TWO former high school and college teammates were on opposite sides of the PBA floor on Wednesday during the Philippine Cup game between NLEX and Barangay Ginebra.
Xyrus Torres came out on the winning end as the Road Warriors defeated RJ Abarrientos and the Gin Kings. Torres and Abarrientos, of course, go a long way back, being former teammates at Far Eastern University, even winning the UAAP juniors championship in Season 79 (school year 2016-2017)
In that finals series, the Baby Tams pulled off a sweep over the top-seeded and reigning champion National University, defeating the Bullpups in Game 2, 81-73, on February 24, 2017.
READ Misfiring Xyrus Torres turns unlikely hero with clutch 3 for NLEX
Torres, who hit one of the big baskets in the title-clincher by making a corner three from the left flank, said he remains close to Abarrientos as well as his former teammates with the Baby Tamaraws and the senior Tamaraws side.
“Kanina nga before the game, nag-chat nga kami na tinatanong niya kung, Ano ang game plan n'yo?” the 24-year-old Torres told SPIN.ph, recalling his playful online exchange with Abarrientos. “[Sabi ko], 'Stay home, stay home lang sa 'yo, basta ikaw, ‘wag ka lang maka-shoot.'”
“Kaibigan ko talaga si RJ since high school. Talagang dikit kami niyan. Pero once na nasa loob kami ng court, may kulitan pero competitive pa rin. Kailangang manalo eh,” he added.
Torres said he and Abarrientos were together since 2014 as part of the Baby Tamaraws and their partnership was cut short only when Abarrientos decided to play in Korea in 2022.
“Since high school hanggang college, magkasama kami. Kaso siyempre, nag-Korea siya nung rookie year niya. Doon lang talaga naputol. Pero connected naman kami even though nandoon siya,” said Torres.
Their paths crossed again in the PBA when the two applied for the Season 49 draft. Abarrientos was selected at No. 3 by Barangay Ginebra following two seasons in Korea, while Torres was picked by NLEX in the third round at No. 30 overall.
Torres signed with the Road Warriors in the Commissioner’s Cup after his stint in the MPBL, and the two got to face each other for the first time last December 11 with Abarrientos getting the win, 109-100.
On Wednesday, however, Torres got one over the 25-year-old Abarrientos, nailing the go-ahead three on their way to an 89-86 win for the Road Warriors.
Glad to be together in the PBA
Torres is glad that he and Abarrientos are now together in the PBA, something they weren't sure would happen when they were still in high school.
“Sobrang saya kasi nung time na nasa high school, college kami, hindi nga namin alam kung saan kami mapupunta. Napaguusapan namin," he said. "Kapag nagkikita kami, malaking pasasalamat namin talaga na nandito kami sa sitwasyon na ‘yun."
Torres said he looks forward to the day when more players from that team make the jump to the PBA, including LJay Gonzales who was the Finals MVP during the Baby Tamaraws' run to the championship in 2017.
Gonzales now plays for Quezon in the MPBL.
“’Yung mga kasama namin before like sila LJay, hinihintay namin kasi ito ang goal naming lahat," Torres said.
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