BRIAN Heruela is no stranger to winning - seven championships in the PBA don’t just come by chance.
For the veteran guard, however, this chapter of his playing career feels different. his one hits closer to home.
After being waived by TNT earlier this year, Heruela found himself back where it all started: his hometown Cebu.
While the jersey has changed and the stage is now the MPBL, the pride remains the same, if not stronger.
“It’s great, man. That was the goal: to represent my hometown,” he shared with SPIN.ph.
Now suiting up for the Cebu Greats, the 37-year-old floor general brings with him years of experience from powerhouses like the Tropang 5G, as well as San Miguel.
But unlike his title-laden runs with those teams, his journey today comes with a different kind of motivation, one rooted in identity.
“Whichever team I’m on, I’m always representing with pride,” he said. “But of course, it’s different when it’s your hometown. You want to do really, really good.”
Make Cebu great again
Cebu may still be finding its footing since it’s just days into forming as a unit, but Heruela sees promise, even after their 81-73 loss to San Juan.
READ: San Juan holds off Cebu, gives Mike Phillips a winning MPBL debut
“We’re just like a 10-day-old team. We’ve got a lot of room to grow,” he said, pointing not to shortcomings, but to potential. “I like how we competed. Hopefully next time, we just keep getting better.”
From orchestrating plays in the bright lights of the PBA to now guiding a young squad in the MPBL, Heruela embraces the shift with the same philosophy that earned him seven titles.
“I think we just got to do a lot of reps, a lot of communicating, and build chemistry. That’s the biggest thing for us right now,” he added.
Despite a 0-2 start for the Greats, Heruela is adamant his purpose is crystal clear.
This time, it’s not just about chasing another championship. It’s about coming home and making it count.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
