FROM being UAAP rivals to counterparts in the pros, Anton Asistio and Andrei Caracut are no longer strangers to each other’s prowess.
It requires them to work together to form a reliable backcourt for semifinal-vying Rain or Shine against veteran-laden Magnolia in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.
More often than not, a good game for Asistio means fewer contributions from Caracut and vice versa - and they see no problem with that at all.
In fact, they’ve come to thrive in such dynamics.
The making of a dynamic duo
“’Yung familiarity namin ni Andrei with each other has helped both of us a lot, alam na alam na namin ang laro ng isa’t-isa. Sa practice, lagi kami ang nagbabantayan, and we make sure to push each other every day kasi ganon kami mag-iimprove, and sa games, ready kami laging saluhin ang isa’t-isa,” Asistio shared with SPIN.ph.
Caracut added: “Alam ko ‘yung capabilities ni Anton, and marami akong natututunan sa kanya. Kailangan namin ang suporta ng isa’t-isa, kung sino ang pinapasok ni coach, alam ang gagawin. Kung hindi ikaw ngayon, papabawiin ka naman ni coach Yeng [Guiao] sa susunod.”
Asistio, 29, and Caracut, 28, basically watched each other grow up as athletes. They played for powerhouses Ateneo and San Beda in high school, turned into rivals in college as a Blue Eagle and Green Archer, and came into the same 2021 PBA Draft class.
Even their draft selections essentially went together, as the Elasto Painters took them back-to-back with the 22nd and 23rd overall picks.
UAAP rivals turn PBA counterparts
Both coming off established collegiate programs in Ateneo and La Salle, where they both won UAAP championships, they admitted they were humbled when they first got into an unsteady Rain or Shine four years ago.
Of course, the journey required a big amount of patience and backbreaking.
“Hindi naging madali para sa'kin and para din sa team. First game ko, I watched sila Kiefer [Ravena], and sabi ko talaga sa sarili ko, ‘I don’t belong here. Paano ako makikipag-compete sa magagaling na 'to?" said Caracut.
"But I believed in the organization. I committed. 'Pag nabibigyan ako ng opportunity, kinukuha ko.”
Asistio echoed the same sentiments in saying: “It was not an easy journey. There have been conferences where we didn’t make it even to playoffs. In Ateneo, I got used to always winning and when I got to RoS, it was rebuilding."
"I really had to be patient. We just kept on learning from our mistakes and shortcomings.”
Fortunately for them, a significant change in culture unfolded when Guiao took back the franchise's reins in late 2022.
Yeng for the young
“Pagdating ni coach Yeng, nabuhayan lahat ng players kasi kitang-kita yung tiwala niya sa players niya. Equal opportunity talaga, hindi ka niya papabayaan,” Caracut said.
Asistio weighed in as well: “I feel like we’re starting to turn a corner as a group. Masaya lang ako to see and be part of how things were from when I first got here to now, slowly figuring out how to compete with the top teams. And hopefully, winning a championship.”
With the Elasto Painters one win away from the semifinals, their wish isn't necessarily all that farfetched.
Dead set on the goal, Asistio and Caracut don’t mind setting aside personal milestones for the benefit of the whole franchise.
“Minsan, maganda laro niya, minsan, ako naman, and I think genuinely happy kami for each other’s success kasi 'pag successful kami, nakakatulong kami sa team,” Asistio said.
Caracut added: “Kami ni Anton, alam niya feeling ng champion, ako din, kumbaga same kami ng gustong patunayan dito, and ‘yun yung goal namin ngayon mabigay sa Rain or Shine.”
After all, they owe it to the fiery mentor who revitalized Rain or Shine to grow into players he can call and depend upon whenever, wherever.
“RoS taught us to make most out of the opportunities given. We’re a team that likes to play fast and share the ball with each other, that’s what I like best in our system,” Asistio said.
Caracut chimed in: “’Yung haba ng pasensya nila 'pag nagkakamali kami dahil alam nilang may i-improve pa kami, ‘yun ang nag-mold sakin. Sa sistema namin, kahit sino pwede mag-score and mag-step up kaya masaya.”
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