JR Quiñahan had no hard feelings when he faced Rain or Shine for the first time
Sunday afternoon, both members of the famed Extra Rice, Inc. were sharing the same floor. However, JR Quiñahan and Beau Belga were on opposing teams, with both men trying to will their team to the playoffs.
During the off-season, Quiñahan was “shocked” after being traded by the Elasto Painters, a team that he has been with since 2011, to the Globalport Batang Pier. The Cebuano though has been flourishing with his new team, averaging 10.8 points and 8.1 rebounds under coach Franz Pumaren.
Against his former team, he scored 11 points, grabbed three rebounds, and stole the ball twice while matching-up against Belga. And more importantly, they came out with a win 117-99 to end their elimination round campaign with a 6-5 slate.
His reunion with Belga was filled with on-court laughter according to him, and he said that he holds no grudges against the team with which he won two championships.
“Expected naman yun eh. Sinabi ko lang kay Beau kanina bago mag-start na dahan-dahan ka lang,” he shared about the playful banter they exchanged all game long.
“Wala naman problema sa amin e. Sa labas pareho pa rin kami,” Belga added. “Gusto lang namin manalo.”
The 32-year-old stretch big man admitted that he hadn’t been focused on exacting vengeance on his former team. Instead, the focus was to win the game and make the playoffs.
“Ang focus lang talaga namin is to win the game for the playoffs. Kasi medyo crucial po yung standing ngayon, so ‘di ko na inisip na kalaban ko yung former team. Pero nakakapanibago,” the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft added.
“Nasa kabilang side sila pero masaya naman kasi nag-usap-usap kami before the game.”
And for him, it just feels good to finally return to the win column after losing two straight games.
“Well big boost para sa’min ‘to kasi last two games namin, may chance kaming manalo pero nasayang yung game,” the product of the University of Visayas added.
“At least now na-maintain namin yung win, natapos namin ng maayos yung game.”
