Pangasinan, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 246 lb (112 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | San Sebastian College |
| PBA draft | 2011 Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall |
| Selected by the Meralco Bolts | |
| Playing career | 2011–present |
| Career history | |
| 2011–2012 | Meralco Bolts |
| 2012–2013 | Barako Bull Energy |
| 2013–2014 | Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants |
| 2014 | Meralco Bolts |
| 2014–2016 | Blackwater Elite |
| 2016–2017 | Mahindra Enforcer / Mahindra Floodbuster / Kia Picanto |
| 2017–present | Meralco Bolts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
College career
Ballesteros played college basketball for the San Sebastian Stags where he became the team's starting center. While playing for San Sebastian, he was known as one of NCAA Philippines' top defensive players, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award twice, in 2007 and 2008. He also made the league's Mythical Five team in his final season in 2008.
Professional career
Ballesteros was drafted by Meralco Bolts seventh overall in the 2011 PBA draft that also featured his former Smart Gilas teammates.
Weeks before the start of the 38th PBA season, he was traded to Barako Bull in exchange for Carlo Sharma and 3-point bomber Sunday Salvacion.[2]
In February 2014, San Miguel Beermen signed Ballesteros to a two-year deal, but never played a game for them and was released before the Governors' Cup. The Meralco Bolts re-signed him for the rest of the season.
On September 12, 2014, he and Salvacion were sent to Blackwater Elite in a three-way trade involving NLEX Road Warriors and Meralco Bolts. NLEX obtained Blackwater's 2016 and 2017 2nd round pick along with the draft rights for Juneric Baloria. Meralco received Sean Anthony from NLEX via Blackwater as third party.[3]
On March 20, 2016, Ballesteros was traded to Mahindra Enforcer for Kyle Pascual.[4][5]
International career
Ballesteros played for Smart Gilas, the Philippine national team, and was one of the Smart Gilas' pioneers. Of all the big men from the first Gilas team, he stayed with the team the longest, from its creation in 2008 until 2011, when he was drafted to the PBA.[6]
PBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Correct as of September 24, 2016[7]
Season-by-season averages
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Meralco | 16 | 8.7 | .400 | .000 | .222 | 2.8 | .1 | .0 | .3 | .9 |
| 2012–13 | Barako Bull | 9 | 10.3 | .300 | .000 | .500 | 3.9 | .1 | .1 | .8 | 1.9 |
| 2013–14 | Meralco | 3 | 12.7 | .667 | .000 | .778 | 2.3 | .7 | .7 | .3 | 3.7 |
| 2014–15 | Blackwater | 27 | 14.0 | .518 | .000 | .667 | 4.4 | .5 | .5 | .7 | 2.4 |
| 2015–16 | Blackwater / Mahindra | 29 | 12.5 | .575 | .000 | .464 | 4.0 | .2 | .2 | .8 | 2.3 |
| Career | 84 | 12.0 | .496 | .000 | .521 | 3.9 | .3 | .3 | .6 | 2.1 | |
References
- "Jason Ballesteros Player Profile". PBA-Online!. 1985-10-07. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- Joble, Rey (September 11, 2012). "Barako Bull acquires 'project' Ballesteros from Meralco for Salvacion, Sharma". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- Saldajeno, Ivan (September 12, 2014). "Anthony to Meralco, Baloria to NLEX in three-team PBA transfer". Dugout. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- "Mahindra, Blackwater swap bigs". Fox Sports Asia. March 20, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- Sacamos, Karlo (March 21, 2016). "Defense-oriented Jason Ballesteros feels right at home at Mahindra". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- Verora, Levi (March 9, 2014). "Rajko's original hardworking big men - The Smart Gilas boys Pt. 6". Rappler. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- Player Profile at PBA-Online!