Former San Beda University guard and NCAA champion JV Gallego has tragically passed away following a vehicular accident. He was 28 years old.
According to Meycauayan City Police chief P/Lt. Col. Melvin Florida, Gallego was driving a vehicle that collided with a concrete barrier along an expressway. The former collegiate athlete was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel declared him dead on arrival.
Gallego first rose to prominence as a standout high school player for Chiang Kai Shek College, earning a reputation as one of the nation’s top young prospects. His impressive skillset secured him a roster spot on the Gilas Pilipinas Youth team, which represented the country in the 2016 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship.
In college, Gallego played for National University in the UAAP before transferring to San Beda University in the NCAA, where he helped guide the Red Lions to the Season 99 men’s basketball championship. He also played at the professional level for the Bicol Volcanoes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Fran Yu, Gallego’s longtime teammate at Chiang Kai Shek and later his on-court rival in the NCAA, was among the first to pay tribute to the late guard.
”To my Batman since Day 1, thank you for being an incredible person, a great teammate, and a true friend from the very beginning,” Yu wrote of Gallego, who later became his rival in the NCAA.
”Thank you for every memory, every laugh, and every moment we shared on and off the court. You will be deeply missed. Rest in peace, Batman,” he added.
The San Beda University Alumni Association also expressed its deep condolences to Gallego’s family, teammates, and friends.
“Though his life was far too brief, the legacy he leaves as a student-athlete and member of the Bedan family will always be remembered. May the Lord grant him eternal rest and bring strength and comfort to his family, teammates, friends, and loved ones,” the organization said.