ALTHOUGH no longer teammates, Joseph Eriobu still found a way to dish off a major assist to Jed Mendoza.
The Blackwater guard expressed how grateful he is to Eriobu, his ex-teammate at Magnolia and Purefoods 3x3, by lending him an extra vehicle he can use going to the games after his car got submerge in the flood that hit the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last week during Blackwater’s PBA Governors’ Cup game against Phoenix.
The sedan is now being tuned up at an authorized service center.
READ: PBA teams, fans stranded at Ninoy Aquino Stadium by flash floods
“Last game namin sa Ninoy after the loss (102-93), bumaha na pala. Yung kotse ko pinasok ng baha, yung makina nabasa,” said Mendoza.
He then mentioned how Eriobu, now with Terrafirma, has had his back since the unfortunate incident.
“Shout-out to my good friend Joseph Eriobu from Terrafirma. Pinahiram niya ako ng sasakyan na magagamit kasi mahirap mag-commute ngayon kasi maulan,” said Mendoza.
“Shout-out sa iyo Joseph Eriobu. I love you.”
The borrowed vehicle has been a huge relief for the veteran guard, allowing him to focus playing for Blackwater the way he did Wednesday night when he came off the bench and was given the daunting task defending Phoenix stalwart Ricci Rivero.
The 30-year-old Mendoza went scoreless but had a rebound, assist, and a steal in the Bossing’s 106-100 win as the team ended a three-game skid to even its record at 3-3.
He also forced Rivero to commit three fouls against him in the seven minutes he was inside the court while holding the high-scoring Phoenix guard to a 5-for-14 shooting from the field for 15 points.
The job well done earned Mendoza, who played college ball at Jose Rizal University and University of the East, a compliment from coach Pat Aquino after the game along with fellow bench mob Troy Malilin and rookie Jack Cruz-Dumont.
“Ako I just make myself ready,” he said. “Yun naman ang nabibigay ko sa team, yung energy, defense, and yung execution ng play. I’m not worried about the points or the stats. Kung ano lang yung maibibigay ko, kung ano lang yung mako-control ko, doon lang ako naka-focus.”
Asked about guarding Rivero, the 5-foot-10 Mendoza kept himself humble.
“Natapat lang. Siguro nung time na yun medyo pagod na siya kasi from first to fourth nandun siya,” he said of Rivero, who played close to 35 minutes.
“Pero kilala ko naman si Ricci, very competitive siya and I know he will bounce back sa susunod na game.”
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