Nelson Asaytono
{{short description|Filipino basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Nelson Asaytono
| image =
| caption =
| league =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 215
| team =
| career_position = Power forward
| career_number = 11, 8
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|1|25}}
| birth_place = San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines
| death_date =
| death_place =
| college = UM
| nationality = Filipino
| draft_year_pba = 1989
| draft_round_pba = 1
| draft_pick_pba = 2
| draft_team_pba = Purefoods Hotdogs
| career_start = 1989
| career_end = 2006
| years1 = 1989–1991
| team1 = Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs
| years2 = 1992–1996
| team2 = Swift/Sunkist
| years3 = 1996–1998
| team3 = San Miguel Beermen
| years4 = 1999–2001
| team4 = Pop Cola 800s/Panthers
| years5 = 2002–2006
| team5 = Red Bull Thunder/Barako
| years6 = 2006
| team6 = Pagadian Explorers
| highlights = * 7× PBA champion (1990 Third, 1991 All-Filipino, 1992 Third, 1993 Commissioner's, 1995 All-Filipino, 1995 Commissioner's, 2002 Commissioner's)
- 3× PBA Mythical First Team (1992, 1993, 1997)
- 4× PBA Mythical Second Team (1994–1996, 1998)
- 2× PBA Best Player of the Conference (1997 All-Filipino, 1998 All-Filipino)
- 50 Greatest Players in PBA History (2025 selection)
- 10× PBA All-Star (1989–1993, 1995–1999)
- PBA Scoring Champion ({{pbay|1997}})
- 3x PABL champion (1986 Founder's Cup, 1987 Maharlika Cup, 1988 Freedom Cup)
}}
Nelson Asaytono (born January 25, 1967) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player who played for Purefoods, Swift/Sunkist/Pop Cola, San Miguel Beer, and Red Bull in the PBA during his 17-year career.
Collegiate and amateur career
Asaytono played at the University of Manila under the tutelage of former pro Loreto Tolentino, his coach at UM Hawks.{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2017 |title=These players prove you don't need to play in major college league to make it to big time |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba-players-came-from-smaller-collegiate-leagues |access-date=December 5, 2022 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} His first national stint was part of the RP Youth team in Manila's 9th ABC Youth Championships. He became a member of the national team that same year in 1987 under coach Joe Lipa.{{Cite web |last1=Cuna |first1=Charlie |last2=Mercado |first2=Jay |date=February 16, 2021 |title=National teams in the PBA (Part 2): The Lipa, Pumaren and Toroman eras |url=https://www.espn.ph/basketball/pba/story/_/id/30897937/lipa-pumaren-toroman-eras |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Asaytono also played for coach Derrick Pumaren at Magnolia Ice Cream in the PABL and won three championships.{{Cite web |last=Ulanday |first=John Bryan |date=January 8, 2020 |title=Pumaren back as Archers coach |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2020/01/08/1983073/pumaren-back-archers-coach |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Philstar.com}}{{Cite web |title=Nelson Asaytono |url=https://philippinebasketball.neocities.org/nelsonasaytono.html |access-date=December 5, 2022 |website=philippinebasketball.neocities.org}}
Professional career
=Purefoods Hotdogs=
Asaytono was drafted as the 2nd overall pick by the Purefoods Hotdogs in 1989.{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2020 |title=PBA legend Nelson Asaytono in recovery after heart attack |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/12/20/pba-legend-nelson-asaytono-in-recovery-after-heart-attack |access-date=December 5, 2022 |website=news.abs-cbn.com}} He played three seasons for the ball club that had most of his former national teammates: Jojo Lastimosa, Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Glenn Capacio, and Dindo Pumaren. With Patrimonio as the starting forward, he mostly would come off the bench. He won two championships at Purefoods. In his final season as a Tender Juicy Hotdog in 1991, he had notable performances during the All-Filipino finals against Diet Sarsi.
