Michael Alfio Pennisi (born March 13, 1975) is an Australian-Filipino former professional basketball player. After playing for the Townsville Suns/Crocodiles of the Australian NBL during the 1990s, Pennisi moved to the Philippines in 2000 and played the rest of his career in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Mick Pennisi
Pennisi with the Barako Bull Energy in 2015
Personal information
Born (1975-03-13) March 13, 1975 (age 49)
Australia
NationalityAustralian / Filipino
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
CollegeEastern Michigan (1994–1997)
PBA draft2000: Direct hire
Selected by the Batang Red Bull Energizers
Playing career1995–2017
PositionCenter
Number7, 34, 88
Career history
1995–1996;
1998–1999
Townsville Suns/Crocodiles
2000–2008Batang Red Bull Energizers / Batang Red Bull Thunder / Red Bull Barako
2008–2011San Miguel Beermen / Petron Blaze Boosters
2011–2014Barako Bull Energy Cola / Barako Bull Energy
2014–2015Purefoods Star Hotshots / Star Hotshots
2015–2016Barako Bull Energy
2016Phoenix Fuel Masters
2016–2017GlobalPort Batang Pier
Career highlights and awards

College career

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Pennisi played three seasons of college basketball in the United States for the Eastern Michigan Eagles between 1994 and 1997.[1]

Professional career

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Townsville Crocodiles (1995–1996; 1998–1999)

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Pennisi made his professional debut with the Townsville Suns of the Australian NBL in the 1995 season. He played a second season with the Suns 1996. For the 1998–99 NBL season, Pennisi returned to Townsville, now known as the Crocodiles.[2]

Red Bull Barako (2000–2008)

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In 2000, Pennisi moved to the Philippines where he was signed by Red Bull Barako, then an expansion team in the Philippine Basketball Association. There, he was one of the team's stars, along with Lordy Tugade, Junthy Valenzuela, Davonn Harp, and Kerby Raymundo, leading Red Bull to two consecutive Commissioner's Cup championships in 2001 and 2002 PBA Commissioner's Cup. He was also a key player in Red Bull's 2006 PBA Fiesta Conference championship-winning squad.

San Miguel Beermen / Petron Blaze Boosters (2008–2011)

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Pennisi was traded to the San Miguel Beermen after the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference in exchange for San Miguel's 2010 first round pick (which Red Bull traded to Barangay Ginebra which then used it to pick John Wilson).

Barako Bull Energy Cola / Barako Bull Energy (2011–2014)

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On August 28, 2011, Pennisi was traded by San Miguel to Barako Bull Energy Cola along with Sunday Salvacion and the rights for the 2010 no. 8 pick (which was used by Barako Bull to pick Allein Maliksi for Dondon Hontiveros.[3]

On March 21, 2012, he achieved his 700th career 3-point field goal in the 1st quarter of their game against his former team, Petron Blaze Boosters. He became only the eighth player to achieve such feat joining a list that included Allan Caidic and Ronnie Magsanoc. On the same day also he made a controversy by reacting late in a flop when Will McDonald threw the ball, hitting Mick Pennisi in the head.[4][5]

Purefoods Star Hotshots / Star Hotshots (2014–2015)

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On December 8, 2014, Pennisi was traded to Purefoods Star Hotshots in exchange for Ronnie Matias and Isaac Holstein.[6]

Return to Barako Bull / Phoenix (2015–2016)

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On September 19, 2015, Pennisi was sent by the Hotshots back to Barako Bull in exchange for Barako Bull's 2017 second round pick.[7]

GlobalPort Batang Pier (2016–2017)

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On November 11, 2016, Pennisi was traded by the Phoenix Fuel Masters to the GlobalPort Batang Pier in exchange for Doug Kramer.

On September 2, 2017, he announced his retirement after playing 17 seasons in the PBA.[8]

PBA career statistics

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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

[9]

Season-by-season averages

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Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2000 Red Bull 35 39.2 .425 .351 .710 7.4 2.3 .6 1.7 10.5
2001 Red Bull 41 26.1 .411 .322 .679 6.1 1.2 .2 1.3 7.6
2002 Red Bull 12 23.3 .432 .345 .735 6.5 1.2 .0 .5 8.3
2003 Red Bull 43 25.4 .454 .398 .713 6.4 1.4 .3 .7 10.1
2004–05 Red Bull 32 29.6 .404 .350 .736 7.3 2.0 .2 .8 11.1
2005–06 Red Bull 65 24.6 .415 .342 .721 6.3 1.4 .3 .8 8.7
2006–07 Red Bull 30 27.8 .367 .349 .696 7.6 1.3 .4 1.3 10.8
2007–08 Red Bull 50 27.4 .385 .376 .720 6.4 1.2 .3 .6 8.6
2008–09 San Miguel 57 25.0 .390 .350 .802 5.1 1.2 .3 .7 6.8
2009–10 San Miguel 46 18.6 .419 .400 .962 4.1 .8 .2 .6 4.5
2010–11 San Miguel 46 14.8 .385 .275 .882 3.5 .9 .1 .1 3.9
2011–12 Barako Bull 39 23.3 .409 .341 .754 4.5 1.3 .4 .6 7.7
2012–13 Barako Bull 37 23.5 .406 .337 .736 4.5 1.1 .3 .7 8.1
2013–14 Barako Bull 34 23.7 .458 .415 .767 5.4 1.1 .3 .3 9.0
2014–15 Barako Bull / Star 41 14.5 .338 .289 .654 2.7 .7 .1 .3 3.7
2015–16 Barako Bull / Phoenix 35 17.1 .395 .402 .824 3.2 .7 .1 .4 5.1
2016–17 GlobalPort 19 13.0 .440 .400 .625 2.4 .5 .1 .2 3.5
Career 662 23.3 .407 .355 .748 5.3 1.2 .3 .7 7.5

Personal life

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Pennisi's younger brother, David, also played in the Australian NBL.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Mick Pennisi". sports-reference.com. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Player statistics for Michael Pennisi". NBL. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  3. ^ Belen, Reynaldo (August 28, 2011). "Petron reacquires Dondon Hontiveros in draft day blockbuster". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  4. ^ Golliver, Ben (March 21, 2012). "Video: Mick Pennisi with the worst basketball flop of all time?". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  5. ^ Tordecilla, Jaemark (March 22, 2012). "Mick Pennisi's flop goes viral". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  6. ^ "Purefoods lands Mick Pennisi from Barako Bull ahead of PBA playoffs". InterAksyon. December 8, 2014. Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  7. ^ "Star sends Mick Pennisi back to Barako Bull". InterAksyon. September 19, 2015. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  8. ^ Ramos, Gerry (September 2, 2017). "Mick Pennisi calls it quits after 17-year PBA career to focus on poultry business in Thailand". spin.ph. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  9. ^ Player Profile at Humblebola!
  10. ^ Henson, Joaquin M. (23 February 2000). "Sporting Chance". philstar.com. Retrieved 16 October 2023.