Robert Rose
July 23, 2020
Michael Pennisi
- Nationality: AUS/PHI
- Date of Birth: 13/03/75
- Place of Birth: Innisfail (QLD)
- Position: CTR
- Height (CM): 211
- Weight (KG): 107
- Junior Assoc: QLD - Tully
- College: Eastern Michigan (1994–1997)
- NBL DEBUT: 13/05/95
- AGE AT DEBUT: 20
- LAST NBL GAME: 27/02/99
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 23
- NBL History: Townsville 1995-96, 1999
- Championships: 0
- None
NICKNAME/S: Mick
BIO: Michael “Mick” Pennisi was born in Innisfail (QLD) and was raised in nearby suburb Silkwood. An Australian-Filipino, Pennisi was a talented left-handed 3-point shooter.
He played three seasons with the Townsville Crocodiles before moving to the Philippines. where he played the majority of his career.
FAMILY: Michael’s brother, David Pennisi also played 150 games in the NBL. Pennisi holds Australian, Italian, and Filipino passports due to his heritage, with an Italian father and an Ilocano mother.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Michael Pennisi made his NBL debut with the Townsville Suns at 20 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.
Michael Pennisi joined Townsville as a development player at a time where the club was going through a roster restructure. With long-time captain Graham Kubank (retired), Jeff Warren (released), and import duo Ricky Jones and Darryl Johnson all exiting the club, Derek Rucker (via Newcastle) and Clarence Tyson (via USA) were brought in as the team’s new import duo and veteran forward Shane Froling (via Brisbane) was added to the roster.
The reset was obvious from tip-off, even in a 106–116 opening loss to Brisbane, as Clarence Tyson (38 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks), Derek Rucker (28 points, 9 assists, 4 steals), and Cameron Dickinson (23 points) showcased the Suns’ fast, high-usage attack. Pennisi remained a depth option early, continuing to learn the speed of the league behind the veteran bigs.
Townsville finally snapped its five-game skid by edging Sydney 105–104, driven by Derek Rucker (42 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) and reinforced by Clarence Tyson (19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks) and Cameron Dickinson (26 points). In that thriller, Michael Pennisi (2 points, 1 rebound, 1 block) saw 5 minutes of court time after Shane Froling fouled out of the game.
Momentum turned again with a 108–97 win over Gold Coast—Derek Rucker (32 points, 7 assists), Cameron Dickinson (20 points), and Clarence Tyson (17 points, 13 rebounds) combining for 69—before the Suns claimed a signature 116–115 upset of Melbourne behind Rucker (43 points, 10 assists), Dickinson (27 points), and Tyson (20 points, 13 rebounds). Pennisi’s assignments in this stretch were simple but important: set early ball screens, wall up in drop coverage, and keep possessions alive on the offensive glass when called upon.
Townsville split the run home (7–7) to finish 9–17 in 11th—an uptick on 1994—while clarifying roles around the stars. Michael Pennisi (1.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.1 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.2 blocks across 9 games) closed the year as a useful depth big, earning trust in short stints and positioning himself for a bigger bite of minutes with continued development. The headliners remained team captain Derek Rucker (30.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists, 2.5 steals), Clarence Tyson (24.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.7 blocks), as well as Cameron Dickinson (20.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals), who became one of the highest scoring local players in the league. Other key contibutors included Shane Froling (7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 23 games), Jason Cameron (7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals), and Keiron Mitchelhill (7.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists). Rucker collected club MVP and All-NBL Second Team honors, while Tyson was named to the All-NBL Third Team. Mick Pennisi (1.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.1 assists) played a limited role in his rookie season, appearing in nine games.
1996
Townsville largely rolled back their 1995 roster, with the only significant adjustment being Grant Kruger (via Newcastle) stepping in for Lucas Agrums (released). The team’s nucleus of Derek Rucker, Clarence Tyson, and Cameron Dickinson remained intact, and expectations were again set around Rucker orchestrating the tempo, Tyson anchoring the paint, and Dickinson providing perimeter balance.
