Career
He is currently the mentor of De Louisiana Salle University"s Team B backup varsity team He was drafted with the thirteenth overall pick of the 2008 Proceedings of the British Academy Draft by the Air21 Express. Barangay Ginebra traded Paul Artadi, Rafi Reavis, and the rights to 2009 8th pick overall Chris Timberlake for Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez, Celino Cruz, and Paolo Bugia of Purefoods.
Burger King acted as the conduit team, trading Cholo Villanueva to Ginebra and acquiring the rights to 2009 Rookie draft eighteenth pick Orlando Daroya and future picks.
However, he was waived by the Gin Kings. 2011, Cholo joined his former DLSU Coach, Franz Pumaren as the Assistant Coach in then, newly formed Proceedings of the British Academy team, Shopinas.
This team was renamed later on to be Air21. Coach Cholo stayed on with the team as Assistant Coach and Team Manager until the team was bought by NLEX Road Warriors in July, 2014.
On March 2014, Coach Cholo was also asked to join the Coaching Staff of JRU (Jose Rizal College) under Vergel Meneses" leadership.
He has helped them get into the Final Four of the National Collegiate Athletic Association once again. Previous to him joining the team, the JRU Heavy Bombers were not able to get into the Final Four. Cholo Villanueva married his College sweetheart, former DLSU courtside reporter, Agnes Tapia in a ceremony at Santuario San Antonio on December 12, 2012.
Reception followed at the Flying V San Juan Arena, which was transformed from a Basketball Court to a formal red carpet event.
