Meet the newest basketball brothers: Bradwyn and Jerwyn Guinto

Meet the newest basketball brothers: Bradwyn and Jerwyn Guinto

by rick olivares

Among the crowd watching the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates take on the College of Saint Benilde Blazers was Bradwyn Guinto who is now plying his basketball trade with the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA.

The six-foot-six Guinto was just as serene as the Monday afternoon; a countenance that belief the tough, close match between LPU and CSB on the second day of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup.

The interest for Guinto who played for the San Sebastian Stags in the NCAA was the Pirates’ back-up center, Jerwyn; his younger brother.

“I try to watch all his games to support him,” said the elder Guinto. “The game hasn’t even started and my parents, (Alwin and Wilma who are both in Melbourne, Australia) are texting and asking for updates.”

Incidentally, Jerwyn was also in the Stags’ pipeline until he like many other former Stags, made the exodus to the LPU campus in Intramuros. Other former SSCR players include Jayson David, Rhanzelle Yong, Enzo Navarro, and Spencer Pretta. The Pirates’ head coach, Topex Robinson, was a former star player for the Stags and coached them for a couple of seasons. 

Like the “family atmosphere” that has been formed in LPU, basketball is the same for the Guintos. 

Bradwyn was born in the Philippines, but his family moved to Australia when he was only eight months old. Jerwyn, six years his junior, was born there.

Tennis was Bradwyn’s first sport although he did play some rugby and cricket. “You have to go through it,” chuckled the older sibling. “It’s the national sport there although basketball is popular. Gravitating towards basketball and then playing back in the Philippines seemed like a natural thing to do.”

Does the rugby explain the fact that both brothers like to mix it up in the middle with no fear of the roughness of the alligator wrestling pond? “Yes,” laughed Bradwyn.

While both brothers play inside, Bradwyn always had his hair cut short. Jerwyn, looks like a free-spirited version with his hair worn long and tied during games. Like a Fil-Aussie version of New Zealand’s Steven Adams. 

Bradwyn laughs at the comparison.

This was 6’5” Jerwyn’s second stint in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup although he wasn’t lined up for the previous NCAA season. Against CSB, in 11 minutes of action backing up Mike Nzeusseu, Jerwyn tallied four points and five rebounds versus one turnover.

“Not bad,” observed the kuya. “He was battling out there against the bigger players of Benilde (the Twin Tower of Jeremiah Pangalangan and Ladis Lepalam who both stand 6’8”).”

“It feels great to be finally part of the line-up this upcoming season” put in Jerwyn. “I feel like I have worked my butt off to earn a spot and will continue to work hard every day. And having my older brother here to support me means a lot.”

“We added a bit more ceiling to our team this year with the addition of Jerwyn and Alvin Baetiong,” pointed out LPU head coach Topex Robinson. “We need them to spell Mike or even to allow him to play the three.”

After the match, that LPU won – after finally dispatching a pesky CSB team early in the fourth period – by the score of 70-57, the two brothers shared a quick chat outside the Pirates’ locker room. “Me? I’m just rooting for my brother to do well. I know as he gets more experience, he will add a lot to the team.”