IT was just like good, old times for Aljon Mariano.
The Barangay Ginebra guard felt nostalgic upon returning to the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion where the Kings played the Meralco Bolts in the PBA on Tour on Wednesday.
Mariano said he roamed around the gym just before the game and found familiar faces from his college days with the Tigers still in the school.
READ: Meralco ends Ginebra's three-game win run
“Dito kami nag-stay and nagpa-practice every game,” said the 30-year-old wingman, who suited up for UST from 2009 to 2014.
“Naaalala ko yung teammates ko, coaches. Ang dami pa ring familiar faces na nakita ko kanina, so nakakatuwa na nandito pa rin sila. And kasama ko sila sa journey ko nung college.”
He remembered being the first batch of players to practice and use the facility after the old UST gym near P. Noval was finally demolished.
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His stint with the Tigers was marked with back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
But the short homecoming didn't end well for Mariano as Ginebra lost, 106-93.
Mariano finished with eight points and four rebounds in 42 minutes of play.
“Sayang nga lang hindi namin nakuha yung panalo, pero I hope nag-enjoy naman yung mga tao,” said Ginebra’s second-round pick in the 2015 draft.
Still, he cherished the memory of returning home and playing in his alma mater.
“Hindi ko naisip na mangyayari ito. Kaya salamat sa PBA On Tour and sa UST for making this happen,” said Mariano. “Ite-treasure ko ito, babalikan ko pa rin ito kahit pagtanda ko.”
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