THERE’S nothing special for Aljon Mariano as he faces his former team Barangay Ginebra for the first time in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The 33-year-old Terrafirma guard said he doesn’t see any issue about it in the light of the trade that brought him to the Dyip from the Kings as part of the Maverick Ahanmisi deal.
“Parang normal game lang, still basketball pa rin,” said Mariano about the meeting which ended with Ginebra drubbing Terrafirma, 108-77.
“Ang pinag-kaiba lang nasa kabilang side na ako.”
READ: Ginebra takes third straight win by running through Terrafirma
Mariano and Ahanmisi were shipped to Terrafirma early in Season 50 in exchange for the Dyip’s first round overall pick next year.
While Ahanmisi didn’t play due to a calf injury, Mariano suited up close to 29 minutes and finished with eight points, two rebounds, and three assists.
The guard out of University of Santo Tomas said it no longer felt surreal when he shared the court with his former teammates at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Friday night.
“Hindi naman na ako nanibago kasi matagal na rin akong na-trade,” he said.
But he did get a little bit of a thrill seeing his former teammates again.
“Excited din akong makita yung mga former teammates ko at coaches kasi matagal din at marami naman kaming pinag-samahan,” he said.
Mariano shook hands with the Kings, embraced some of them, and had a small chat with former coach Tim Cone.
“It’s a sign of respect rin at siyempre marami naman kaming pinag-samahan. Parang acknowledgment lang,” he said.
“Ang dami naming pinag-samahan na championshop and then since na-draft ako, sa Ginebra lang ako naglaro. Yung respect lang para sa mga kasamahan ko dati.”
Mariano was a second round pick of Ginebra in the 2015 draft and won a total of seven championships in a 10-year stay with the organization.
Now as he entered his 11th year in the league, it’s a new team and a new beginning for Mariano.
“Normal lang. I just played lang kung ano yung mga sinasabi nila coach (Ronald Tubid) sa amin,” he said. “Kaso natambakan kami.”
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