Gahol, former PBA mainstay, woman die in SLEX mishap

MANILA, Philippines - Former national youth player and six-year PBA veteran Bryan Gahol and a woman companion died in a multiple-vehicle collision at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Monday night.

He was serving his second term as board council member of Los Baños, Laguna at the time of his death.

News reports said Gahol was driving a Nissan Urvan Escapade on the northbound lane under the Skyway at around 10 p.m. Monday night, along with four other passengers, when their vehicle was hit by a delivery jeep with a cargo of vegetables.

The jeep’s driver told investigators that a third vehicle, a trailer truck, hit his jeep, causing him to lose control and hit Gahol’s van.

The other fatality was identified as Rosemarie Manalo who was seated in the front passenger side. Gahol’s other companions survived the accident.

Authorities said Gahol and his friends were on their way to Quezon City to attend a wake when the accident happened.

“So tragic, and I was so sad when I heard the news,” said Talk n Text/Meralco media chief Virgil Villavicencio, a former national coach under whom Gahol played in the 1995 Asian Youth Championship at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“He’s quiet, but funny when with the guys. He’s also simple but intelligent. He has a high basketball IQ,” Villavicencio also said.

Gahol joined the Phl Youth team that included Romel Adducul, Danny Ildefonso and Mark Telan, Gahol later played for the UP Maroons in the UAAP before graduating to the PBA where he saw action for Mobiline, Alaska, San Miguel Beer and Red Bull from 1999 to 2005.

“His basketball skills were different. At 6-foot-4, he can make three-point shots and can drive through. He’s a great defender with great work ethic,” said Villavicencio.