The season opened shakily with lopsided defeats to Perth (89–103) and Adelaide (77–117), but the Suns rebounded in emphatic style against Hobart (123–94). Rucker controlled every phase of the contest (28 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists), setting the tone for a blowout. A rough patch followed with close calls against Gold Coast (99–102) and back-to-back losses to Melbourne, before Townsville reset with crucial wins over North Melbourne (97–95) and Brisbane (104–89), the latter fueled by a Rucker masterclass (35 points and 16 assists). The team closed with momentum, securing three straight victories over Illawarra (130–122), Newcastle (114–100), and playoff-bound Canberra (103–100) to lock in a (9–17) record.
On the individual front, Rucker (26.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 2.6 steals) was again among the NBL’s elite, ranking third in scoring and second in assists. Tyson (22.8 points, 14.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks) dominated inside and collected club MVP honors, while Dickinson (20.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals) reinforced his standing as the top-scoring local. Supporting roles came from Keiron Mitchelhill (7.2 ppg), Shane Froling (7.2 ppg), and Kruger (5.8 ppg). Developmental forward Michael Pennisi also gained valuable minutes across six appearances (3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.7 steals), showing flashes of floor spacing and activity on the glass that hinted at the long career ahead of him.
1998/99
The summer shift brought a wholesale reboot in Townsville. After six seasons, inaugural coach Mark Bragg made way for Ian Stacker, who arrived from South East Melbourne as the club retired “Suns” and adopted the region-first “Crocodiles” following a trademark stoush with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns—a name that also echoed Stacker’s under-22 “Crocodiles” who won FIBA gold in 1997. Stacker’s appointment helped lure Sam Mackinnon north, a headline move that strained ties with mentor Brian Goorjian. Only four holdovers returned (Simon Kerle, Brad Davidson, David Pennisi, Jason Cameron) as Stacker rebuilt around Robert Rose (via Canberra), Andrew Goodwin (via North Melbourne) and James Harper (via South Florida), with Michael Pennisi rejoining from overseas to deepen the frontcourt in the league’s first true summer season.
Townsville’s debut under the Crocodiles banner was a 91–84 win over Brisbane. Mackinnon (18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) and David Pennisi (18 points, 5 rebounds) led a balanced night, supported by Rose (16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists), Harper (15 points, 12 rebounds), and Kerle (14 points). Michael (0 points, 0 rebounds) making a brief cameo, as the Crocs outlasted Steve Woodberry’s 31 for the Bullets.
A six-game skid followed—Wollongong (86–99), Adelaide (89–94), Newcastle (96–102), Canberra (94–99), Melbourne (87–102)—before Townsville reset at home by beating Wollongong 93–80. Mackinnon delivered his regular-season peak (26 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists on 12-of-22, 2-of-2 from three). Kerle (21 points, 7-of-8 FT) and Rose (20 points), while Pennisi (0 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist) provided solid defence in minimal game time against the Hawks’ Clayton Ritter (22).
The following outing produced the Crocs’ most explosive offensive display, a 120-point December win over Canberra where Simon Kerle caught fire (33 points, 5 assists).
Home-court muscle became a theme for Townsville, showcased during their demolition of Sydney (116–68) and upset of reigning champion Melbourne (90–89)—though late stumbles to Sydney (101–119) and Adelaide (92–107) kept Townsville at 12–14 and seventh, just outside the playoff cut.
Rose remained the heartbeat across the year (21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.8 steals) and earned All-NBL Second Team honours while leading the league in minutes. Mackinnon blossomed into an all-court force (16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks) and made the All-NBL Third Team. Other key contributors this season included Goodwin (14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds), Kerle (13.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists) and Harper (10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks).
Michael Pennisi (2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds) shared the centre spot with his brother David (7.0 points, 3.6 rebounds) to give Stacker usable size and fouls throughout the season. Pennisi would go on to use this season as a springboard to a long playing career in the Philippines.
