CHICAGO - The PBA lost one of its greats on Saturday when Eugene Quilban succumbed to complications of pancreatic cancer, an awful disease he had been fighting since November last year.
Unfortunately, the death of those we hold dear is a part of life, a cycle we all must endure. But when the loss happens so soon, "way before his or her time" as the saying goes, a layer of shock adds to the pain.
That was the case with Quilban's passing. He was only 58.
READ This man still holds the PBA all-time record for most assists in a game
Quilban began to enter the stream of Filipino basketball fans' consciousness as the point guard of San Sebastian, which won back-to-back titles in 1988-89 with him leading the offense.
Taken third overall by Alaska in 1991, Quilban went on to have a distinguished eight-year career in the PBA where he won Rookie of the Year honors and a championship on the same year he was drafted.
Per PBA Reference, he averaged 8.6 points, 2.5 points and 4.6 assists per in 274 games. He shot 48.8 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from 3.
BIG THINGS SOMETIMES COME IN SMALL PACKAGES.
While those numbers don't necessarily leap out of the stats sheets, it doesn't reflect his true greatness, either.
At 5-foot-8 and roughly 170 pounds soaking wet, Eugene was so relatable. He was the vertically-challenged playmaker that inspired his younger generation to believe that lack of length is not always a hindrance in basketball.
An outstanding player, he was even better as a friend and family man.
READ Here are 15 things you may recall about Pepsi's team in the PBA
"He was the best dad ever. Wala akong masabi sa pagiging father niya sa amin," Equene's son, Rhoko, told me via Facebook messenger early Saturday morning.
Alongside siblings Kurt, Vhan and Carlo, Rhoko is the youngest of four children. He is attempting to follow in his dad's footsteps and currently plays for the Jose Rizal University (JRU) Light Bombers.
So what was Eugene like as a civilian? just like us, I wondered.
Rhoko, who just turned 18, said Eugene was "low-key," bought and sold cars for a living and often went to the gym to stay fit. And he resisted offers to sink his feet into coaching full-time.
FAMILY ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE.
"Nag-focus na po siya sa mga anak niya.....Inaalagaan na lang po ako and support lang po sa pagbabasketball... Everyday ko po siyang kasama. It's a best memory sa kanya," the younger Quilban reminisced.
Details on the wake and funeral services are pending but Rhoko wishes to convey that "we really appreciate the love ng mga tao kay papa."
It's a love and appreciation that Eugene Quilban deserved for adding to the rich history of basketball in the Philippines.
I hope the PBA pauses for a moment of silence when it holds the festivities to usher in Season 49 today at the Araneta Coliseum.
The point guard depth chart in heaven just got better.
Farewell, champ.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
