How the PBA’s past helps shape tomorrow’s stars through the NGBL

The Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) is in full swing, and it is living up to its promise of being the newest stage for the Philippines’ future stars to showcase their prowess.

High School studs from the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, University of Santo Tomas, and San Beda University have been making waves in the league, with their schools being the first three teams to book a spot in the playoffs, but they are not the only ones who are taking the NGBL by storm.

Among those who are standing out is Ateneo de Manila University’s Ziv Espinas, one of the many sons of past PBA standouts in the NGBL that is presented by URATEX, Jollibee, Strong Group Athletics, and in partnership with JETOUR, World Balance, and Molten as official game ball, and the 6-foot-3 Blue Eagle is eager to carve his own legacy outside of his father’s surname. 

“‘Di naman nakaka-pressure that much to create a name for myself,” said Espinas, who had his best game in the NGBL in front of his dad Gabby, putting up 15 points, four rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block in a slim defeat against the University of the East last Saturday.

His father was a former fifth overall pick in the 2006 PBA Rookie Draft by the San Miguel Beermen, and the 6-foot-4 elder Espinas also etched his name as one of the most notable big men during his time in the league by being a six-time champion and a one-time All-Star.

But Ziv is taking his time, and he would rather focus on creating his own identity in basketball. The 16-year-old, Grade 10 student of Ateneo High even wants to develop as a wing and not as a big man like his dad.

”’Di ko naman minamadali yung career ko. Pero kung ano yung ibibigay sa akin ni Lord, at kung ano yung tinuturo sa akin ng tatay ko, ‘di ko siya tine-take for granted. Yung mga practices namin, go hard ako palagi para yung skills ko lalo pang lumawak,” said ZIv, who also has SMB’s June Mar Fajardo as one of his idols aside from his dad.

“Pag dating ko ng college, ‘di naman ako big eh, pwedeng wing ako or guard. And kung pwede siguro, gusto ko pag dating ko ng college, mas higitan ko pa yung pinakita ng tatay ko,” he said of his father who played for Philippine Christian University where he won both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in the NCAA in 2004.

Aside from Espinas, there are seven other youth standouts who are also sons of former PBA players in the NGBL that is supported by Team Rebel Sports Pilipinas as official league outfitter, RICA UPVC Aluminum Glass and Trading Corp., Verleo Catering as official caterer, and Tanduay Athletics.

Mapua University’s Carl Albert Rodriguez, son of former Rain Or Shine ElastoPainter Larry Rodriguez, and Dwayne James Miranda, son of former Petron Blaze Booster Denok Miranda, are two of them. FEU-Diliman also has a pair: Tash Maierhofer, son of former Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Magnolia big Rico Maierhofer, and Liam Salangsang son of another former E-Painter Allan Salangsang.

Perpetual’s Lebron Jhames Daep is also on the list, with the talented 6-foot-7 big being the son of former Purefoods TJ Giant Rommel Daep, while another promising bigman is also there, Ram Sharma of La Salle Greenhills, son of former Red Bull Barako Carlo Sharma.

Completing the list of potential second-generation PBA players in the NGBL that is also supported by MET Food Corporation, official hydration partners Gatorade & Summit Natural Drinking Water, Converge as official internet provider, and Crocs, is Mots Matias of National University-Nazareth School, son of another former ROS player Ronnie Matias. 

However, it is not only the players who are benefitting from the PBA roots that are present in the NGBL.

Ateneo head coach Ford Arao bared that he is also learning from his fellow competitors in the league, especially the ones who also have playing and coaching experiences in Asia’s first-ever pay-for-play league. 

“Oo naman, marami pa rin akong natututunan as a coach,” said Arao, who briefly played in the PBA with the Meralco Bolts, and was also a part of the coaching staff of the NLEX Road Warriors until 2022.

“As coaches, lagi naming sinasabi na learning doesn’t stop. The moment na nag-stop yung learning mo, yung growth mo mags-stop din. Tapos yung learning ngayon, hindi na lang nanggagaling sa amin pa-punta sa players, pati na rin sa mga kalaban namin,” he explained. 

Among the coaches in the NGBL who have PBA experiences either as players or tacticians are Jose Rizal University’s Glenn Capacio, Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Willie Miller, Xavier School’s Willy Wilson, LSGH’s Renren Ritualo, Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Al Vergara, NU-NS assistant Rob Labagala, and UPHSD assistant Rommel Daep.