=Swift/Sunkist=
In late 1991, Asaytono was traded by Purefoods to Swift in exchange for first-round picks in 1994 and 1995.{{cite news |last=Nazareno |first=Rocky |date=January 3, 1992 |title=P 1-M fine for 'cap' violation |work=Manila Standard |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W2cVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=igsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5051%2C454111}} He joined the list of PBA millionaires as he was signed to a lucrative pact by the RFM franchise. For two seasons with Swift, Asaytono made it to the mythical five selection and a decent run at the Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum. In 1993, he was second in the statistical race but would up third after the polls in a frustrated bid for the most coveted award.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SpUVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3woEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5281%2C2085405|title=Patrimonio named MVP anew|work=Manila Standard}} With Vergel Meneses' first entire season with Swift in 1994, Asaytono could only make it to the mythical second-team selection but still performed well, averaging 18.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in 65 games. In 1995, his team came close to winning a Grand Slam, winning two titles that season, but only got third place in the Governors' Cup.{{Cite web |last=Leongson |first=Randolph B. |date=May 9, 2020 |title=This 1995 Sunkist team that came close to a grand slam is quite something, too |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/we-almost-had-it-derrick-pumaren-says-of-sunkist-s-near-grand-slam-in-1995-a2437-20200509 |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}
After winning four championships with Swift/Sunkist, Asaytono was traded to the San Miguel Beermen, his former team in the amateurs, in April 1996 for one-time MVP Renato Agustin.{{Cite web |last=Leongson |first=Randolph B. |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Arwind Santos just the latest SMB mainstay to be traded. See list |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/arwind-santos-other-major-pba-players-traded-by-san-miguel-a2437-20211110 |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}
=San Miguel Beermen=
Asaytono's trade to San Miguel proved to be the turning point of his career. He became the go-to guy in Coach Ron Jacobs's rotation and its franchise player.{{Cite web |last=Terrado |first=Reuben |date=May 5, 2020 |title=To unleash the 'Bull,' Ron Jacobs had to set ego aside, says Jong |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/uichico-on-how-ron-jacobs-brought-out-best-in-nelson-asaytono-a795-20200505 |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} In 1997, he became one of the forerunners for the MVP award, but he again came short of former teammate Alvin Patrimonio.{{Cite web |last=Joble |first=Rey |date=August 17, 2021 |title=Yeng Guiao weighs in on repeated lack of recognition for Asaytono |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/17/21/why-asaytono-remains-pbas-most-underappreciated-great |access-date=December 5, 2021 |website=news.abs-cbn.com}} Although he lost the MVP race, he led the league in scoring.
When the team drafted future MVP Danny Ildefonso in the 1998 season, his minutes were again reduced, but still, he led the team in scoring.{{Cite web |title=1998 Hardcourt The Official PBA Annual: San Miguel Beermen Player Profiles Page 138 |url=https://pbaannual1998.neocities.org/pba/season/1998/pbaannual/pbaannual1998138.html |access-date=December 5, 2022 |website=pbaannual1998.neocities.org}} He led the Beermen to the finals twice in All Filipino and Commissioner's Cup in that season but came up short on both occasions to the Alaska Milkmen.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=February 20, 2022 |title=Jolas says 1998 Alaska campaign 'would've been a sure grand slam' |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/jolas-on-1998-alaska-campaign-that-would-have-been-a-sure-grand-slam-a793-20220220 |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} A year later, when Jong Uichico took over the coaching reins from Jacobs, he was relegated to the bench and was eventually traded to his former team, the Pop Cola 800s (together with William Antonio) for Dwight Lago, Boybits Victoria, and Nic Belasco.
=Pop Cola, Red Bull, career milestones, and retirement=
Asaytono's second stint Pop Cola was a forgettable one, as he started to slow down as he was still at the bench. He spent his last four seasons with the Red Bull Barako until the 2005-06 season.
On April 7, 2005, he passed Crispa great Philip Cezar for the fifth spot on the all-time scoring list after tallying 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting.{{Cite web |last1=Villar |first1=Joey |last2=Beltran |first2=Nelson |date=April 7, 2005 |title=Barakos put cuffs on Chargers |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2005/04/07/272959/barakos-put-cuffs-chargers |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Philstar.com}} Currently, he is fifth in the PBA all-time scoring list with 12,268 total points in 796 career games, behind only Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Alvin Patrimonio, and Atoy Co.{{cite web|last1=Badua|first1=Snow|title=Nelson Asaytono fumes over non-inclusion in PBA '40 Greatest Players' list: 'That's a lot of bull'|url=http://www.spin.ph/basketball/news/nelson-asaytono-fumes-over-non-inclusion-snub-in-pba-40-greatest-players-list-marlou-aquino-seigle|website=www.spin.ph|publisher=SPIN.ph|access-date=21 December 2014}}
Before retiring, he had a brief stint with the Pagadian Warriors of the National Basketball Conference (NBC).{{Cite web |last=Labrador |first=Roel L. |date=December 15, 2006 |title=Tribu Sugbu gipalayas sa Pagadian |url=https://www.philstar.com/palaro/2006/12/15/375207/tribu-sugbu-gipalayas-sa-pagadian |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Philstar.com}} He retired in 2006.
