View source for Rodney Santos

{{Short description|Filipino basketball player and coach}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| image = 
| image_size = 
| name = Rodney Santos
| number = 
| position = [[Head coach]]
| league = [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League]] (MPBL)
| team = Mindoro Tamaraws
| nationality = Filipino
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|5|30}}
| birth_place = [[Meycauayan, Bulacan]], Philippines
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 175
| high school = [[San Sebastian College – Recoletos|San Sebastian]] ([[Manila]])
| college = [[San Sebastian Stags basketball|San Sebastian]]
| draft_year_pba = 1996
| draft_round_pba = 1
| draft_pick_pba = 2
| draft_team_pba = [[Purefoods Star Hotshots|Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs]]
| career_start = 1996
| career_end = 2009
| career_position = [[Shooting guard]] / [[small forward]]
| coach_start = 2015
| years1 = 1996
| team1 = [[Purefoods Star Hotshots|Purefoods TJ Hotdogs]]
| years2 = 1997–2002
| team2 = [[Alaska Aces (PBA)|Alaska Milkmen]]
| years3 = 2003
| team3 = [[Purefoods Star Hotshots|Purefoods TJ Hotdogs]]
| years4 = 2004–2008
| team4 = [[Barangay Ginebra Kings]]
| years5 = 2008–2009
| team5 = [[Powerade Tigers|Coca-Cola Tigers]]
| cyears1 = 2013–2014
| cteam1 = [[San Sebastian Stags basketball|San Sebastian]] (assistant)
| cyears2 = 2015
| cteam2 = ATC Livermarin
| cyears3 = 2015
| cteam3 = San Sebastian
| cyears4 = 2016–2022
| cteam4 = [[UP Fighting Maroons men's basketball|UP]] (assistant)
| cyears5 = 2022
| cteam5 = [[UST Growling Tigers basketball|UST]] (assistant)
| cyears6 = 2025–present
| cteam6 = [[Mindoro Tamaraws]]
| highlights = * 7× [[List of Philippine Basketball Association champions|PBA champion]] ([[1997 PBA Governors' Cup|1997 Governors']], [[1998 PBA All-Filipino Cup|1998 All-Filipino]], [[1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup|1998 Commissioner's]], [[2000 PBA All-Filipino Cup|2000 All-Filipino]], [[2004 PBA Fiesta Conference|2004 Fiesta]], [[2004–05 PBA Philippine Cup|2004-05 Philippine]], [[2006–07 PBA Philippine Cup|2006-07 Philippine]], [[2008 PBA Fiesta Conference|2008 Fiesta]])
* 2× [[Philippine Basketball Association|PBA All Star]] ([[1996 PBA All-Star Weekend|1996]], [[2000 PBA All-Star Weekend|2000]])
* 2× [[PBA Mr. Quality Minutes Award|PBA Mr. Quality Minutes]] ({{pbay|1998}}–{{pbay|1999}})
* [[Philippine Basketball Association|PBA]] Buzzerbeater Event Co-Champion ({{pbay|1999}})
}}

'''John Rodney Santos''' (born May 30, 1973) is a Filipino retired professional [[basketball]] player who is the current coach of the [[Mindoro Tamaraws]] of the [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League]] (MPBL). He is also known as '''The Slasher''' for his slashing ability going to the basket.

He currently serves as commissioner of the basketball league Sinag Liga Asya.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/10/24/sinag-liga-asya-lakas-kwarenta-new-league-in-town/ |title=Sinag Liga Asya Lakas Kwarenta new league in town |date=24 October 2023 |website=Business Mirror |access-date=12 May 2024}}</ref>

==Collegiate career==

Santos played for the San Sebastian high school and college teams from 1991 to 1995, winning the Most Valuable Player award in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Terrado|first1=Reuben|title=Caretaker Rodney Santos expects to be officially named San Sebastian coach soon|url=http://www.spin.ph/basketball/news/rodney-santos-head-coach-san-sebastian-sscr-ncaa-basketball|website=www.spin.ph|publisher=SPIN.ph|access-date=26 June 2015}}</ref>

==Professional career==

After a storied college career at [[San Sebastian College - Recoletos|San Sebastian]], Santos was drafted second overall by [[Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants|Purefoods]] in the [[1996 PBA draft|1996 draft]]. Then he was traded to [[Alaska Aces (PBA)|Alaska]] for [[Cris Bolado]] and Bryant Punzalan in 1997 and became one of [[Tim Cone]]'s reliable contributors off the bench. He was re-acquired by Purefoods in 2003 as a free agent.  After his stint with the TJ Hotdogs, he was then traded to [[Barangay Ginebra Kings|Ginebra]],<ref name="Navarro">{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20060724-11413/Ginebra_sticks_with_vets|title=Ginebra sticks with vets|last=Navarro|first=June|date=24 July 2006|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|access-date=27 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008115930/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20060724-11413/Ginebra_sticks_with_vets|archive-date=8 October 2012}}</ref> and was a vital cog in coach [[Siot Tanquincen]]'s rotation. His last stop was with the [[Coca-Cola Tigers]] before nagging injuries forced him into retirement.

