JUAMI Tiongson has found his way back to Terrafirma after being traded by San Miguel last month - a move he has taken in a very professional manner.
Tiongson returned to the lowly Dyip franchise after he was traded by the Beermen along with rookie Chris Miller for Jerrick Ahanmisi and Paolo Hernandez.
“It’s part of the business ‘yung mga trades,” the 35-year-old Tiongson told SPIN.ph. “This is not my first time. I’m kinda familiar with that na rin. I’m back with my old team which is a bittersweet feeling of course.”
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It was with the Dyip where he experienced the best years of his career from a statistical perspective. As Terrafirma’s main option, he became a Most Improved Player awardee in 2021, won a Mythical Second Team selection in 2024, and became an All-Star in 2024.
It was also with the Beermen where he experienced championships, winning two albeit taking a step back to become a role player in the stacked team that includes June Mar Fajardo, Cjay Perez, Jericho Cruz, Marcio Lassiter, and Chris Ross.
“Very grateful, very fortunate that I got to experience playing under San Miguel,” Tiongson said. “Getting to be teammates with the likes of June Mar, Marcio, C-Ross. I always look up to them even nung Death 5 pa lang. And getting to be teammates with the likes of Kris Rosales, Cjay Perez, Jericho. I’m very thankful and grateful.
“Nothing personal. Actually, nung nakita ko nga sila, I was very happy to get to interact with them again,” Tiongson said, referring to Terrafirma’s recent tune-up game against San Miguel where he crossed paths with his former teammates.
Now that he has returned to Terrafirma, Tiongson doesn’t see himself taking on the same scoring load that he had during his first stint with the Dyip, saying he wants to share his knowledge with the young players in the team.
“Of course, I have to work with it muna,” Tiongson said. “At saka mas bata na ‘yung mga kasama ko ngayon. I think mas magiging purpose ko is to help the young guys also, and help prolong their careers also.
“Ayoko na rin naman masyado isipin parati ‘yung sarili ko in a selfish way. Matanda na rin ako. Tumatanda na rin ako. If ‘yung role ko is to help these young men, so be it. But also if I have to score, so be it also.
"It doesn’t matter kung ano magiging role ko as long as at the end of the day, masaya ako,” the 12-year veteran added.
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