Leo Isaac
Personal information
Born (1961-02-02) February 2, 1961
NationalityFilipino
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight172 lb (78 kg)
Career information
CollegeMapúa Institute of Technology
PBA draft1986:
Selected by the Ginebra San Miguel
Playing career1986–1995
PositionShooting guard
Number9
Career history
As player:
1986–1991Ginebra San Miguel / Añejo Rum 65
1992–93Shell Rimula X Oilers
1994–95Tondeña 65 Rhum Masters / Ginebra San Miguel
As coach:
1997Mobiline Cellulars (Assistant)
1998–1999Doctor J/Ana Water Dispenser (PBL)
1999–2000Boom Laundry Masters (PBL)
2000–2001Montaña Pawnshop Jewels (PBL)
2002–2003Blu All Purpose Detergent Kings (PBL)
2007–2008Mapua Cardinals (NCAA)
2007–2009Air21 Express (Assistant)
2009–2010Barako Bull Energy Boosters (PBA)
2010–2011Arellano Chiefs (NCAA)
2011–2014Blackwater Elite (PBA D-League)
2014–2018Blackwater Elite (PBA)
2018–2019Bacoor Strikers (MPBL)
Career highlights and awards

Leandro "Leo" Isaac (born February 2, 1961) is a Filipino former basketball player, commentator and former head coach of the Blackwater Elite in the Philippine Basketball Association.

College career

He played for the Mapua Cardinals in the NCAA from 1978 to 1981 and was voted MVP for the 1981 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. His notable teammates include Joel Banal, Junel Baculi, and Bong Ramos.

PBA career

He played for Ginebra San Miguel from 1986 to 1991 and 1994 to 1995. In his rookie season in 1986, he helped Ginebra win its first ever championship during the 1986 PBA Open Conference. He earned his spot in coach Robert Jaworski's rotation as a reliable backcourt defender and his valuable contributions on defense helped the Gin Kings win two more championships in 1988 and 1991.[1]

Prior to the start of 1992 PBA season, he was traded to Pepsi for Tonichi Yturri, and then to Shell Rimula-X in exchange for Gido Babilonia and Leo Austria.[2] He helped the Oilers win the 1992 First Conference championship against the San Miguel Beermen. He stayed with the team until the 1993 season.

He retired from playing in the PBA after the 1995 season.

Coaching career

Philippine Basketball League

He once mentored teams such as Dr. J. Alcohol / Ana Water Dispenser, Boom Laundry Masters, Montaña Jewels, Blu All Purpose Detergent Kings, and Noosa Shoe Stars. In 1998, while coaching for Doctor J, he won his first ever championship as a coach at the expense of the heavily favored Tanduay team in the 1998–99 2nd PBL Centennial Cup.

Mapua Cardinals

Isaac took over as Mapua's head coach prior to the 2007 season.[3] He led the Cardinals to back-to-back Final 4 slots wherein during both appearances they were at #4. His records with them were 6–6 and 9–5, respectively.

Barako Bull Energy Boosters

In 2009, Isaac was hired as head coach for the Barako Bull Energy Boosters in the PBA[4] after Yeng Guiao resigned and later moved to Burger King Whoppers. His chief lieutenants were Raymund Celis and Ariel Vanguardia. He was then succeeded by Junel Baculi after coaching just one season.

Arellano University

He led them to several titles including the NCRAA championship in 2007.[5] After a season coaching Red Bull, in 2010 he once again coached the Chiefs, this time, in the NCAA for two seasons.

Blackwater Elite (PBA D-League)

In 2011, Isaac was appointed head coach of the Blackwater Elite, one of the founding franchises in the newly formed PBA Developmental League.[6] He helped the Elite win its first and only championship against the NLEX Road Warriors during the 2013 PBA D-League Foundation Cup and in the process, earned the distinction as the only team who beat the Road Warriors in the Finals.[7]

Blackwater Elite (PBA)

In 2014, Isaac was retained as the team's head coach after team owner Dioceldo Sy elevated his franchise as an expansion team in the PBA. He is expected to inject the "never-say-die" experience that he got from his playing years with Ginebra. However, his team was winless in the Philippine Cup, with 0–11 win–loss record.[8] In his first season with the Elite, he compiled a 6–27 win–loss record.

Coaching record

Collegiate record

SeasonTeamEliminationsPlayoffs
WLPCTFinishPGWLPCTResults
2007MIT66.5004th101.500Lost to San Beda in the semifinals.
2008MIT95.6434th422.500Won over San Sebastian in the 4th-seed playoff, Lost to San Beda in the semifinals.
2010AU610.3756thDid not qualify.
2011AU612.3337thDid not qualify.
Totals2733.450523.4000 championships

Professional record

SeasonTeamConference Elims./Clas. roundPlayoffs
G WLPCTFinishPGWLPCTResults
2008–09Barako BullFiesta 12210.14310th101.000Lost in wildcard phase
2014–15BlackwaterPhilippine Cup 11011.00012th Missed Playoffs
Commissioner's Cup 1138.27312th Missed Playoffs
Governors' Cup 1138.27312th Missed Playoffs
2015–16 Blackwater Philippine Cup 11 3 8 .273 10th 1 0 1 .000 Lost in the First Phase Quarterfinals
Commissioner's Cup 11 3 8 .273 10th Missed Playoffs
Governors' Cup 11 1 10 .910 12th Missed Playoffs
2016–17 Blackwater Philippine Cup 11 5 6 .455 9th Missed Playoffs
Commissioner's Cup 11 2 9 .182 11th Missed Playoffs
Governors' Cup 11 5 6 .455 8th 2 1 1 .500 Lost in the Quarterfinals
2017–18 Blackwater Philippine Cup 11 5 6 .455 10th Missed Playoffs
Commissioner's Cup 3 0 3 .000 (fired)
Career totals 125 32 93 .256 Playoff Totals 4 1 3 .250 0 PBA championship

Trivia

  • He was also a PBA commentator during the 2003 season.
  • Outside of basketball, he is also an avid analyst of horse racing.[9]

References

  1. "Nang Maging Champion Ang GINEBRA!".
  2. Nazareno, Rocky (January 14, 1992). "Cuenco, Isaac go to Shell Rimulas". No. January 14, 1992. Manila Standard.
  3. "Koy Banal Departure from San Beda". GameFace.ph. Retrieved February 22, 2007.
  4. "Red Bull names ex-cage star Isaac new coach". GMA News. January 29, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  5. "Arellano U claims 1st ever NCRAA title". InboundPass.WordPress.com. March 2, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  6. "D-League Watch: Black Water Elite". Yahoo! News Philippines. March 18, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  7. "Blackwater Defeated NLEX in PBA D-League Foundation Cup Finals". Philippine News. June 6, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  8. Ramos, Gerry. "Opening-day loss to KIA the beginning of the end for Blackwater, rues coach Leo Isaac". Spin.ph. Spin.ph. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  9. "PBA coaches split between Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs for Game Seven". InterAksyon.com. June 20, 2013. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.