==PBA career statistics==
{{PBA player statistics legend}}
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rodney Santos Player Profile - PBA-Online.net |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916115154/http://www.pba-online.net/profile/Rodney-Santos/116// |website=PBA-Online.net}}</ref>

===Season-by-season averages===
{{PBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|1996}}
| align=left | [[1996 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs season|Purefoods]]
| 49 ||	15.8 ||	.439 || .158 || .720 || 1.2 || 1.2 || .8 || .2 || 6.8
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|1997}}
| align=left | [[1997 Alaska Milkmen season|Alaska]]
| 34 ||	10.4 ||	.452 || .000 || .625 || 1.0 || .7 || .2 || .2 || 3.9
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|1998}}
| align=left | [[1998 Alaska Milkmen season|Alaska]]
| 65 || 22.7 ||	.464 || .000 || .765 || 2.4 || 1.5 || .7 || '''.3''' || 7.2
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|1999}}
| align=left | [[1999 Alaska Milkmen season|Alaska]]
| 56 || 22.0 ||	'''.527''' || .000 || .663 || 2.1 || 1.7 || .8 || '''.3''' || 8.2
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2000}}
| align=left | [[2000 Alaska Milkmen season|Alaska]]
| 49 || 25.5 ||	.507 || .250 || .670 || 2.4 || 1.8 || 1.0 || .2 || '''11.1'''
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2001}}
| align=left | [[2001 Alaska Aces season|Alaska]]
| 45 ||	28.8 ||	.429 || .250 || .782 || 2.6 || 2.1 || .9 || .2 || 8.5
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2002}}
| align=left | [[2002 Alaska Aces season|Alaska]]
| 59 ||	19.4 ||	.408 || .356 || .723 || 2.1 || 1.3 || .7 || .1 || 5.7
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2003}}
| align=left | [[2003 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs season|Purefoods]]
| 36 || 22.0 || .374 || .293 || .690 || 2.1 || 1.6 || .9 || .2 || 7.6
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2004}}
| align=left | [[2004-05 Barangay Ginebra Kings season|Barangay Ginebra]]
| '''78''' || '''31.0''' || .397 || .279 || .776 || '''2.7''' || '''2.8''' || '''1.1''' || '''.3''' || 9.9
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2005}}
| align=left | [[2005-06 Barangay Ginebra Kings season|Barangay Ginebra]]
| 32 || 25.2 ||	.349 || .282 || .699 || 2.3 || 1.8 || .9 || .1 || 7.8
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2006}}
| align=left | [[2006-07 Barangay Ginebra Kings season|Barangay Ginebra]]
| 19 || 13.1 || .383 || .353 || .667 || .9 || .7 || .5 || .0 || 4.4
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2007}}
| align=left | [[2007-08 Barangay Ginebra Kings season|Barangay Ginebra]]
| 2 || 7.5 || .429 || '''.500''' || — || 1.0 || .5 || .0 || .0 || 3.5
|-
| align=left | {{pbay|2008}}
| align=left | [[2008–09 Coca-Cola Tigers season|Coca-Cola]]
| 12 ||	7.8 ||	.303 || .167 || '''1.000''' || .8 || .4 || .0 || .0 || 2.4
|-class=sortbottom
| align="center" colspan="2" | Career
| 536 || 22.2 || .434 || .283 || .721 || 2.1 || 1.7 || .8 || .2 || 7.6
{{s-end}}

