Lahing Ginebra: Japeth Aguilar, Billy Mamaril form second-generation Gin Kings front line

Sports5/Paolo Papa

There have been several pairs of fathers and sons who have played in the PBA. The list is quite extensive: Freddie and Jason Webb, Sonny and Junjun Cabatu, Freddie and Paolo Hubalde, Elmer and Raphy Reyes, Jess Migalbin and Richard Yee, Jun and Addy Papa, and of course, Robert Jaworski, Sr. and Jr.

In 1995, Ginebra San Miguel, with playing coach Jaworski, Sr. at the helm, drafted his eldest son and namesake, Robert, Jr. or Dodot, in the second round of the rookie draft. Dodot didn’t get to play the entire 1995 season but suited up for the team starting in the 1996 season. And while he got to play two years for the franchise, we weren’t able to witness father and son play together inside the court. Yet, the feat was historic since this was the only time in league history when father and son were part of a common roster. It may not happen again in the future.

Fast forward 18 years later and the franchise has put itself in history books once more. When Japeth Aguilar was traded to Ginebra from GlobalPort, he teams up with fellow second-generation player Billy Mamaril for the first time in their careers.

Curiously, 24 years ago, Japeth’s father, Peter was drafted in the first round of the rookie draft by Jaworski, Sr. to play for the team then known Anejo Rum 65. As such, he found himself in the company of Billy’s dad, Romy, then the lanky starting center for the 65ers. And like their sons, Romy played center while Peter dabbled at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions.

The fathers got to play for Anejo in seasons 1989 and 1990 before being shipped to different teams. The sons get to replicate their fathers’ roles in the same team where their fathers teamed up more than two decades ago.

And if Ginebra considers re-signing Paolo Hubalde after the ABL season, then that will be three second generation players playing for one franchise — in the same way their fathers played together once upon a time for the same team from 1989 to 1990.