Father and son Rommel Daep and Lebron Jhames Daep have both had the chance to showcase their talents and find success in the NCAA basketball scene.
Before finding a stable mentoring job at the Divine Word College in Albay, the 50-year-old Rommel was an absolute baller himself and first saw success with the San Sebastian College-Recoletos after having been part of its dynasty that won titles from 1993 to 1997 in the men's basketball tournament.
He then took his next act to the PBA where he was drafted in 1999, before finishing his stint in the league with Purefoods under Derrick Pumaren in 2003. He resumed action in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) before ultimately deciding to call time on his playing career.
After leaving Manila for Bicol and switching from playing to coaching, Rommel wouldn’t be back in Manila until 16 years later, now married after meeting his wife in the province. This time, he brought with him a young Lebron Jhames, who would go on to be named NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball MVP, while he supports from the bench as an assistant coach for Perpetual.
Once young Lebron Jhames found out about his father's lore, the only thing he had to do was ask, and the father and son duo was well on their way to Manila in pursuit of another stint of basketball success to their name.
“Actually, hindi ko naman siya pinilit mag-basketball kahit nung bata pa siya. Hinintay ko lang siya mahilig sa basketball. Then, doon ko siya tinuruan. Nakita ko ‘yung potential. Okay ‘yung anak ko [magaling maglaro]. Dire-diretso na. Unlike sa ibang bata nakikita ko gusto lang ‘yung basketball pero hindi seryoso,” the older Daep said.
“Actually, hindi niya rin alam na naglalaro ako noon ng basketball. Tapos nalaman niya na lang kasi may mga nagsabi sa kanya. Lalo siya naenganyo na gusto niya ako gayahin. Nag-usap kami kung ano dapat niya gawin,” he went on.
[Actually, I never forced him to play basketball when he was younger. I waited for him to start liking it. Then, that's when I taught him. I saw the potential. My son is okay, and it started there. Unlike with other kids that I saw, they like basketball but did not take it seriously... He didn't know that I used to play basketball. He only found out later because someone else told him. He became eager to follow in my footsteps. We spoke about what he needs to do.]
While Rommel did not win any individual accolade throughout his career, he had those championship trophies and a couple of finals appearances in the PBA to show for himself.
Interestingly, the opposite can be said for Lebron Jhames and the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Junior Altas, as they are fighting for the school’s first-ever basketball title at any rank.
“Kami ‘yung miyembro na nag-five-peat sa San Sebastian. Sabi ko nga sa kanya pag igihan niya. Kasi ‘yung mga nakukuha mo ngayon, hindi ko nakuha. Pero ‘yung championship nakuha ko na ‘yun. Maganda ‘yung nagch-champion,” Rommel said.
“Ang MVP naman bonus lang ‘yan. Kung paano mo pinaghirapan may darating sa iyo. Basta pinaghirapan. Sabi ko sa kaniya palamuti lang ‘yan sa basketball career. Maging inspirasyon niya kung may gusto pa siyang marating,” he added.
[We were members of the five-peat team in San Sebastian. I told him, just work harder at it. Because what he's getting now, I didn't have back then. The championship, I was able to get. It's good to become champion... The MVP is a bonus. What comes around depends on how hard you work for it. You have to work hard. I told him, this is just decorations for your basketball career. It will be inspiration if he want to achieve more.]
However, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde-La Salle Green Hills stalled this dream from coming true for Perpetual after surviving Game 2 of their best-of-three finals clash, 95-91, on Sunday.
There, Lebron Jhames only made a single basket in 10 attempts after receiving the MVP, Mythical Team, and All-Defensive Team awards before the tip-off of Game 2.
Fortunately for the young MVP, he has a reliable coach and a loving father in Rommel, who has kept him grounded in all his years of playing. Especially when they face the Greenies in Game 3 on Tuesday.
“Kaya naman nila. Siguro mas naging aggressive lang ‘yung kalaban nila ngayon na makuha ‘yung panalo para makarating ng Game 3. Kami naman tatanggapin na namin ‘yun. Pag-aaralan namin para sa Game 3, maka-adjust kami,” Rommel said.
“Sinasabi ko sa kanya, ‘that’s okay, anak.’ Pag may mga ganitong talo. Learn from it, wag mag damdam. Ako ngayon medyo tahimik kasi iniisip ko ‘yung nangyari. Para pagdating sa practice mai-apply namin. Ang basketball may talo, may panalo. Sanay naman tayo dyan,” he added.
[They can do it. The opponent was just more aggressive today to reach Game 3. We'll accept that. We'll study so that in Game 3, we can adjust... I told him, 'that's okay, son'. When there are losses like this, don't dwell on it, learn from it. I'm a little quiet now because I'm thinking about it. So when we get to practice, we'll apply it. In basketball, there's a winner and a loser. We're used to it.]
The future is bright for Lebron Jhames since he has one remaining playing year in the juniors where he has now ruled in individual competition. But he will also be eligible to play in the collegiate ranks as he is about to graduate from senior high school.
With UPHSD athletic director Frank Gusi, who held the same position in San Sebastian during Rommel's time there, forging the generational partnership and paving the way for the Daep family’s move to Manila, any future plans will continue to hang in the air as they all focus on making history for the Las Piñas side.
"Hindi ko sinasagot ng diretso [when it comes to our future]. Focus muna rito. Tapusin mo muna ito. Sabi ko nga sa kanya pagkatapos nito wag muna siya mag-basketball. Kalimutan mo muna. Kasi nakita ko ‘yung pagod at sakripisyo niya. Kahit dalawang linggo kalimutan mo muna. Uuwi tayong probinsya, then saka tayo mag-isip kung saan tayo pupunta," he concluded.
[I haven't given a direct answer when it comes to the future. We stay focused on this. We'll finish this first. I told him, after this, don't play basketball for a bit. Forget it for a bit. Because I saw his hard work and sacrifice. Even for just two weeks. Let's go home to the province, then we'll think about where we'll go.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
