Michael Holper

Name: Michael Holper

Jersey Number: 01

Team: Red Bull

Birthdate: 1981-05-21

Birthplace: Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Height: 6'7" Weight: 210 lbs.

Position: Center/Forward

Draft(Year): 7th overall by Brgy. Ginebra (2005)

College/University: San Diego State University

About the Player

Is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Red Bull Barako.

He had the most number of starts among rookies in the 2005-06 season with 35 and this showed the kind of trust that coach Siot Tanquincen gave to him. And the 6-7 forward got the job done most of the time especially on defense and rebounding.

Holper averaged 4.1 points in 45 games and his 5.7 rebounds per game was No. 1 among rookies. His 21.2 minutes per game was fourth among his batch. But the coming season will be a great test for him as he will be fighting for a spot up front against the more-experienced Billy Mamaril, Rudy Hatfield and Rafi Reavis.

Red Bull beefed up its frontline yesterday with the acquisition of Fil-Am forward Mike Holper in a trade with Barangay Ginebra in a move the Photokina franchise hoped could help check its slide in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup.

The Bulls made the deal on the heels of a five-game slump sending the team all the way to the cellar in the all-Filipino tourney.

Holper, a San Diego State product and seventh pick in the 2005 PBA draft, became expendable at Ginebra on Rafi Reavis’ return from injury. Reavis suits up with the Kings as they take on the Coca-Cola Tigers tomorrow at the Olivares Center Gym in Parañaque.

The Bulls picked Holper from the Kings in exchange for an extra 2011 draft right Red Bull acquired in a separate trade with San Miguel involving Mick Pennisi.

Mike Hrabak, Carlo Sharma, Gabby Espinas and rookie Larry Rodriguez were left to man the Red Bull frontline on the departure of Pennisi, Paolo Bugia and Mark Andaya.