On April 2, 2025, the PBA announced that Asaytono and 9 other players were included to the PBA 50 Greatest Players and will be formally enshrined on April 11, in time with the league's 50th anniversary.{{cite web|last1=Ramos|first1=Gerry|date=2 April 2025|title=Asaytono, King, Tuadles part of PBA 50 Greatest Players at last|url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/asaytono-king-tuadles-named-to-pba-greatest-players-list-a793-20250402?ref=home_feed_12|website=www.spin.ph|publisher=SPIN.ph|access-date=5 April 2025}}
Statistics
=Season-by-season averages=
{{PBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | 1989
| align="left" | Purefoods
| 56 || 19.7 || 0.526 || 0.222 || 0.832 || 4.6 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 11.7
|-
| align="left" | 1990
| align="left" | Purefoods
| 53 || 21.2 || 0.554 || 0.250 || 0.802 || 4.4 || 0.9 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 14.1
|-
| align="left" | 1991
| align="left" | Purefoods
| 54 || 22.8 || 0.554 || 0.143 || 0.842 || 5.0 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 0.6 || 15.6
|-
| align="left" | 1992
| align="left" | Swift
| 69 || 35.8 || 0.560 || 0.515 || 0.825 || 8.2 || 2.1 || 0.6 || 1.2 || 22.4
|-
| align="left" | 1993
| align="left" | Swift
| 68 || 35.9 || 0.569 || 0.276 || 0.792 || 7.7 || 2.8 || 0.6 || 0.8 || 19.3
|-
| align="left" | 1994
| align="left" | Swift
| 65 || 33.1 || 0.553 || 0.266 || 0.751 || 7.2 || 2.2 || 0.3 || 0.9 || 18.6
|-
| align="left" | 1995
| align="left" | Sunkist
| 68 || 26.3 || 0.574 || 0.222 || 0.801 || 4.5 || 2.0 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 14.0
|-
| align="left" | 1996
| align="left" | Sunkist/San Miguel
| 51 || 32.6 || 0.497 || 0.346 || 0.779 || 6.3 || 2.0 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 15.9
|-
| align="left" | 1997
| align="left" | San Miguel
| 61 || 40.7 || 0.431 || 0.290 || 0.813 || 7.1 || 2.7 || 0.5 || 0.6 || 23.1
|-
| align="left" | 1998
| align="left" | San Miguel
| 65 || 32.0 || 0.438 || 0.278 || 0.728 || 5.7 || 2.1 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 14.6
|-
| align="left" | 1999
| align="left" | San Miguel/Pop Cola
| 23 || 29.2 || 0.421 || 0.171 || 0.778 || 4.3 || 1.0 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 11.8
|-
| align="left" | 2000
| align="left" | Pop Cola
| 23 || 32.7 || 0.447 || 0.323 || 0.764 || 6.3 || 2.2 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 2001
| align="left" | Pop Cola
| 49 || 20.1 || 0.400 || 0.242 || 0.829 || 3.1 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 8.4
|-
| align="left" | 2002
| align="left" | Red Bull
| 22 || 9.4 || 0.489 || 0.308 || 0.600 || 1.5 || 0.6 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 3.2
|-
| align="left" | 2003
| align="left" | Red Bull
| 38 || 14.0 || 0.511 || 0.419 || 0.671 || 3.2 || 0.7 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 7.5
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Red Bull
| 53 || 16.5 || 0.458 || 0.238 || 0.810 || 3.0 || 0.6 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 7.6
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Red Bull
| 2 || 8.5 || 0.143 || 0.500 || 0.500 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 820 || 27.5 || 0.512 || 0.284 || 0.794 || 5.5 || 1.6 || 0.3 || 0.5 || 15.0
{{s-end}}
Personal life
Asaytono continued to play in exhibition games after he retired. In 2012, he participated in an exhibition match with fellow PBA legends against older NBA All-Stars.{{Cite web |last=Cadayona |first=Russell |date=July 20, 2012 |title=Williams umagaw ng eksena sa USA All-Stars vs PBA Legends |url=https://www.philstar.com/palaro/2012/07/20/829613/williams-umagaw-ng-eksena-sa-usa-all-stars-vs-pba-legends |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Philstar.com}} He also became a building contractor, building basketball courts and gyms.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=February 4, 2019 |title=Nelson 'The Bull' Asaytono refuses to dwell on 40 Greatest Players snub |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/nelson-the-bull-asaytono-refuses-to-dwell-on-40-greatest-players-snub-a793-20190204 |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}
In 2020, Asaytono suffered a heart attack. He was confined in the ICU of a hospital in General Trias, Cavite, for four days and was discharged several days later.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=April 12, 2020 |title=Fellow legends come to the aid of Nelson Asaytono after heart attack |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/pba-legends-come-to-aid-of-ailing-great-nelson-asaytono-a793-20200412 |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} His former teammates, rivals, and even the PBA helped pay for his hospital expenses.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{navboxes|list=
{{Purefoods Hotdogs 1990 PBA Third Conference Champions}}
{{Purefoods Hotdogs 1991 PBA All-Filipino Conference Champions}}
{{Swift Mighty Meaties 1992 PBA Third Conference Champions}}
{{Swift Mighty Meaties 1993 PBA Commissioner's Cup Champions}}
{{Sunkist Orange Juicers 1995 PBA All-Filipino Cup Champions}}
{{Sunkist Orange Juicers 1995 PBA Commissioner's Cup Champions}}
{{Batang Red Bull Thunder 2002 PBA Commissioner's Cup Champions}}
{{PBA BPCs}}
{{PBA50}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Asaytono, Nelson}}
Category:Barako Bull Energy Boosters players
Category:Basketball players from Oriental Mindoro
Category:Magnolia Hotshots players
Category:People from Oriental Mindoro
Category:Philippine Basketball Association All-Stars
Category:Philippines men's national basketball team players
Category:Filipino men's basketball players
Category:Pop Cola Panthers players
Category:San Miguel Beermen players