Pocholo Villanueva

Pocholo Iñigo Villanueva (born November 24, 1982) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He last played for the defunct Burger King Whoppers of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafted with the thirteenth overall pick of the 2008 PBA Draft by the Air21 Express. From 2001–2007, he played for the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP where he won a championship in 2007 and was named co-Finals MVP with JVee Casio.

Barangay Ginebra traded Paul Artadi, Rafi Reavis, and the rights to 2009 8th pick overall Chris Timberlake for Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez, Celino Cruz, and Paolo Bugia of Purefoods. Burger King acted as the conduit team, trading Cholo Villanueva to Ginebra and acquiring the rights to 2009 Rookie draft eighteenth pick Orlando Daroya and future picks. However, he chose to retire and pursue a career in coaching and was part of Franz Pumaren staff in De La Salle University in the UAAP.[1]

On 2011, Cholo joined his former DLSU Coach, Franz Pumaren as the Assistant Coach in then, newly formed PBA team, Shopinas. This team was renamed later on to be Air21. Coach Cholo stayed on with the team as Assistant Coach and Team Manager until the team was bought by NLEX Road Warriors in July 2014.

In March 2014, Coach Cholo was also asked to join the Coaching Staff of JRU (Jose Rizal College) under Vergel Meneses' leadership. He has helped them get into the Final Four of the NCAA once again. Previous to him joining the team, the JRU Heavy Bombers were not able to get into the Final Four.

Cholo Villanueva married his college sweetheart, former DLSU courtside reporter, Agnes Tapia in a ceremony at Santuario San Antonio on December 12, 2012. Reception followed at the Flying V San Juan Arena, which was transformed from a Basketball Court to a formal red carpet event.