He played college basketball at University of the East[1] under then coach Roel Nadurata and led the Red Warriors to a finals appearance in 1990 but fell to De La Salle Green Archers that were powered by Noli Locsin, Jun Limpot and Johnedel Cardel.
Upon his arrival, the team was loaded with young guns and veterans, yet he managed to earn more minutes than rookie Vince Hizon and defensive wiz Glenn Capacio.
However, in 1995, when Purefoods sent Hizon to Ginebra San Miguel and the draft rights to second pick Rodney Santos to Alaska in 1996, and traded away Capacio to Mobiline in 1997, he found himself as the team's starting shooting guard.
On a lineup that boasted Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Dindo Pumaren, and Rey Evangelista, he became a vital piece of the puzzle in the team's campaign in the 1997 season.
When a new professional league, Metropolitan Basketball Association, was formed in 1998, he bolted, along with other ex-PBA players, to be part of the Pasig Blue Pirates, where he played for two seasons.