ABY Maraño is more than glad to be teammates with former collegiate rivals at Petron.
The former La Salle skipper now plays alongside ex-Ateneo star Fille Cainglet-Cayetano and National University alumnus Dindin Santiago-Manabat in a powerhouse Blaze Spikers side seeing action in the Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino conference.
And unlike the common perception, Marano said she’s getting along very well with the two players who she considers as friends.
"Ito 'yung katibayan na hindi personal 'yung relationship namin back then sa college," Maraño told Spin.ph.
The team-up was made possible after Marano transferred from Generika (now Shopinas.com) to Petron, where she also has for teammate another former UAAP star in Rachel Anne Daquis.
It was even Cainglet-Cayetano, Marano’ fierce rival from Ateneo, who first broke the news that they are bound to become teammates with Petron through her Instagram account.
The two had faced each other in the Finals for two consecutive years in 2012 and 2013, with Maraño and the Lady Spikers twice beating Cainglet-Cayetano and the Lady Eagles for the title.
"Iniisip ng mga tao lagi kaming pinag-aaway, lagi na lang big deal sa mga tao na tinalakan ni ganito si ganyan," said Marano, who is known to be very emotional on the court.
"Sa totoo lang it's part of the game (kantsawan). Pero ngayon sa Super Liga there's no such thing as kalaban, rivalry. Ganoon lahat kami magkakaibigan," she said.
Maraño debuted for Petron with six points in its opening win against Philips Gold, 25-16, 25-18, 25-23, and then scored 11 in the Blaze Spikers’ victory over Foton, 25-18, 26-24, 20-25, 25-19, a week ago to remain on top of the standings with a 2-0 record.
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