Mark Anthony Caguioa is a Filipino basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the PBA. Known as The Spark and as MC47 from his initials and his jersey number, he is also half of “The Fast and The Furious“.
In 2001, Mark Caguioa was drafted by the Barangay Ginebra Kings as the third overall pick. Expectations were not high as Mark Caguioa started as a role player and backup for superstar Vergel Meneses. However, after showing strong performances and helping to lead the Kings to the 2001 All-Filipino Cup Finals, he became very popular. With his crossovers, drives to the basket, and penchant for making clutch plays, Mark Caguioa earned the respect and admiration of the Filipino basketball fans. His exciting brand of play earned him the moniker “The Spark.” At the end of his first season, Mark Caguioa was the third Ginebra player, after Dondon Ampalayo in 1986 and Marlou Aquino in 1996, to win the Rookie of the Year award. For the 2011–2012 season, he won the Most Valuable Player award.
In the 2004–05 season, Mark Caguioa, along with his backcourt partner Jayjay Helterbrand, formed a strong tandem, which was dubbed as “The Fast and The Furious“. Their play enabled Ginebra to win back-to-back championships. Mark Caguioa also set his then career high for points in a single game during that season, scoring 43 points (he later eclipsed this by scoring 45 points) in Game 4 of the Philippine Cup Finals against the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals.
In the 2006 Philippine Cup, Mark Caguioa earned “Player of the Week” honors three times. He led the league in scoring at 24 points per game, and broke his previous career high for points in a single game, scoring 45 points in a losing effort against Red Bull in the quarterfinals. He became the first guard to finish a single season as the league’s leading scorer since Allan Caidic in 1995.
In the 2007 Philippine Cup, Mark Caguioa averaged 24.7 points per game in the 23 games he played. He also led the league in statistical points for the Best Player of the Conference Award. Mark Caguioa piloted Ginebra to their seventh championship in franchise history by besting the San Miguel Beermen in a best-of-seven finals. During their series against Talk ‘N Text in the semifinals, Mark Caguioa scored 34, 31, 26, 35, and 31 points in the five games. Mark Caguioa won the 2007 PBA Best Player of the Conference.
Mark Caguioa again helped his team during the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference, culminating in the team’s eighth championship. He also led the league in scoring.
In the 2008–09 season, Caguioa failed to suit up for Kings due to his therapy in the United States for tendinitis on both knees.
Mark Caguioa received the MVP award and back to back Best Player of the Conference awards in 2011 and 2012.
In October 5, 2018 against NLEX Road Warriors, Mark Caguioa scores 16 points to join the PBA 10,000 points club.
