Ken Holmqvist wants to honor his mother when he steps foot in the Philippine Basketball Association.
The 6-foot-8 Fil-Norwegian will no longer carry his father’s surname Holmqvist on his jersey as he will use Sagulo moving forward.
“He told me that he doesn’t want to be known as Ken Holmqvist. He rather be known as Ken Sagulo which is his mother’s maiden name,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone during Saturday’s episode of The Chasedown.
Together with his brother Steve, Ken had been using the surname Holmqvist since their time in Far Eastern University from UAAP Seasons 78-79.
The brothers then went back to Norway before Ken decided to throw his name in the 2021 PBA Draft. He was picked as the 13th overall pick by Ginebra.
Sagulo’s case is not the first time the league has handled something like this.
Jayson Castro’s legal surname is William while Paul Lee’s is Dalistan. Sagulo’s draft batchmate Jamie Malonzo’s real surname is Orme, as well.
But in Ken’s case, he just wants to honor his mom.
“He claims he didn’t know his father very well and his mother was the one who raised him and he is the one who is close to her,” Cone continued.
“He would like to be known by his mother’s name rather than his father’s name.”
Ken has already filed the necessary documents to the PBA for the transition.