Michael Pennisi played three seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Townsville Crocodiles and the Townsville Suns. He averaged 2.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 31 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 24 | Townsville | 12-14 (7) | 16 | 145 | 37 | 34 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 22 | 10 | 30 | 33% | 3 | 10 | 30% | 14 | 20 | 70% | 47% | 38% | 15 |
| 1996 | 21 | Townsville | 9-17 (11) | 6 | 73 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 35% | 2 | 3 | 67% | 5 | 8 | 63% | 46% | 41% | 6 |
| 1995 | 20 | Townsville | 9-17 (10) | 9 | 63 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 46% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 47% | 46% | 4 | Totals | 31 | 281 | 70 | 57 | 10 | 26 | 31 | 10 | 6 | 31 | 41 | 22 | 60 | 36.7% | 5 | 13 | 38.5% | 21 | 32 | 65.6% | 47% | 41% | 15 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 24 | Townsville | 12-14 (7) | 16 | 9.1 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 33% | 0.2 | 0.6 | 30% | 0.9 | 1.3 | 70% | 47% | 38% | 15 |
| 1996 | 21 | Townsville | 9-17 (11) | 6 | 12.2 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 35% | 0.3 | 0.5 | 67% | 0.8 | 1.3 | 63% | 46% | 41% | 6 |
| 1995 | 20 | Townsville | 9-17 (10) | 9 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 46% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 50% | 47% | 46% | 4 | Total | 31 | 9.1 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 36.7% | 0.0 | 38.5% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 65.6% | 47% | 41% | 15 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 15 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Burdekin (1994, 1998), Townsville (1995)
Pennisi joined Burdekin for the 1994 state league season, and he averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Burdekin Wildcats before leaving for Eastern Michigan.
In 1995, Pennisi moved to Townsville for the CBA season and averaged 11.6 points and 12.6 rebounds for the Townsville Heat.
After college, Pennisi returned to Burdekin and played state league again in 1998.
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Pennisi represented the Philippine national team in international competitions. Notably, he suited up for the Philippines for the 2002 Busan Asian Games and the 2007 and 2009 FIBA Asia Championships.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Phillipines - Batang Red Bull (2000–2008), San Miguel Beermen / Petron Blaze Boosters (2008–2011), Barako Bull (2011–2014), Purefoods Star Hotshots (2014–2015), Barako Bull / Phoenix Fuel Masters (2015–2016), GlobalPort Batang Pier (2016–2017)
Pennisi joined Batang Red Bull for the 2000 Philippine Basketball Association season in the Philippines and averaged 10.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks across 35 games in his debut year.
Mick Pennisi was recruited by expansion team Batang Red Bull in 2000 and quickly became one of the franchises key players. Alongside Lordy Tugade, Junthy Valenzuela, and Davonn Harp, he helped lead Red Bull to three PBA championships, winning back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup titles in 2001 and 2002, as well as the Fiesta Conference in 2006.
Pennisi made an immediate impact in his debut season in 2000, averaging 10.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while playing a team-high 39.2 minutes across 35 games. In 2001, his minutes dipped, but he remained a key contributor to Red Bull’s championship run, posting 7.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 41 games. In 2002, limited to just 12 games, he still managed to average 8.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 43.2% from the field and 34.5% from three-point range.
In 2003, Pennisi bounced back with a strong all-around campaign, averaging 10.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting a career-best 39.8% from three-point territory. He continued that consistency into the 2004–05 season, putting up 11.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game over 32 appearances. During Red Bull’s 2005–06 title-winning campaign, he added 8.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game in 65 contests.
During his time with Red Bull, Pennisi established himself as one of the league’s most reliable big men, particularly as a stretch big who could space the floor with his outside shooting. His best statistical season came in 2006–07, where he averaged 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 34.9% from three-point range.
He closed out his Red Bull tenure in 2007–08 with another solid season, averaging 8.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game across 50 games while maintaining an efficient 37.6% from long range.
He earned PBA All-Star selections in 2003 and 2009 during his Philippine career.
