The trio of Janrey Pasaol, Kirby Mongcopa, and Jedric Daa have spent years growing up together at Far Eastern University, but never quite side by side like this.
One took a gap year, one recovered from a freak motorcycle accident that sidelined him for over 18 months, and one carried the torch of the Baby Tamaraws in his senior year of high school in Season 86.
Now, in their first full season together at the collegiate level, the Baby Tamaraw-turned-Tamaraw trio is finally living the dream they’ve long envisioned: leading the Tamaraws with pride.
That dream became reality on Sunday evening when — with FEU on the brink of elimination — Pasaol, Mongcopa, and Daa spearheaded the Tamaraws’ stunning upset over the De La Salle University Green Archers.
It was FEU’s first win over La Salle since November 2, 2022.
Their performance breathed life into the Tamaraws’ Final Four hopes and turned a reunion years in the making into the spark that kept their season alive.
For the championship trio that brought home the UAAP boys’ basketball trophy to Diliman in Season 85, the victory meant more than just keeping FEU’s campaign alive.
It was a moment years in the making for three players who had promised to carry their high school chemistry all the way into the intense spotlight of UAAP men’s basketball.
“Siyempre, sa akin, sobrang sarap kasi matagal ko na talaga siyang inaantay ‘eh. Apat kasi talaga kami ‘eh, yung isa hindi na lang natin pag-uusapan,” Pasaol told Tiebreaker Times.
“Kami talagang apat yung nagsabi talaga na pagdating natin sa seniors, yung laro natin at yung chemistry natin, nandoon na ‘eh. Wala na tayong babaguhin pa, kailangan lang natin mag-improve sa isa’t isa ‘eh,” he added.
“Yun nga yung sabi niya, parang isa’t kalahating taon yata ‘yon na hindi kami nagkasama maglaro na kaming apat,” Mongcopa chimed in.
“Nasa isip ko lang na nung nasa high school nga, grabe yung chemistry namin, paano pa kaya pag nasa college na kami? Sobrang grabe yung tiwala namin sa isa’t isa.”
Daa then added: “Para sa akin, sobrang saya ko lang na kasama ko sila at na-eenjoy ko yung game na kasama sila. Talagang doon lang ako kumukuha ng energy sa aming tatlo lang.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Capping off a stellar game from the trio came in the final minute.
After EJ Gollena misfired on his attempt, Mo Konateh grabbed the rebound and passed it to Pasaol at halfcourt. Pasaol then found Mongcopa free inside the paint for the lead and the game’s final scoreline with 26.2 seconds left on the clock.
For Pasaol, that moment was over 18 months in the making — a fitting gift to Mongcopa, who had endured a long road back to the sport they all love.
Despite returning to UAAP basketball just this year after more than a year and a half of recovery from his motorcycle accident, Mongcopa proved that Pasaol’s trust in him was well-placed.
“Sobrang sarap kasi matagal ko na rin siya inaantay, sinasabi ko [kay Kirby] last year na ‘Gaw, miss na miss kasi talaga kita kasama maglaro kasi yung atay namin, yung atay namin magkadikit na’,” Pasaol shared.
“Yung last pass ko sa kanya, parang ‘Bahala na ito, ikaw naman papasahan ko. Saluhin mo na ito, alam ko naman na masasalo mo ito’,” he went on.
“Sobrang grabe yung tiwala namin sa isa’t isa. Example na yung pasa niya sa akin. Pag hindi ko nasalo ‘yon, wala na, galitan na naman kami at magaaway na naman kami. ‘Yon nga, lagi lang namin iniisip [na] magtiwala lang talaga sa isa’t isa,” Mongcopa added.
At the end of the day, the trio agreed they are FEU’s primary building blocks for a brighter future in UAAP men’s basketball — particularly in the shared pursuit of ending a 10-year title drought.
For Pasaol, the pressure is a privilege, one he intends to channel into the kind of urgency that can transform a young squad from potential into championship pedigree.
“Pressure is a privilege talaga. Yung pressure na ‘yon, hindi naman nawawala ‘yon ‘eh,” said the younger brother of UE great Alvin.
“Kami naman, alam naman namin sa sarili namin na winowork hard namin sa practice yung kung ano meron kami ngayon. Sana sa matitira naming games dito at sa future, mag-improve pa kami.”
SHARED CHILDHOOD DREAMS!
Janrey Pasaol, Kirby Mongcopa, and Jedric Daa talk about their connection that began during their days at FEU-Diliman 🐃🏀#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/qRXaXLUKDs
🎥 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/nlglSetwW3
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) November 16, 2025
