THE weight loss is so obvious it’s the first thing you'll ask when face to face with burly Rain or Shine big man JR Quinahan.
So did he really shed some weight?
“Oo, tiyaga talaga. Mga two-three months na diet ako,” admitted the other half of the Elasto Painters’ dreaded 'Extra Rice Inc' frontline. “Bawas kain ako, more on fruits.”
Signed to a new contract at the start of the season, Quinahan said the weight reduction was done on purpose – along with other Rain or Shine players - in an effort to achieve a goal.
“Pangarap lang namin na matulungan si coach (Yeng Guiao) na pumasok sa finals at mabigyan ng isang championship sa all-Filipino,” he disclosed.
Quinahan and the Elasto Painters are actually on track of their goal as they set up a best-of-seven semifinal showdown against defending champion San Miguel starting on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Told that Extra Rice Inc. partner Beau Belga appeared to have lost weight as well, the Cebuano cager let out a naughty smile.
“Di ako sure e. Sabi nga nila nabawasan siya, pero siya lang yata nakakaalam nun,” he said, drawing laughs from those listening to him.
[See Austria admits SMB has long been preparing to meet Rain or Shine in semis]
On a more serious note, Quinahan said having slimmed down this conference somehow boosted his confidence, and at the same time, allowed him to be on equal footing with young and upcoming players.
The veteran center though, has yet to really check how many pounds he has so far lost since the start of the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup.
“Di ko pa sure, pero mga 20-plus (pounds) na,” he said of the probable weight he lost.
“Malaking advantage talaga (na nabawasan timbang ko), kasi yung mga kasabayan namin pabata na ng pabata. Kailanagan makasabay ka sa kanila,” said the 31-year-old proud product of University of Visayas.
Without the excess weight, Quinahan admitted becoming more mobile and quicker than he used to be. The turnaround in his game rewarded him in the form of the season’s first Player of the Week by the PBA Press Corps.
“Medyo mas matagal mapagod, dati ilang baba lang pagod na agad,” he noted.
Quinahan said he intends to lose at least 10 more pounds, and then will just try to maintain his weight.
Is there no more ‘extra rice’ for him, he was asked as a parting shot.
“Minsan pag gutom kain pa rin,” he said with a hearty laugh. “Nabe-burn pa rin naman ‘yun.”