Mark Cardona

5^th overall pick by FedEx in 2005 rookie draft. Considered a triple-threat on the court. One of the scoring machine in the league.

Known for his teardrop shoot.

Name: Mark Cardona

Jersey Number: 09

Team: Talk N Text

Birthdate: 1981-11-13

Birthplace: Mandaluyong City

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 175 lbs.

Position: Guard

Draft(Year): 5th overall by FedEx (2005)

College/University: De La Salle University

Monicker/Nick: Captain Hook

Player’s Profile:

Is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters Team in the Philippine Basketball Association. Nicknamed "Captain Hook" because of his patented teardrop shots, otherwise known as the running hook, Cardona owes his monicker to UAAP commentator Jude Turcuato.

Playing as a shooting guard or the No.2 spot, Cardona is one of a few players who can create, execute and complete a play with very little assistance from his teammates. With a decent shot from the outside, the ability to dish out assists, and a steady dribbling skill, he is considered a triple-threat on the hardcourt. He is considered by some as the most prolific scorer in the PBA today due to his scoring abilities and his consistency.

Amateur career

With the intent of using his basketball skills as a passport to a good college education, he walked in for a tryout with the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers basketball team.

Despite several controversies and allegations, primarily regarding his residency and eligibility, Cardona went on to win the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Rookie of the Year award with the Green Archers in 2001. Cardona was also part of the UAAP 67th season Mythical Five and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the same season.

Cardona played for ICTSI-La Salle in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) from 2002-2005, where he was awarded top rookie honors as PBL Top Newcomer. After ICTSI's departure from the league, Cardona joined Harbour Centre in the 2005 PBL Unity Cup, where he was named MVP of the conference.

During his stint at the PBL, he was consistently named to the Mythical Team and also received recognition as the league's Scoring Sensation.

Professional career

On August 2005, Cardona was picked fifth overall by the Air21 Express during the annual 2005 PBA Draft of Asia's first ever pay-for-play league, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Before the season started, he was eventually traded to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters.

Despite a slow start in his rookie season, Cardona played significant minutes under Derrick Pumaren who replaced Joel Banal as the team's Head Coach. He is currently part of the starting line-up of the Phone Pals.

Only in his sophomore year in the league, and with a previous career-high of 38 points, resetting his previous 30+ career outputs three times within two weeks, Cardona proves to be every bit the explosive player that he is. Todate, he is the only player to be named PBA Press Corps' Player of the Week seven times within one conference: the 2007 Fiesta Conference.

As a confirmation of his explosiveness and a testament to his overall tenacity as a player, Cardona recently received the PBA Conference Best Player award for the 2007 Fiesta Conference. He was also an official nominee for the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award of the 2006-2007 season.

On November 2008, Cardona chipped in 42 points, which is his current career-high, together with 6 rebounds to propel Talk N' Text over the Philippine national basketball team' mentor Yeng Guiao and his Red Bull Barako. Talk 'N Text's Mark Cardona said his career-best production was meant to make one person take notice. Disappointed when he was left out by RP Team coach Yeng Guiao in the national team, Cardona sent what he thought was a loud and clear message. After the TNT-Red Bull game, Cardona said: "Nung nakita ko yung line-up (of the national team), naiisip ko kahit paano I deserve to be included or considered. Siguro message ko na din ito kay coach Yeng."

First PBA Championship

Mark won his first PBA crown, the 2008-09 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup last February 11, 2009 in front of 16,388 at the Araneta Coliseum. Even though he was ousted by Alaska Aces' star Willie Miller (basketball player) for the Best Player of the Conference plum, he carried Talk N' Text onto his shoulders on seven grueling games to succeed on the championship series. Cardona, though won the PBA Finals MVP, which he thought that was more meaningful than the Best Player of the Conference trophy.