BY MILES ARCENAL
FOR years, the Cuajao brothers dreamt of sharing the same basketball court on a bigger stage. On Wednesday at the Playtime Filoil Center in San Juan, that dream finally came true though not in the way their late mother once imagined.
In their first NCAA Season 101 matchup, rookie Ian Cuajao helped San Sebastian to a stunning 82-81 win over his older brother, Deo, and Letran - snapping the Stags’ five-game losing streak while also ending the Knights’ own five-game winning run.
READ: Jhuniel Dela Rama hits winner to lift San Sebastian past Letran
“Nakaka-boost ko ng kumpiyansa. Lalo na sa mga upcoming games,” said Ian who posted 13 points and three rebounds, helping Baste improve to 2-7.
Deo, now in his final year finished with 22 points, four rebounds, and an assist, but missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer for the now 5-4 Letran.
“Siyempre, masakit para sa amin to. Masakit kasi kailangan namin makuha yung number two spot,” said the 6-foot-1 sharpshooter.
It was the kind of script only basketball could write - family, rivalry, pride, and heart, all in one game.
Their father, Doroteo, flew all the way from Davao to watch them for the first time, fulfilling their mother Janette’s dream of seeing her sons compete at the collegiate level.
“Iniisip ko yung pag bumabalik ako dun sa, nagfa-flashback yung kabataan namin,” Deo told the SPIN.ph.
“Iniisip ko kung gaano ka-proud yung mama namin na wala na, nasa langit na. Expect ko na ganito yung laban.”
Despite the loss, Deo couldn’t help but beam with pride.
As he put it: “Proud ako kasi hindi siya nag-back down. Ipinakita niya ngayon, ginawa niya yung best niya, at maganda yung laro niya.”
For Ian, the win meant more than just a morale boost, it was a moment to prove himself.
“Ano lang, laban lang. Walang kapatid-kapatid, basta laro lang,” Ian recalled, describing how he approached facing his older brother on the court.
The matchup was fiery from the start, specifically in the second period where the brothers exchanged a couple of three-pointers, with Ian even earning a technical foul after taunting his brother with his celebration.
Still, he admitted it came from pure competitiveness.
“Oo, mas madami yung score niya sa akin eh,” Ian laughed. “Gusto ko lang makabawi sa kanya kasi nung FilOil, binaril niya rin ako.”
For Deo, the moment went beyond the scoreboard. Playing against his youngest brother in his last season was something he never thought would happen.
“As a kuya, so blessed kasi nabutan ko pa yung bunso namin dito sa big stage,” he said.
“Nakaka-proud kasi na-influence ko siya sa basketball.”
The 5-foot-9 playmaker couldn’t help but feel lucky to play with his kuya in his last year.
“Siyempre, proud ako kasi naabutan ko pa siya,” Ian said softly. “Sana susunod pa, mga big leagues pa.”
For the Cuajao brothers, this game was never just about the score nor the result. It was about fulfilling a promise and living out a dream they once shared with their parents.
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.
