Former PBA player dies in SLEX accident

South Luzon Expressway. INQUIRER file photo

A former player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and his companion died in a multiple-vehicle collision on the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX) on Monday night. Two others were hurt in the incident

Bryan Gahol and companion ‎Rosemarie Manalo were killed in the accident along northbound lane of SLEx ‎in Muntinlupa City, according to PO1 Rayjan Dawang, of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP HPG).

Based on the initial reports, Dawang said ‎the collision involved a bus and a Nissan Urvan. The two injured have not been identified by the police yet. He said the PNP HPG is still investigating the incident.

In an interview on Inquirer Radio 990AM, HPG spokesperson Supt. Elizabeth Velasquez said the accident happened as Gahol was driving a Nissan Urvan on the northbound lane of the expressway at 10:30 p.m. on Monday. Manalo was seated beside him while there were three other passengers in the back.

The trouble began when a cargo jeep delivering vegetables being driven by Alfredo Abe veered to the right to overtake Gahol’s van. The jeep, however, ended up hitting a trailer truck in front of Gahol’s vehicle. Due to the impact, the jeep bounced and rammed into the victim’s van.

A report from the Muntinlupa police said Gahol and Manalo were rushed to Parañaque Medical Center where they were declared dead on arrival.

Velasquez said Gahol’s three other passengers survived. Some of the passengers in the trailer truck and cargo jeep were also injured but they refused treatment and left the scene immediately, he added.

The driver of the trailer truck, Felix Muztaza, and Abe were taken into custody by the HPG although Velasquez said only Abe would be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide.

Gahol, a 6’5” basketball player, joined the PBA, playing for teams such as Mobiline, Petron Blaze, Alaska Aces and Barako Bull, where he last played as a forward in 2005.

After his contract expired in the PBA, he played in the Gov. Willie Enverga-National Basketball Conference (NBC) International Invitational Cup and the NBC National Cup in Lucena City, Quezon.

Before he turned professional, however, he played for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

In 2010, Gahol entered politics and won a seat as councilor in Los Baños, Laguna. He ran for reelection last year but lost his bid. Gahol has played for teams Alaska Aces, Petron Blaze, and Barako Bull.

The Philippines ranks on the low side of deaths by road accident, at 10.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2011. The country is ranked a relative good 133 out of 192 countries, according to the World Health Organization. However, a recent string of fatal accidents has highlighted the lack of discipline among motorists and poorly-maintained utility vehicles such as buses.

With report by Julliane Love De Jesus and Jaymee Gamil