Eugene Quilban Explained

Eugene Quilban
Nationality:Filipino
Birth Date:25 March 1966
Death Place:Quezon City, Philippines
Height Ft:5
Height In:7
College:San Sebastian
Draft Year Pba:1991
Draft Round Pba:1
Draft Pick Pba:3
Draft Team Pba:Alaska Milkmen
Career Start:1991
Career End:2002
Years1:1991
Team1:Alaska Milkmen
Years2:1992–1996
Team2:7-Up Uncolas / Pepsi Mega Bottlers / Mobiline Cellulars
Years3:1997
Team3:Pop Cola Bottlers
Years4:1998
Team4:Davao Eagles
Years5:1999
Team5:Sta. Lucia Realtors
Years6:~2000
Team6:Cagayan de Oro
Years7:2002
Team7:Cebu Gems

Eugene Quilban (March 25, 1966 – August 17, 2024) was a Filipino professional basketball player who mostly played for the Pepsi Mega Bottlers in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Early life and education

Quilban was born on March 25, 1966. He studied at the University of Manila and later the San Sebastian College.[1]

Career

Playing career

San Sebastian Stags

Quilban played for the San Sebastian Stags in the basketball tournament of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He helped the stag win back-to-back titles in 1988 and 1989 (Seasons 65 and 66).[1]

PBA

At the 1991 draft of the Philippine Basketball Association, Quilban was third overall pick and was selected by the Alaska Milkmen. For that season, Alaska would clinch the third conference title with Quilban being named Rookie of the Year.

He would be traded to the 7-Up Uncolas in 1992 leading the team to a finals appearance in the 1992 third conference. Its with 7-Up, which was renamed as the Pepsi Mega Bottlers in 1993, and Mobiline Cellulars in 1996, where he would play for the most in his eight-season-long stint in the PBA. With 7-Up he would make 28 assists in the 123–100 win against Shell Rimula X in the 1992; the PBA record for the most assists by a player which persists as of 2022.[1] [2]

He would also play for Pop Cola Bottlers in 1997. His last PBA team was with Sta. Lucia Realtors in 1999.[3]

MBA

Quilban would play for the Davao Eagles in the inaugural 1998 Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) season. In 2000, he would be with Cagayan de Oro. In 2002 he moved to the Cebu Gems until the MBA's dissolution within the same year, effectively retiring from competitive basketball.[3]

Coaching

Quilban would be brought in as an assistant coach for the San Sebastian Stags under head coach Egay Macaraya in 2016.[4] [5]

Illness and death

Quilban would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023.[1] He died from complications of the disease at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City, on August 17, 2024, at the age of 58.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ramos . Gerry . Eight-year PBA veteran Eugene Quilban passes away at 58 . 18 August 2024 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . 17 August 2024 . en.
  2. Web site: Joble . Rey . August 9, 2022 . This Day in PBA History: Eugene Quilban sets record 28 assists . May 12, 2024 . ABS-CBN News.
  3. News: Saldajeno . Ivan Stewart . Former PBA assist king, MBA star Eugene Quilban passes away . 18 August 2024 . Dugout Philippines . 17 August 2024.
  4. News: Terrado . Reuben . Remember Eugene Quilban? Former PBA top rookie set to return to San Sebastian as coach after long absence . 18 August 2024 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . 1 February 2016 . en.
  5. News: Tupas . Cedelf . Ex-Stag Macaraya takes over at San Sebastian . 18 August 2024 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . 1 February 2016 . en.
  6. News: Dy . Richard . PBA legend Eugene Quilban passes away at 58 . 18 August 2024 . The Manila Times . 17 August 2024 . en.