Jayjay Helterbrand

Infobox NBA Player
name = Jayjay Helterbrand
nickname = Mr. Fast


league = Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)
height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lbs= 170
position = Point Guard
team = Barangay Ginebra Kings
nationality = flagcountry|PHI
birth_date = Birth date and age|1976|10|14|mf=y
birth_place = Novaliches, Quezon City, Philippines
college = Kentucky State University
draft = Sign as a Free Agent
draft_year = 2000
draft_team = Barangay Ginebra Kings
career_start = 2000
career_end =
awards = PBA 2008 Fiesta Conference "Best Player of the Conference", PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP (2006), Sultan Cup in Brunei MVP (2005), Comeback Player of the Year (2004), PBA Mr. Quality Minutes (2003)

Anthony Helterbrand (born as Lamberto Romero Vicente, Jr. on October 14, 1976 in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines), better known as Jayjay Helterbrand, is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barangay Ginebra Kings. Known by many as Helter Skelter, he is also known, along with backcourt tandem Mark Caguioa, as one-half of the so-called, The Fast and the Furious.

Early Life

Helterbrand was born in Quezon City to Lamberto Vicente and Melanie Romero. The name on his birth certificate was Lamberto Romero Vicente, Jr. His parents later separated and his mother took him, brother Francis and sister Rowena to the US when he was six. His mother remarried a US serviceman Ronald Helterbrand and changed his name to Anthony Helterbrand when he was 10. [ [http://www.newsflash.org/2003/05/sp/sp002981.htm JAY-JAY BACK TO PLAY FOR GINEBRA] ]

PBA career

Played one game for the Batangas Blades in the Metropolitan Basketball Association before signing with Ginebra in March 2000. He was recruited by Ginebra (specifically Ron Jacobs) to play back up for Bal David as preparation to supplant him in the starting lineup.

Started being noticed when he began coming into the game with eventual 2001 Rookie of the Year Mark Caguioa. Their exciting play led to them being called as the Bandana brothers for the headbands they wear during games. But in 2004, they were known as "The Fast and The Furious" and is one of the most popular and arguably the best backcourt tandem in the league at the moment.

He went back to the states during the 2003 season after his first contract with Ginebra expired and negotiation for a new one fell through. He came back at the start of 2004 and was a major contributor in the team's back-to-back championships last year.

Injury sidelined him for five months at the start of 2005 but has mainly recovered and even won two MVP awards for the year, Brunei Cup and 2005 All Stars. He is currently considered one of the few best pointguards in the league along with Jimmy Alapag, Mike Cortez and Olsen Racela.

Returned to the Ginebra fold after a year's absence. Named Comeback Player of the Year by the PBA Press Corps. Assumed the starting point guard chores after Bal David got hurt and was subsequently released. Repaid coach Siot Tanquincen's renewed confidence in him by averaging career-highs of 11.6 points and 4.9 assists in 52 games. If Helterbrand didn't get hurt in Ginebra's last few games in the last Fiesta Conference, the Gin Kings could have easily kept their Grand Slam bid alive. Led the league in three-point shooting with 62 conversions in 152 attempts for a .408 clip. He was named MVP in Team Pilipinas' victorious run in the Sultan Cup in Brunei. The experience and confidence he gained in the offseason as the RP Team's starting playmaker will certainly go a long way. No doubt one of the PBA's top point guards.

Awards & Records

* 2005 Brunei Cup Most Valuable Player
* 2005 PBA All-Star Most Valuable Player
* 2008 Fiesta Cup Best Player of the Conference
* 2008 Mythical First Team Member

References

External links

* [http://www.pba.ph/component/option,com_comprofiler/task,userProfile/user,33114/ Helterbrand Basketball Statistics]
* [http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Lagoon/8541/caguioa.html Mark Caguioa's College Basketball Statistics]
* [http://mypba.com/forum/index.php?showforum=4 Barangay Ginebra Kings]
* [http://www.ginebraonline.com/rosterext.php?subaction=showfull&id=1153432087&archive=&start_from=&ucat=3&]
* [http://mypba.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5&pid=364214&st=80&#entry364214]