JAMES Payosing admitted that his surprise move from Mendiola to Diliman began with a random "what if."
That passing thought eventually led the former San Beda standout to the University of the Philippines, where he is set to suit up for the Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 89 after serving his one-year residency.
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But while longtime UP assistant coach Tom Chua helped turn that idea into reality, Payosing made one thing clear: his decision to leave San Beda came with no ill feelings toward the Red Lions or head coach Yuri Escueta, the first mentor who taught him the Xs and Os of basketball from the ground up.
"Kilala ko na rin si Coach Tom [Chua] simula nu’ng dumating ako dito sa Manila before I went to San Beda. Nu’ng high school ako, nakausap ko na rin siya," Payosing recalled.
"Sobrang random lang din kasi naisip ko na what if the rest of my playing years, mag-compete ako dito sa UAAP? Nakausap ko rin si Coach Tom, sabi ko, 'Coach, diyan na ako sa UP.'"
The timing also worked in UP's favor.
With the departure of UP's 'Maroon 5' quintet in Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Reyland Torres and Janjan Felicilda after Season 88, the door opened for newcomers like the 6-foot-2, 23-year-old forward to carve out a significant role.
"Naisip ko rin na 'yung Maroon 5, aalis na rin, so sabi ko, that would be a perfect spot for me. Magfi-fit in din ako and knowing si Coach Gold, gusto niya 'yung dogfight talaga sa game," he added.
Payosing, who earned NCAA Season 99 Finals MVP honors after powering San Beda past Mapua for the championship, also maximized his residency year by addressing what he believes has long been the biggest hole in his game.
"Tinatrabaho ko talaga 'yung skills ko kasi 'yan 'yung kulang ko talaga. Medyo huli ako nag-basketball, and dumating ako dito na first league ko nga 'yung NCAA," he said.
"Sabi ko, that would be a good thing for me na I have a couple of months na magtrabaho. Finocus ko 'yun, and then after, nakuha ako du'n sa Gilas 3x3, magandang exposure din 'yun. Dito sa practice [with UP], naging coachable din ako."
Always a Red Lion
Despite arriving at UP as one of its more notable transfer acquisitions for Season 89, Payosing still considers himself a late bloomer, having only started playing organized basketball shortly before moving to Manila.
That made his three-year stay at San Beda all the more meaningful.
"I've been in San Beda for almost three years. I could say 'yung values na tinuro sa amin. Shoutout kay Coach Yuri kasi siya 'yung talagang first coach na nagturo sa akin," Payosing said.
"Dumating ako sa San Beda, zero-zero ako eh, sa skills, system. Nag-adjust ako and sabi ko sa kanya, 'Coach, tulungan mo lang ako,' at tinulungan niya talaga ako."
Those lessons remain with Payosing even as he prepares to don new colors in a new league altogether.
While his next chapter will be written in maroon, the foundation of his game and the person he’s grown to become will always be rooted in Mendiola, where Escueta and the San Beda program molded a raw prospect into an NCAA champion, a Finals MVP and now one of UP's key additions for its Season 89 redemption bid.
"'Yung character development talaga namin kasi close din ako sa mga pari roon. Nakakausap ko rin sila. Maganda rin 'yun na mental, physical, spiritual, at 'yun 'yung kagandahan sa basketball,” he added.
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