Professional Career
On August 2005, Cardona was picked fifth overall by the Air21 Express during the annual 2005 PBA Draft of Asia's first ever pay-for-play league, the Philippine Basketball Association. Before the season started, he was eventually traded to the Talk 'N Text franchise.
Despite a slow start in his rookie season, Cardona played significant minutes under Derrick Pumaren who replaced Joel Banal as the team's Head Coach.
In his sophomore year in the league, with a career-high of 38 points - resetting his previous 30+ career outputs three times within two weeks - Cardona proved to be every bit the explosive player that he is. To date, he is the only player to be named PBA Press Corps' Player of the Week seven times within one conference (2007 Fiesta Conference). As a confirmation of his explosiveness and a testament to his overall tenacity as a player, Cardona received the PBA Conference Best Player award for the 2007 Fiesta Conference. He was also an official nominee for the coveted Most Valuable Player award of the 2006-2007 season.
On November 2008, Cardona once again reset his career statistics by tallying 42 points together with 6 rebounds to propel Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters over the Red Bull Barako. Cardona claimed that the feat sent a clear message that he deserved to be part of the Philippine National Team. Although he wasn't chosen to be part of the line-up, National Team coach Yeng Guiao was quick to point out that Cardona was considered “even if he did not score 42 points as he did against our team (Red Bull)."
Cardona won his first-ever Championship as a professional basketball player via the 2008-09 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup on February 11, 2009. Although losing on votes to the Alaska Aces' star Willie Miller for the Best Player of the Conference trophy, Cardona was awarded the PBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors for his remarkable output during the championship series.
On August 20, 2010, Cardona was traded by Talk 'N Text to Meralco in exchange of a first-round pick. Cardona played his first game for the Bolts on October 3, 2010 against the Baranggay Ginebra Kings. He recorded 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 33 minutes of play, including the game-winning teardrop. The Cardona-led Meralco Bolts eventually ended its maiden run at the 2010-11 PBA Philippine Cup with a 7-7 record.
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