PBA: Longtime Ginebra utility man Ian Calilan dies at 51

Barangay Ginebra’s longtime utility staff member Ian Calilan. –FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Barangay Ginebra is mourning the loss of Ian Calilan, one of the longest-serving members of its utility staff.

Calilan died at the age of 51 on Wednesday due to a lingering illness, though it had not prevented him from performing his role with the Gin Kings.

In fact, Calilan was present during Sunday’s PBA Governors’ Cup game between Ginebra and Magnolia at Smart Araneta Coliseum, and appeared to be in good spirits.

He is the son of Cris Calilan, a player of Jose Rizal College’s NCAA championship team in 1972 and Crispa’s first PBA Grand Slam in 1976, and coach of Ateneo’s first UAAP title in 1987.

The younger Calilan had been with Ginebra dating back to the early post-Jaworski championship years bannered by Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk.

Fellow members of Ginebra’s utility staff and others around the league remembered Calilan for his friendly personality and his knack for telling funny stories.

Calilan also got to play with Ginebra coaches and utility during the Raffy Japa Cup in 2024.