Eric Menk

Eric Menk

Free agent
Personal information
Born	(1974-08-24) August 24, 1974 (age 42) Michigan
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school	Charlotte (Charlotte, Michigan)
College	Lake Superior State (1992–1996)
PBA draft	1999 / Elevated
Selected by the Tanduay Rhum Masters
Playing career	1996–present
Position	Center / Power forward
Number	30
Career history
1999–2001	Tanduay Rhum Masters
2001–2013	Barangay Ginebra Kings / Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
2013	San Miguel Beermen (ABL)
2013–2014	GlobalPort Batang Pier
2014–2016	Alaska Aces
Career highlights and awards
4× PBA champion (2004 Fiesta, 2004–05 Philippine, 2006–07 Philippine, 2008 Fiesta) PBA Most Valuable Player (2005) PBA Mythical First Team (2005) PBA Mythical Second Team (1999) PBA All-Defensive Team (1999) 10× PBA All-Star (1999, 2000, 2003–2007, 2009–2011) 3× PBA Best Player of the Conference (1999 All-Filipino, 2004 Fiesta, 2004–05 Philippine 3× PBA Philippine Basketball Association Finals Most Valuable Player award (2004 Fiesta, 2004–05 Philippine, 2008 Fiesta) ABL champion (2013) 3x PBL MVP (1997–1999) PBL Rookie of the Year (1997)

Eric Conrad Menk (born August 24, 1974) is a Filipino-American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Alaska Aces of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Known as Major Pain, Menk is a four-time PBA champion and was the 2004–05 PBA Most Valuable Player.

Menk had played for the Barangay Ginebra franchise for twelve seasons before being waived and signed by the San Miguel Beermen of the ASEAN Basketball League. He was eventually picked up by the Aces of the PBA, playing for them for two seasons before being waived again.

Menk attended Charlotte High School in the state of Michigan from 1988-92. As a senior, he was named First Team All-State in Class A by the Associated Press and an Honorable Mention All-American by USA Today and McDonald's. He decided to attend Lake Superior State University from 1992 to 1996. There, he was a 3-time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference performer and a NCAA Division II All-American. As a senior, he captained a team that won the schools only GLIAC Championship and their only GLIAC tournament championship. That year, 1996, he was GLIAC Player of the Year and MVP of the GLIAC tournament. He finished his career at LSSU with 1,800 points in 105 games.

Menk played a year in Denmark. He was an import for HIC (Horsens Idraets Club), in the Danish Elite Division in 1996-97, averaging 19 points per game.

Menk arrived in the Philippine basketball scene in 1997 when he played for Tanduay in the Philippine Basketball League. Of course, he quickly made an impact in the PBL being the first Rookie of the Year Awardee and Most Valuable Player Awardee. Aside from that, he also won two more Most Valuable Player Awards and piloted the Tanduay Rhum Masters to a couple of championships. Along with collegiate stars Chris Cantonjos, Mark Telan, and role players Jomer Rubi, Aldrin Morante and Bobby Jose, the Rhum Masters won numerous PBL titles during Menk's career. During his final PBL conference, Menk and Blu Detergent's Asi Taulava was considered as one of the best rivalries at the time.

After Tanduay made its return to the PBA, the Rhum Masters were allowed to nab six players from their PBL squad. Menk headlined the list of those elevated to the pro ranks. Also, Tanduay drafted Filipino-American Earl Sonny Alvarado as the top pick, making Menk and Alvarado as one of the strongest frontlines in the league.

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Wikipedia