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Ateneo Blue Eagles‘ Ziv Espinas. Photo handout/Next Generation Basketball League.

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<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1726802631105NGBL 091424 B-62.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ateneo Blue Eagles‘ Ziv Espinas. Photo handout/Next Generation Basketball League."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ateneo Blue Eagles‘ Ziv Espinas. <em>Photo handout/Next Generation Basketball League.</em></span></span></span><span>MANILA — 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.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>High school students 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.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>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. The 6-foot-3 Blue Eagle is eager to carve his own legacy outside of his father’s surname. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>“‘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.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>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.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>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 School even wants to develop as a wing and not as a big man like his dad.  </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>”’Di ko naman minamadali &#x27;yung career ko. Pero kung ano &#x27;yung ibibigay sa akin ni Lord, at kung ano &#x27;yung tinuturo sa akin ng tatay ko, ‘di ko siya tine-take for granted. &#x27;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. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span>“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 &#x27;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.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>Aside from Espinas, there are seven other youth standouts who are also sons of former PBA players in the league.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>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.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1726802769105NGBL 083124 A-7.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Perpetual Junior Alltas star Lebron Jhames Daep. Photo handout/NGBL.Perpetual Junior Alltas star Lebron Jhames Daep. Photo handout/NGBL."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Perpetual Junior Alltas star Lebron Jhames Daep. Photo handout/NGBL.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span>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 big man is also there, Ram Sharma of La Salle Greenhills, son of former Red Bull Barako Carlo Sharma.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>Completing the list of potential second-generation PBA players in the NGBL is Mots Matias of National University-Nazareth School, son of another former ROS player Ronnie Matias. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>However, it is not only the players who are benefitting from the PBA roots that are present in the league.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>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. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>“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.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>“As coaches, lagi naming sinasabi na learning doesn’t stop. The moment na nag-stop &#x27;yung learning mo, &#x27;yung growth mo mags-stop din. Tapos &#x27;yung learning ngayon, hindi na lang nanggagaling sa amin pa-punta sa players, pati na rin sa mga kalaban namin,” he explained. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>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. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>But more importantly, with this extensive list of names, Arao said that it will be all the players who will be benefiting most above all — regardless if they have PBA bloodline or not.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>“Ang magandang bagay na nangyari sa akin, coaching sa PBA and then coaching these kids — &#x27;yung mga coaches sa PBA, ibang level &#x27;yang mga &#x27;yan eh, &#x27;yun &#x27;yung mga best coaches — so anything na natutunan ko doon, &#x27;yun &#x27;yung natuturo ko sa mga bata.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>“Lalo na sa amin sa Ateneo, we’re into development. Dine-develop namin &#x27;yung skills, &#x27;yung mental aspect, so napakalaking bagay na ma-share ko &#x27;yung experience na &#x27;yun sa mga bata, and &#x27;yung ibang coaches din sa mga players nila,” he shared. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>The PBA, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in April 2025, not only remains as one of the top routes that the county’s best talents will go through in their professional careers. Aside from this, the league and its history are also proving to be as vital as ever to the development of the country’s next superstars through platforms like the NGBL.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>”&#x27;Yung overseas, may malaking exposure and nandoon yung ibang idols ko like Rhenz Abando, pero syempre, lumaki ako na pinanood ko &#x27;yung tatay ko sa PBA,” said Espinas. “Kung magkaroon ng chance, gusto ko ring mag-PBA,” he continued.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br/></div>

<p>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.</p>

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.

Ziv Espinas, other sons of former PBA standouts carving own legacy in NGBL

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Ziv Espinas, other sons of former PBA standouts carving own legacy in NGBL

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Published Sep 20, 2024 12:04 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 20, 2024 02:07 PM PHT

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