==Coaching career==

Santos served as part of San Sebastian's coaching staff.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Terrado|first1=Reuben|title=Stags great Santos now part of Robinson's staff|url=http://www.spin.ph/basketball/news/stags-great-santos-now-part-of-robinsons-staff|website=www.spin.ph|publisher=SPIN.ph|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> He entered the Stags coaching staff after coach [[Topex Robinson]] returned to the team for a second spell as coach in [[NCAA Season 89 basketball tournaments|2013]]. In [[NCAA Season 91 basketball tournaments|2015]], he was officially named head coach of the Stags, replacing Robinson. He also coached the PBA D-League team, ATC Livermarin.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Falcon|first1=Angelo|title=Now a coach, Rodney Santos wants players to 'take it hard to the basket'|url=http://rivals.ph/basketball/pba-d-league/2015/03/13/28170/rodney-santos-d-league-take-it-hard-to-the-basket|website=www.rivals.ph|publisher=RIVALS.ph|access-date=26 June 2015}}</ref> The Stags finished the season in 7th place, off the playoff positions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Songalia |first=Ryan |date=2015-10-09 |title=JRU slays San Sebastian to clinch Final Four berth |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/ncaa/108673-jru-slays-san-sebastian/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}</ref> Santos was replaced by [[Edgar Macaraya]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Egay Macaraya is new San Sebastian coach, vows to bring back Stags' glory days |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-women/egay-macaraya-san-sebastian-stags-coach |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref>  Santos then became a part of [[Bo Perasol]]'s coaching staff at [[UP Fighting Maroons men's basketball|UP]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bo Perasol brings back ex-UP coach Ricky Dandan, adds Rodney Santos to Maroons coaching staff |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-men/ricky-dandan-rodney-santos-up-maroons-bo-perasol-uaap?ref=article_tag |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref> In [[UAAP Season 85 basketball tournaments|2022]], Santos joined former Ginebra teammate [[Bal David]] at [[UST Growling Tigers basketball|UST]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-02 |title=Lone bright spot Nic Cabañero preaches patience in UST rebuild |url=https://www.espn.ph/basketball/colleges/story/_/id/35159183/lone-bright-spot-nic-cabanero-preaches-patience-ust-rebuild |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> UST finished last, losing 13 consecutive games after winning its season opener; David resigned, Santos then manned practices<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agcaoili |first=Lance |date=2023-01-26 |title=Bal David resigns as UST head coach after just one season |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/494755/bal-david-resigns-as-ust-head-coach-after-just-one-season |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref> until [[Pido Jarencio]] was appointed as new coach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saldajeno |first=Ivan Stewart |date=2023-02-03 |title=Pido Jarencio returns as UST coach |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194374 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=[[Philippine News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Coaching record ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |Season
! rowspan="2" |Team
! colspan="5" |Elimination round
!
! colspan="4" |Playoffs
|-
!Finish
!GP
!W
!L
!PCT
!PG
!W
!L
!PCT
!Results
|-
|[[NCAA Season 91 basketball tournaments|2015]]
|[[San Sebastian Stags basketball|SSC-R]]
|7th
|18
|6
|12
|.333
|—
|—
|—
|—
|Eliminated
|-
! colspan="3" |Totals
!18
!6
!12
!.333
!—
!—
!—
!—
!0 championships
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{navboxes|list=
{{Alaska Milkmen 1997 PBA Governors Cup Champions}}
{{Alaska Milkmen 1998 PBA All-Filipino Cup Champions}}
{{Alaska Milkmen 1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup Champions}}
{{Alaska Milkmen 2000 PBA All-Filipino Cup Champions}}
{{PBA All-Star National Team 2000}}
{{Barangay Ginebra Kings 2004 PBA Fiesta Conference Champions}}
{{Barangay Ginebra Kings 2004-05 PBA Philippine Cup Champions}}
{{Barangay Ginebra Kings 2006–07 PBA Philippine Cup Champions}}
{{Barangay Ginebra Kings 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference Champions}}
{{UP Fighting Maroons 2021-2022 UAAP Men's Senior Basketball Champions}}
{{PBA Mr. Quality Minutes}}
{{NCAA Men's Basketball Most Valuable Player Award}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Rodney}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alaska Aces (PBA) players]]
[[Category:Barangay Ginebra San Miguel players]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Bulacan]]
[[Category:Filipino men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Magnolia Hotshots players]]
[[Category:San Sebastian Stags basketball players]]
[[Category:Philippine Basketball Association All-Stars]]
[[Category:Philippines men's national basketball team players]]
[[Category:Filipino men's basketball players]]
[[Category:People from Meycauayan]]
[[Category:Powerade Tigers players]]
[[Category:Small forwards]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]
[[Category:Magnolia Hotshots draft picks]]
[[Category:San Sebastian Stags basketball coaches]]
[[Category:UP Fighting Maroons basketball coaches]]
[[Category:UST Growling Tigers basketball coaches]]
[[Category:20th-century Filipino sportsmen]]
[[Category:MPBL coaches]]