He played for the NU Bulldogs in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, Ysmael Steel Admirals and the Crispa-Floro Redmanizers in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association.

Papa also appeared at the Olympic Games as a member of the country's national basketball team.

In 1975, Papa joined the Mariwasa franchise in the PBA where he took the franchise to a finals appearance, losing to Crispa 3-1 during the 1977 All-Filipino Conference best-of-five championship series.

In the six PBA seasons that he played (1975–80), he posted 17.5 ppg scoring average in his career.

This biographical article relating to a Filipino basketball figure is a stub.