TYLER Tio messaged his longtime friend and former college backcourt mate Gian Mamuyac when he was having major discussion with his contract renewal at Rain or Shine.
“Niloloko ko siya noon because I heard of the news that he’s having some contract disputes, and I remember messaging him ‘Sa Phoenix ka na lang.’
To his surprise, his words became prophetic.
Last week, Mamuyac landed at Phoenix following a trade with Rain or Shine for the Fuel Masters’ first round pick in the Season 53 draft.
And last Sunday, Mamuyac finally played his first game with his new home – an 81-78 win over debuting Barangay Ginebra.
Looking back, Tio said he was surprised with the way things unfolded the last few days.
“Nagulat talaga ako. Ayun biglang nagkatotoo,” he added. “And I’ll take it.”
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Joining Phoenix meant Tio and Mamuyac reuniting and reliving their backcourt days at Ateneo, where they won not just one but three UAAP championships together.
Interestingly, they were also part of the same Junior NBA camp 13 years ago alongside Ricci Rivero where they posed side-by-side with the Phoenix logo as one of the backdrops.
“It feels great to be reunited with Mamu. We were teammates for like five or six years at Ateneo then turned into competitors in the PBA,” the 28-year-old Tio recalled.
“But it’s been fun watching his growth as a player and I feel like were different players when we were in college now. So hopefully we can make some magic again.”
Mamu finished with six points on 3-of-4 shooting from the floor and had three assists in 18 minutes of play in his first outing as a Fuel Master as he helped Phoenix scored a third straight win to take the solo top spot in Group B.
Tio hopes the reunion with Mamuyac will result into something beautiful for the franchise.
“He gives us so much firepower. He’s one of the top scorers at Rain or Shine, and he’s also a good locker room guy,” he said.
“I’m excited to hopefully compete in the playoffs this year with him.”
Mamuyac’s arrival comes at a time when Tio just signed a new three-year contract extension with the Fuel Masters.
He said the new deal was proof of management’s continued trust in him.
“Phoenix was the team that drafted me. They gave me a chance when people were looking past me. They drafted me in the second round and I’m just thankful for the opportunity that they’ve given me in this four years in the PBA,” he said.
“And I’ll do whatever I can to repay their trust in me.”
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