Larry Fonacier - Collegiate and Amateur Career

Collegiate and Amateur Career

Larry first played for the Ateneo de Manila High School Blue Eaglets in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Juniors Basketball division, leading them to numerous winning seasons and championships along with Enrico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales, BJ Manalo, and Bajjie del Rosario. He moved to the college ranks in 2000.

In his rookie year, under coach Joe Lipa, he played consistent minutes coming off the bench. The Blue Eagles managed to secure a twice to beat advantage against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. Despite having the twice to beat advantage, they were defeated in both games. The Eagles would have faced the De La Salle Green Archers in a best of three series.

The following year, in 2001, Larry started in all of the games and played a significant role in the team. The team finished with 10 wins and 4 losses. They, again, secured a twice to beat advantage against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. They defeated Far Eastern University Tamaraws 67–63. They faced the De La Salle Green Archers in the best-of-3 finals. The Eagles lost in Game 3 despite a 30-point game from L.A. Tenorio. The score was 93–88.

During the summer, the Ateneo-Hapee team joined the commercial and amateur Philippine Basketball League and won the championship under coach Joel Banal. At the start of the 65th season of the UAAP, with a championship caliber coach in Banal, the Ateneo de Manila community had very high hopes of finally ending the 14-year drought. The Eagles ended with 4 wins and 3 losses in the first round of the tournament, but lost their next two games, giving them a record of 4 wins and 5 losses. Most of the Ateneo community had lost hope. The Eagles, however, pulled off 5 straight wins, to end the elimination round with 9 wins and 5 losses. Furthermore, they spoiled the De La Salle Green Archers chances of sweeping the 14 game eliminations, which would have given them an outright berth in the championship round. Larry scored 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in that 76–63 win over the Green Archers. The Eagles would then face the UE Red Warriors. The team won both games and faced the De La Salle Green Archers in the finals in a best of 3 series. In game 1, Larry scored 11 points including 3 three points, with 6 assists and 2 crucial blocks against Mark Cardona in the game's dying seconds. In game 2, Larry scored his career high of 25 points but lost the game by 7 points. In game 3, Larry scored only 6 points because of food poisoning, but the team finally ended the 14 title year drought winning the UAAP Men's Basketball Championship with the score of 77–70. Larry was named co-Finals MVP, along with Wesley Gonzales, averaging 11.7 points per game.

In 2003, the Blue Eagles made it to the Finals but lost to the FEU Tamaraws.

In 2004, Larry's last year, he only played 4 games in that season, getting an ACL injury on his left knee while driving to the basket in the fourth game against UP that ended his UAAP career.

Fonacier won the PBA Rookie of the Year award during the 2005–06 season, his first year in the PBA with the Red Bull Barako. Nicknamed the "Babyface Assassin", He played 55 games with the Barakos during the 2006–07 season, with 13 starts. During that time, he was named as an All-Star, and played for the North All-Stars team in the 2007 PBA All-Star Weekend. After being traded to the San Miguel Beermen, he was then dealt to the Alaska Aces with his team mate L.A. Tenorio in exchange for Ken Bono and Mike Cortez. During the 2010 PBA Draft, he was traded by the Aces to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in exchange for the draft rights of Elmer Espiritu. The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters beat the Powerade Tigers in the 2011–2012 Philippine Cup and he was chosen as finals MVP.