Rich Alvarez
A versatile big man whose career bridged Philippine and Japanese basketball, becoming a PBA top draft pick and a respected coach.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Filipino basketball player·Birthday: October 30·Generation X
Biography
Rich Alvarez's story is one of cross-cultural basketball identity. Born in Japan to a Filipino father and a Japanese mother, he brought a unique blend of skills and perspective to the Philippine game. His selection as the first overall pick in the 2004 PBA draft by Shell was a testament to his immediate impact potential. On the court, he was known for his hustle, defensive tenacity, and reliable mid-range shooting, playing his entire PBA playing career with the franchise that later became the Powerade Tigers. After retiring, Alvarez smoothly transitioned into coaching, lending his experience and understanding of the game to teams like the Macau Black Knights. His journey from a dual-heritage prospect to a PBA cornerstone and mentor reflects the global pathways of modern basketball.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rich was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rich Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Rich's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was selected as the first overall pick in the 2004 PBA draft by the Shell Turbo Chargers.
- Played his entire PBA playing career for a single franchise (Shell/Powerade).
- Represented the Philippines in international competition as a member of the national team.
- Transitioned to a coaching career, serving as an assistant coach in the PBA.
Did You Know?
He was born in Osaka, Japan.
He is fluent in both Japanese and English.
He played college basketball for the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
His younger brother, Rico, also played professional basketball in the Philippines.
“My game is a mix of Filipino heart and Japanese discipline.”
