Joseph Ronald "J. R." Quiñahan (born May 8, 1984) is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the NLEX Road Warriors of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He played college basketball for the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, winning the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball title in each of his 5 years with UV, as well as winning two MVP awards in 2003 and 2004. After being drafted seventh overall by the Alaska Aces in the 2007 PBA draft, Quiñahan bounced around different PBA teams, before becoming part of the core for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, where he won two PBA championships, and established a partnership with Beau Belga, known as Extra Rice, Inc. owing to their large builds.
Early life and college career
Quiñahan's first sport was football, and he played the position of goalkeeper. He then switched sports to basketball, where he helped the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers win two Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) titles, the 2000 National Inter-Secondary title, the 2000 National Adidas 3-on-3 title, and multiple Cesafi college titles in 2003-2006, before leaving for the PBL.
Semi-professional career
Quiñahan was dubbed "Baby Shaq" in the Philippine Basketball League where he played for the Granny Goose team not just because of his physical resemblance to the former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal, but because of his dominant presence inside. Aside from Granny Goose, he also played for the Mail and More Comets. He also had a stint in the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) with Arthro-Cebu.
Professional career
Alaska Aces
Quiñahan was drafted by the Alaska Aces seventh overall in the 2007 PBA draft. In his rookie year in the PBA with Alaska, Quiñahan averaged 2.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 9.7 minutes in 39 games.
Burger King Whoppers / Air21 Express
On September 22, 2008, Quiñahan was traded by the Aces to the Burger King Whoppers for Mark Borboran. In a 2009–10 Philippine Cup win against Alaska, he scored a career-high 23 points.
Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
In March 2010, him, Mark Yee, and Aaron Aban was traded by Air21 (formerly Burger King) to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters for Yancy de Ocampo and Ren-Ren Ritualo.
Return to Air21
In August 2010, Quiñahan was traded back to Air21 in a three-team trade that sent Ali Peek to Talk 'N Text and future Rain or Shine teammate and the other half of Extra Rice, Inc., Beau Belga, to the Meralco Bolts.
Powerade Tigers
Quiñahan was again traded by Air21, this time to Powerade Tigers for 2 future draft picks.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
2011–12 season
On August 26, 2011, Quiñahan and Norman Gonzales were traded to Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for Doug Kramer and Josh Vanlandingham. With Rain or Shine, he found his niche in the league. He also was paired with another beefy center in Beau Belga, forming the Extra Rice, Inc.. In the Philippine Cup, he contributed to Rain or Shine hitting a franchise-record 22 three pointers in a win over Meralco. He was also part of Rain or Shine's championship team during the Governors' Cup.
2012–13 season
In a Philippine Cup win over Alaska, Quiñahan scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds. During a game against Meralco, he elbowed Sol Mercado in the face, almost causing Meralco's bench to retaliate against him. Quiñahan was ejected from the game and had to pay P20,000, but was not suspended. In a Game 2 semifinal loss, he led the team in scoring with 12 points. They made it all the way to the Finals, where Rain or Shine was swept by the Tropang Texters in four games. In the Governors' Cup, he suffered an Achilles injury that caused him to miss the semifinals.
2013–14 season
Against the GlobalPort Batang Pier during the Philippine Cup, Quiñahan had 14 points and eight rebounds, but a poorly executed play in the last nine seconds of the game led to an upset win by GlobalPort. He then combined with Belga to score 22 points and put Petron center June Mar Fajardo in foul trouble to give the Petron Blaze Boosters their first loss of the season after seven straight wins. They then combined for 35 points in a win over the Tropang Texters (with him scoring 19 and Belga 16). Against Meralco, he made the game-winning three pointer that gave Rain or Shine its sixth straight win, a franchise record. A meniscus injury during the Commissioner's Cup kept him out for the rest of the season.