AFTER Ray Parks and Gab Banal, two more notable second generation players might bring their wares to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) next season.
Matthew Aquino, the 6-foot-9 son of PBA center Marlou Aquino, and Aaron Black, son of multi-titled mentor Norman Black, might become the latest second generation additions in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League next season.
Mr. Aquino is set to play alongside his dad at the Bacoor Strikers, as the father and son tandem is out to make history in the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league in the country.
Chaye Cabal-Revilla, team owner of the Strikers, confirmed that they would make this happen even adding that they will make things interesting as soon as this takes place.
“We are even planning to invite Kuya Sonny Jaworski and his son, Dodot, the first father and son tandem playing together in mainstream local basketball league,” added Ms. Revilla.
The young Aquino last played for the National University Bulldogs and decided to join his dad, Marlou, in Bacoor and fulfill a historic task before his old man retires from active competition. He will join Banal, also a second generation player, who emerged as the team’s top gun and frontrunner in the MVP derby of the ongoing MPBL Datu Cup.
Gab is the son of multi-titled coach Joel Banal, who was part of the Bataan Risers team this season.
Black, who last played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, had decided to forego his plans to return playing for his collegiate squad. With the PBA D-League Draft already over, the young player looked for other options and the MPBL, thru the Quezon City Capitals, could become the next destination.
His old man believes a shot in the MPBL is possible.
“We (the managing partner of the QC Capitals) live in the same village and Aaron was invited for a tryout. Aaron will be flying to the United States to train at IMPACT, then come back for his graduation. It’s possible that he would join the MPBL as Quezon City has expressed interest, but we’ll see what happens,” said the elder Black. — Rey Joble
