Baser Amer jokingly admitted that being called “kuya” by some of his younger teammates in Meralco feels weird.
“‘Kuya’ na tawag sa ‘kin.
“Dati ako ‘yung nagku-kuya sa mga teammates, pero ngayon, ang pangit pala pakinggan ‘pag tinatawag kang kuya,” said the 27-year-old floor general with a grin.
But jokes aside, being a “kuya” is actually a responsibility for Amer — a big one, even. Now in his fourth season in the PBA, one of San Beda’s all-time greats is now one of the Bolts’ leaders.
Amer has proven that this season, especially this 2019 Governors’ Cup. There, he helped Meralco reach the Finals once again after exiting in the semis of the 2018 edition of the season-ending meet.
The Orangemen will vie for the crown against a familiar foe in Barangay Ginebra, marking the third time in the last four seasons that the two teams will duke it out for Governors’ Cup royalty.
This particular series that starts this Tuesday, though, is a bit different for Amer from the last two. It will be his first Finals stint without the great Jimmy Alapag by his side.
The PBA legend — whom Amer looks up to as his mentor — was with Meralco during its first-ever Finals trip in 2016 as a player. He was there again in 2017 as an assistant coach to Norman Black.
It may be tough now on his own, but Amer only keeps in mind what the former league MVP told him before. And he’s grateful as well to his coaches and teammates for the trust in him.
“Nung pag-alis niya, sinabi niya sa ‘kin is ito ‘yung team ko,” the seventh pick of the 2015 Draft said. “Sobrang excited kasi sa age ko na ganito napapasunod ko sila kahit mga kuya ko sila.
“And ‘yung tiwala ni coach Norman, tsaka tiwala ng mga coaches, mga players, nandoon.”
