Gen talk extends to hoops

This Christmas season, families made up of different generations will gather for the lunch or dinner prepared so lovingly by the host clan. There will be greetings and teasing. Unmarried nieces and nephews will hear it again from impatient aunts and uncles while those who have gained weight over the year want the pagmano over quickly so that they can bond with their cousins.

Eventually, family members start comparing between those of the past and the present for professional, health or academic achievements. It is an unavoidable and natural talk flow and makes for lively—sometimes whispered—conversation before and after the Christmas meal.

In sports, such generational comparisons are also inevitable and part of the conversation that fans have regardless of game. For Filipinos, the default sport to dissect is basketball and comparing parents with their athletic sons are part of the talk.

Many PBA stars have seen their sons join the pros. The ones that come to mind are Freddie Webb (Jason), Freddie Hubalde (Paolo), Sonny Cabatu (Junjun), Florendo Ritualo (Renren), Peter Aguilar (Japeth) and Alvin Teng (Jeric and Jeron). Sonny Jaworski even had son Dudut with him at Ginebra for three seasons.

Of late, the conversation centers on college standout Kiefer Ravena, son of Bong, the 1992 Rookie of the Year and 12-year veteran. The young Ravena lived up to his marquee billing with a scintillating near triple-double in his first PBA game. Social media was abuzz with comments that the son may duplicate the father’s rookie achievement. A long season is still ahead but the thought is quite intriguing.

In time and when he is pro eligible, Kobe, son of 1989 Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Benjie Paras, will stir up his own generational talk. Kobe already gave fans an inkling of what lies ahead with his thunder dunks in several amateur tournaments as well as in the last SEA Games.

Not all sons will match the achievements of the fathers, although some may exceed what the elders have done. The fan buzz is not to put pressure on the younger players but is simply part of the conversation that families engage in every holiday season.

May we all have a happy and peaceful holiday season!