In 2008, Red Bull traded Pennisi to the San Miguel Beermen, where he continued his success. He added two more championships to his resume, winning the 2009 Fiesta Conference and 2011 Governors’ Cup with San Miguel, which was later rebranded as Petron Blaze.
By the 2007–08 Philippine Cup, Pennisi had become one of the league’s premier three-point shooting big men, finishing as the third-most prolific three-point shooter in that conference, behind former teammate Mike Hrabak and Ren-Ren Ritualo. Across his career, Pennisi consistently ranked among the top big men in three-point shooting, finishing with a career 35.5% three-point shooting percentage.
From 2008 to 2011 with San Miguel, he continued to contribute as a stretch big, averaging 6.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per game during the 2008–09 season while shooting 35.0% from beyond the arc.
In 2009–10, he improved his shooting further, hitting 40.0% of his threes and 96.2% of his free throws across 46 games. The 2010–11 season saw him average 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in a reduced role, still maintaining strong shooting numbers with an 88.2% clip from the free throw line.
In 2011, Pennisi was dealt to Barako Bull, where he took on the role of veteran leader. On March 21, 2012, he made history by hitting his 700th career three-pointer, becoming only the eighth player in PBA history to reach that milestone. That same game, he also went viral for a delayed flop reaction, which became a lighthearted moment among basketball fans.
Pennisi remained a productive contributor with Barako Bull, averaging 7.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 23.3 minutes per game during his first season with the team in 2011–12, while shooting 34.1% from three. He maintained that level of consistency over the next two seasons, putting up 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 2012–13, followed by 9.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 2013–14 while shooting an impressive 41.5% from long range. His consistent outside shooting continued into his later seasons, including a 40.2% mark from beyond the arc in 2015–16, proving his enduring value as a floor-spacing big man.
He had a short stint with the Purefoods Star Hotshots during the 2014–15 season, where he served as a role-playing big man, contributing his signature outside shooting and veteran presence.
In September 2015, Pennisi returned to Barako Bull, which was later rebranded as the Phoenix Fuel Masters in 2016. He remained a valuable floor-spacing big man, helping the young franchise establish itself in the league. That season, he shot 40% from three-point range while averaging 5.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
On November 11, 2016, he was traded to GlobalPort Batang Pier in exchange for Doug Kramer.
In November 2016, Pennisi was traded to GlobalPort Batang Pier, where he played his final PBA season. At 42 years old, he announced his retirement in September 2017, finishing an incredible 17-year career just 33 points away from becoming a member of the PBA’s 5,000-point club.
For his PBA career, Pennisi played in 662 games, averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, while shooting 40.7% from the field, 35.5% from three-point range, and 74.8% from the free-throw line. His ability to stretch the floor as a big man made him one of the most unique and impactful frontcourt players of his era.
COLLEGE
Pennisi played three seasons of college basketball at Eastern Michigan University (1994-1997).
As a freshman (1994-95), Pennisi played limited minutes but was efficient, averaging 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting an impressive 64% from the field.
By his sophomore year (1995-96), he developed a reputation as a hard-nosed defender, averaging a foul every 4.3 minutes. Despite playing just 8 minutes per game, he played a key defensive role in the 1996 NCAA Tournament, where Eastern Michigan pulled off a stunning 75-60 first-round upset over Duke. He logged 18 minutes in that game, frustrating Duke’s Greg Newton with his physical play.
In his junior season (1996-97), Pennisi became a regular contributor, starting 23 of 32 games and averaging 4.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 15.9 minutes per game. He showcased his versatility by shooting 49.5% from the field and hitting 6-of-13 three-pointers (46.2%), proving he could step outside and score from beyond the arc. He also added 23 assists, 12 steals, and 10 blocks, demonstrating his all-around game.
During his time at Eastern Michigan, Pennisi played alongside future NBA guard Earl Boykins and NBL talent Theron Wilson and Brian Tolbert, helping the Eagles maintain a competitive presence in the MAC.
AWARDS
- 5× PBA champion (2001, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2011)
- 2× PBA All-Star (2003, 2009)
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
After retiring Pennisi relocated to Thailand to mind his poultry business
Related
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