Happy Birthday, Jeffrey Cariaso ( Sept 12 )

Happy Birthday, Jeffrey Cariaso

“The Jet”
1995 PBA Rookie Draft 6th overall pick
8x PBA champion
1996 PBA grandslam champion
1995 PBA Rookie of the Year
4x PBA Mythical First Team member
2003 PBA Reinforced Finals MVP
2002 PBA All Filipino Best Player of the Conference
Sonoma State University standout
15-season PBA veteran
4-PBA team player
1994 PBL Invitational MVP
4x PBA champion as assistant coach
2002 RP national team member

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

JEFFREY CARIASO
Jeffrey Cariaso almost failed to make it to the Nikon Three-In-One Electric Fans lineup but for the intervention of a ball boy who told coach Orlando Castelo all about him. "Hindi ko talaga kukunin dahil tingin ko mayabang. Ingles nang Ingles, Dunk nang dunk. Pero sabi sa akin ng ballboy namin magaling daw talaga dahil naglaro sa Atlanta," said Castelo who didn't realize that Cariaso was a balikbayan who had played for the Atlanta All-Stars last year.  Now, Castelo's thankful to have enlisted the services of Cariaso who ranks second in the race for Most Valuable Player in the Maharlika Cup. "Jeff plays like an American. He never grumbles. He just gives his best in every game. If ever he complains, it's not because of the games. It's because of the conditions in quarters. It's too hot, there's no water. But other than that, he likes it here in the Philippines," said Castelo. Jeff was born on September 12, 1972 in San Francisco, California to Alfredo Cariaso and Gloria Joaquin. He completed secondary education at Mission High School and later attended Sonoma State University. He has played basketball since he was a fourth grader at St. Peter's. He played high school ball at Mission under Ernest McNealy. He was red-shirted during his freshman year at Sonoma before becoming a regular as a sophomore. I've played in tournaments as far as North as Chico down South to Los Angeles. I've played in many all-stars games. My two most memorable games or trips were being part of a team representing California in the annual Junior Olympics in lowa and the pre-game before the ABN-Movie All Stars game," said the 6-2, 190-lb. Cariaso, Perhaps his stint with Nikon would turn out to be more memorable than that!