| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1981-12-24)December 24, 1981 (age 43) West Covina, California |
| Nationality | Filipino / American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Concordia St. Francis |
| PBA draft | 2006: 2nd round, 15th overall pick |
| Selected by theCoca-Cola Tigers | |
| Playing career | 2006–2013 |
| Position | Point guard |
| Career history | |
| 2006–2007 | Coca-Cola Tigers |
| 2007–2009 | Barangay Ginebra Kings |
| 2009–2010 | Sta. Lucia Realtors |
| 2010–2011 | Meralco Bolts |
| 2012 | Westports Malaysia Dragons |
| 2012–2013 | San Mig Coffee Mixers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Ernani Christopher Mendoza Pacana III (born December 24, 1981) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He was the fifteenth draft pick of theCoca-Cola Tigers in2006. He played for theBarangay Ginebra Kings from (2007–2009) where he was one of the factors of their championship run in the2008 PBA Fiesta Conference. He was then signed by theSta. Lucia Realtors and later theMeralco Bolts.
After acquiring his Filipino passport in 2003, Pacana came over fromConcordia University in theGolden State Athletic Conference to play for theSt. Francis of Assisi Doves in theNational Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA).[1] In his only season with them, he led them to a championship overArellano University and also made the mythical team.[1][2]
Pacana was drafted 15th overall by theCoca-Cola Tigers in the2006 PBA Draft.[3][4] At the start of the2006–07 Philippine Cup, he was listed as a reserve. WhenRonjay Enrile got injured, he was put into the lineup.[5] He broke out by scoring 11 of his 13 points in the first half to help the Tigers win over theRed Bull Barako.[6] He followed that up with eight points, eight rebounds, and five assists in an upset win over thePurefoods Chunkee Giants.[7] Against theWelcoat Dragons, he scored a career-high 18 points as he led them to their third win of the conference.[5]
Pacana then joined theBarangay Ginebra Kings. During the2008 All-Star Weekend, Pacana played for the Sophomores' team in the Blitz game.[8] In the2008 Fiesta Conference finals, he was given more minutes as star playerRonald Tubid got injured.[9] In Game 4, he had 14 points as Ginebra tied the series.[10] Ginebra went on to win the finals.[11]
After the2008–09 season, Pacana became a free agent and signed with theSta. Lucia Realtors.[12][13]
A few games into the2010–11 Philippine Cup, Pacana joined theMeralco Bolts.[14]
In 2012, Pacana headed overseas to join theWestports Malaysia Dragons. In their first game of the2012 season, he made his contributions in overtime as they beat theSan Miguel Beermen.[15] They started the season 3–0.[16] The Dragons made it to the semifinals that season.[17]
After his ABL stint, Pacana returned to the PBA to join theSan Mig Coffee Mixers.[18]
On August 16, 2013, Pacana andWesley Gonzales were traded to theBarako Bull Energy Cola forAllein Maliksi.[19] Although he was on Barako's roster for a season, he didn't play a single game for them.[20][21]
In 2014, Pacana was among those who were eligible to be drafted during the2014 PBA expansion draft.[22] He was not selected by both theBlackwater Elite and theKia Sorento.[23]
| 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 |
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | Coca-Cola | 29 | 15.4 | .365 | .353 | .654 | 3.1 | 2.2 | .8 | .0 | 5.7 |
| 2007–08 | Barangay Ginebra | 32 | 10.7 | .301 | .100 | .560 | 2.1 | .9 | .6 | .1 | 2.3 |
| 2008–09 | Barangay Ginebra | 25 | 14.2 | .372 | .235 | .710 | 3.0 | 1.4 | .8 | .1 | 3.8 |
| 2009–10 | Sta. Lucia | 18 | 10.6 | .250 | .000 | .591 | 1.7 | 1.1 | .7 | .0 | 1.7 |
| 2010–11 | Meralco | 8 | 13.3 | .318 | — | .750 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .0 | 2.1 |
| 2012–13 | San Mig Coffee | 9 | 3.6 | .250 | — | — | 1.0 | .4 | .2 | .0 | .2 |
| Career | 121 | 12.2 | .338 | .218 | .644 | 2.4 | 1.3 | .7 | .0 | 3.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Westports Malaysia Dragons | 21 | 22.0 | .361 | .000 | .730 | 3.7 | 2.1 | .1 | .0 | 4.1 |
Pacana was born to Ernani Pacana II and Elizabeth Mendoza-Pacana, full-blooded Filipinos who moved toWest Covina, California. During his college years in the Philippines, he lived with his uncle, a guitarist who worked occasionally inRegine Velasquez's back-up band.[1]