{{short description|Filipino basketball player}} {{Philippine name|Merza|Dulay}} {{Infobox basketball biography | image = | caption = | league = | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 8 | weight_lb = 150 | team = | number = | position = | nationality = Filipino / American | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|10|17}} | birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | draft_year_pba = 2006 | draft_pba = Undrafted | college = El Camino College | career_start = 2007 | career_end = 2013 | career_position = Point guard | coach_start = 2017 | team1 = Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | years1 = 2007–2010 | team2 = Alaska Aces | years2 = 2011 | team3 = Singapore Slingers | years3 = 2012–2013 | cteam1 = Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (assistant) | cyears1 = 2017–2018 | cteam2 = Davao Occidental Tigers | cyears2 = 2018–2021 | cteam3 = Makati OKBet Kings | cyears3 = 2023 | cteam4 = Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards / Capitals | cyears4 = 2024–2025 | highlights = * MPBL champion (2021 Lakan) | high_school = Carson (Carson, California) }}
'''Donald Isidro Merza Dulay'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/donald_isidro_dulay_born_1980_14402524|title=Donald Isidro Dulay was born on October 17, 1980 in Los Angeles County, California|website=californiabirthindex.org|publisher=California Birth Index|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> (born October 17, 1980, in Los Angeles, California) is a Filipino-American former professional basketball player. He is the former coach of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards franchise of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the Pilipinas Super League (PSL). He was an undrafted player but was later signed by Rain or Shine in 2007. He is also given the moniker "Double D" because of the D's in his first name and surname.
==Professional career== Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Dulay was raised by Isidro and Filomena Dulay, who are both full-blooded Filipinos.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Tiebreaker |date=2020-01-30 |title=LA-born coach Don Dulay wears Kobe Bryant jersey during Davao Occi game |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/la-born-don-dulay-wears-kobe-bryant-jersey-davao-occi-game/177255 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Henson |first=Joaquin M. |author-link=Joaquin Henson |date=October 25, 2007 |title=Maximum tolerance |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2007/10/25/23423/maximum-tolerance |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref> He played basketball at Carson High School alongside Mike Cortez and Tony dela Cruz.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2025 |title=N Ecija's 'equal opportunity' system leads to one-sided dominance of MPBL |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/mpbl/nueva-ecija-s-equal-opportunity-system-under-coach-don-dulay-a800-20250615 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref> He then moved to the Philippines to pursue a basketball career. Playing guard at 5’8″, he first declared for the PBA draft in 2005, but then withdrew his application.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Orellana |first=Joel |date=August 12, 2005 |title=PBA scraps 4 draft applicants for failing to attend camp |url=https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=WbljAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA12&dq=don%20dulay%20basketball&pg=PA12#v=onepage&q=don%20dulay%20basketball&f=false |access-date=May 19, 2026 |work=The Manila Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Henson |first=Joaquin M. |author-link=Joaquin Henson |date=August 14, 2005 |title=It’s Washington at No. 1 for sure |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2005/08/14/291425/it146s-washington-no-1-sure |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref> He then played for Cebuana Lhuillier and Welcoat Dragons in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) before declaring for the 2006 PBA draft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 8, 2006 |title=Santos, Sagad dumagdag sa PBA draft applicants |url=https://www.philstar.com/palaro/2006/07/08/346264/santos-sagad-dumagdag-sa-pba-draft-applicants |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref> Although no team drafted him, he was signed by the Welcoat Dragons as a free agent during the 2007–08 PBA season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leongson |first=Randolph B. |title=Arwind or Kelly as No. 1 pick? See redraft of 2006 PBA rookie class |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/arwind-santos-or-kelly-williams-see-redraft-of-2006-rookie-class-a2437-20200520-lfrm |work=Sports Interactive Network |date=May 20, 2020 |access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-10-01 |title=Dragons battle-ready; Giants eye Cablay |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2007/10/01/17710/dragons-battle-ready-giants-eye-cablay |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=www.philstar.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2009, he contributed to Rain or Shine making its first PBA playoffs appearance and participated in the Three-Point Shootout during All-Star Week.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2009-01-09 |title=PBA champ Sta. Lucia ends Rain or Shine's season |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/content/143487/pba-champ-sta-lucia-ends-rain-or-shine-s-season/story/ |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Castillo |first=Grace |date=2009-04-25 |title=Coach unhappy despite Team Philippines’ win |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/323571 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, Rain or Shine released him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cadayona |first=Russell |date=September 1, 2010 |title=Rain or Shine 'di pakakawalan si Reyes |url=https://www.philstar.com/palaro/2010/09/01/607567/rain-or-shine-di-pakakawalan-si-reyes |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref> He then played for the Alaska Aces and the Singapore Slingers in the ABL.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leyba |first=Olmin |date=February 3, 2012 |title=Dulay sparks Slingers romp over Beermen |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2012/02/03/773559/dulay-sparks-slingers-romp-over-beermen |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>
