ABU Tratter got some sort of payback on Thursday against Tyrus Hill when the former La Salle cager blocked a dunk attempt by the Adamson high-flyer in the PBA D-League.
Late in the third quarter in PBA D-League Aspirants Cup game between Akari-Adamson and Marinerong Pilipino, Hill was poised to make a highlight dunk just as he had done in the last UAAP season.
But the 6-foot-5 Hill was denied another highlight-reel basket by the 6-foot-4 Tratter.
Tratter was glad to avoid getting posterized again, after winding up on the wrong end of a slam in a UAAP game between Adamson and La Salle last October.
“Oh man, it felt great knowing that it would give not only something of a little payback in the UAAP,” Tratter said. “It gave momentum-change for our team. We were able to use that as a means of playing defense and making sure we play defense.”
Tratter said payback was the last thing in his mind.
“It’s always a basketball player’s incentive knowing that there would be a spurt, an instance, I guess that it’s going to happen. I wasn’t thinking about anything, getting back at him, but it was fortunate that it stopped the play and allowed our team to get a momentum change,” said Tratter.
The 25-year-old Tratter finished with eight points, three rebounds and two blocks, but his team Marinerong Pilipino ended up on the losing end.
Hill finished with six points, four rebounds and a block.
Tratter and Hill were later spotted talking to each other after the game — the two are actually friends and lived in the same city of San Jose in California.
“It was all jokes. We always joke around. We are from the same city. We are just talking about the comeback. Unfortunately, he got an upper hand in this game.
“I commend him for what he’s done,” said Tratter.
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