A boy for Erika & Jeff

It’s a boy for Erika Padilla and Jeffrey “The Jet” Cariaso who met and matched literally on the hardcourt. A basketball fan, Erika (besides an actress) is a courtside reporter for the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) and he’s the assistant coach for team Alaska Aces. They crossed paths in 2011 and have been inseparable since then.

Last June 20, the two got married in civil rites at the San Francisco City Hall, USA.

“It wasn’t supposed to be anything fancy,” said Erika, “just memorable and fun.”

They plan to have a church wedding on July 22, 2018. Why that date? Jeff’s jersey number is 22, that’s why.

Meanwhile, they are waiting for the birth of their first child in September. It will be Jeff’s third child, the first two aged 17 and 11 are with his first wife from whom Jeff is separated (divorced?).

The couple got officially together on Nov. 11, 2014, when Jeff asked Erika out for the first time.

“When he became the head coach of Ginebra which happened to be the team I was assigned to most of the time,” recalled Erika during the recent baby shower held with the help of the stroller brand Aprica, “I was given the opportunity to talk to Jeff more often. That gave us a chance to be more candid and more comfortable with each other, although we kept things on the professional level. During the interviews, he made my life easy by explaining things. I was impressed by the way he conducted himself and his generosity.”

Erika is still getting used to her new marital status.

“Nothing much has changed,” she said. “I just need to acquaint myself with being referred to as Jeff’s wife, as Mrs. Cariaso. And I have to create a new signature with Cariaso in it.”

The baby will be named Jet, after the “title” given to his father.

The youngest in a brood of four, Erika is excited to have a baby of her own.

“I love babies,” admitted Erika. “Mga pamangkin ko nga natatakot sa akin kasi lagi kong pinang-gigigilan.”