== Coaching career == Dulay started as an assistant coach with Rain or Shine.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Valencia |first=Justin |date=2021-03-24 |title=Don Dulay almost played for Chris Gavina, ends up as MPBL champion coach |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/don-dulay-almost-played-for-valenzuela-ends-up-as-mpbl-champion-coach/204254 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2018, he became the head coach of the Davao Occidental Tigers of the MPBL.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saberon-Abalayan |first=Marianne L. |last2=Morrell |first2=Adam B. |date=2018-08-28 |title='Win at all cost' |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/sports/win-at-all-cost |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, they made the finals, but lost to the San Juan Knights.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Matthew |date=2019-04-25 |title=Davaoeño Jhonard Clarito lifts San Juan Knights to MPBL National Championship |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/davaoeno-jhonard-clarito-lifts-san-juan-knights-to-mpbl-national-championship/147664 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, he got to coach the South All-Stars during the All-Star Game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Tiebreaker |date=2020-02-05 |title=Mark Yee headlines South, Jai Reyes spearheads North in MPBL Lakan All-Star Game |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/mark-yee-leads-south-jai-reyes-spearheads-north-in-mpbl-lakan-all-star-game/177798 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref> They advanced to the finals once again, and this time beat San Juan for the championship.<ref name=":2" /> He then left the team to return to the US.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Matthew |date=2021-09-21 |title=Davao Occidental, Don Dulay part ways ahead of Filbasket |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/davao-occidental-don-dulay-part-ways-ahead-of-filbasket/220029 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2023, Dulay returned to coaching with the Makati OKBet Kings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castillo |first=Musong R. |date=2023-02-18 |title=Fifth MPBL season draws 30 teams |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/497392/fifth-mpbl-season-draws-30-teams |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref> In 2024, he then coached the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fastbreak |date=2024-02-28 |title=Don Dulay takes over as Nueva Ecija's head coach |url=https://fastbreak.com.ph/don-dulay-takes-over-as-nueva-ecijas-head-coach/sports-galore/ |access-date=2026-05-19 |language=en-US}}</ref> That year, they made it to the division semifinals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Tiebreaker |date=2024-10-17 |title=Nueva Ecija holds off Pasay, sets up MPBL North semis clash vs Pampanga |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/nueva-ecija-holds-off-pasay-sets-up-mpbl-north-semis-clash-vs-pampanga/316816 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2025, they started the season 15–0.<ref name=":0" /> However, in the playoffs, they lost to the Pangasinan Heatwaves in the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2025 |title=Gabo's winner for Pangasinan knocks N Ecija out of MPBL playoffs |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/mpbl/pangasinan-heatwaves-ousts-nueva-ecija-out-of-mpbl-playoffs-a1373-20251028 |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref>
==PBA career statistics== {{PBA player statistics legend}} <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Donald Dulay Player Profile - PBA-Online.net |url=http://www.pba-online.net/profile/Donald-Dulay/30 |website=PBA-Online.net|url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404203551/http://www.pba-online.net/profile/Donald-Dulay/30 |archive-date=April 4, 2017 }}</ref>
===Season-by-season averages=== {{PBA player statistics start}} |- | align=left| {{pbay|2007}} | align=left| Welcoat | 33 || 13.9 || .321 || .256 || .583 || 1.2 || '''2.0''' || '''.3''' || .0 || 3.8 |- | align=left| {{pbay|2008}} | align=left| Rain or Shine | '''40''' || '''14.7''' || .333 || .328 || .656 || '''1.4''' || 1.6 || .2 || .0 || 4.4 |- | align=left| {{pbay|2009}} | align=left| Rain or Shine | 16 || 10.1 || '''.403''' || '''.350''' || '''.733''' || '''1.4''' || 1.3 || .2 || .0 || '''4.7''' |- | align=left| {{pbay|2010}} | align=left| Alaska | 3 || 5.7 || .000 || .000 || — || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |-class=sortbottom | align=center colspan=2 | Career | 92 || 13.3 || .335 || .305 || .639 || 1.3 || 1.6 || .2 || .0 || 4.1 {{end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080409153232/http://www.pba.ph/component/option,com_comprofiler/task,userProfile/user,168/Itemid,1/ Player Profile] *[http://www.asia-basket.com/player.asp?Cntry=PHI&PlayerID=119883 Asia-Basket Profile]
{{Davao Occidental Tigers 2021 MPBL Lakan Cup Champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dulay, Don}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Alaska Aces (PBA) players Category:American people of Filipino descent Category:Sportspeople of Filipino descent Category:Basketball players from Los Angeles Category:Filipino expatriate basketball people in Singapore Category:Filipino men's basketball players Category:Point guards Category:Rain or Shine Elasto Painters players Category:Singapore Slingers players Category:Rain or Shine Elasto Painters coaches Category:Filipino men's basketball coaches Category:American men's basketball players Category:21st-century Filipino sportsmen Category:MPBL coaches