Joey Mente

Joey Mente was a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine [Basketball Association] who last played for the Welcoat Dragons. He was drafted 10th overall by the San Miguel Beermen in PBA Draft|2001].

Career

Mente first played for the Iloilo Mega Volts standout in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association during the maiden season of the league.
Mente was drafted by the San Miguel Beermen and played there from 2001-2005. Though his height was 5'10", he participated in the PBA Slam Dunk Contest, and won as the "2001 Slam Dunk King". In the 2006-07 PBA season, he played 20 games for Welcoat in the 2006-07 PBA season and averaged 8.3 points [per game] 2.6 rebounds per game and 1.7 assists per game.

Illness and death

In 2018, Mente was diagnosed with two tumors, one in his head and the other in his chest, and underwent surgery. He later had radiation treatment and went home to Samar for chemotherapy. He died on August 22, 2018, at the age of 42.