Evan Nelle was happy to go up against his former team San Beda in the 2022 FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup, Sunday in San Juan City.
The 5-foot-10 guard, who helped steer the Red Lions to NCAA Season 94 crown, immediately marked the date as soon as he saw the tournament’s calendar.
“Yeah, I think I was just gigil. I was honestly really preparing for this game since I saw the schedule,” said Nelle, who contributed 10 points in 27 minutes of action in the Green Archers’ 61-53 win.
“I think that was two weeks ago, and I saw Beda and I said, ‘I wanna prepare for this game’ and maybe that took me out of rhythm. We’re having good practices of our offense, our offense is really, you know, on-point nung practice namin,” he added
It was an exhilarating game between the Green Archers and Red Lions. La Salle had a slow start in the first half as San Beda led by 23-17 lead but the Taft school found a way to clinch the victory in the second half.
Nelle, though, was overcome with emotion when he saw familiar and new faces on his former squad. While both camps have moved on after they split ways two years ago, they still have fond memories of one another.
Despite feeling sentimental, the erstwhile Red Cub knew that he had to do everything to help La Salle clinch its second win in the tournament.
“Lalo na seeing James [Kuweketye], JP Bahio, mga ibang Bedista was really good,” said Nelle, a member of the All-NCAA Season 95 team.
“Parang you get goosebumps kasi, siyempre they’re the people I went with my first two years with. We had like really good times, tapos ‘yun nga magkalaban na kami. Pero, it felt really good lalo na with this squad.”
Nelle also coordinated with his good friend Kwuketeye before the game to wear the classic bandana but only the latter was the one seen wearing one.
Nevertheless, Nelle won’t forget the relationship he and his former teammates built when he represented the Red Lions in the NCAA from 2018 to 2019.
“So you just know the brotherhood, the camaraderie, me and the other guys built diyan sa team na yan, I won’t replace it for anything,” he emphasized.
“When I saw James naka-bandana pa ako kanina kasi we talked about it nga before the game na we’re supposed to wear bandana pero bawal pala.”
Before leaving San Beda with its loss against Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the NCAA Season 95 finals, Nelle averaged 10.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.4 steals in 31.5 minutes of playing time.
After a somewhat acrimonious exit, he wishes San Beda the best, especially now that it has Yuri Escueta at the helm. Nelle expects Escueta to guide his former team to get redemption and reclaim the championship.
“Oo for sure. Under Coach Yuri [Escueta] they’re gonna win that (crown) under coach Yuri man. I saw coach Yuri nga kanina, and then I gave him my congratulations and like you see naman the system, hirap na hirap kami nung una,” he said.
And with Nelle still being treated as family in the San Beda squad, he also wouldn’t forget the joyful memories he gained together during his stay in San Beda for six years.
This was the first game between San Beda and La Salle during the pandemic, and Nelle made sure to give it everything because that is what is expected of someone who has played for two of college basketball’s biggest programs.
It is still unknown though what lies ahead for Nelle and Canlas after the collegiate wars. Maybe one of them heads abroad or maybe both of them head to the PBA.
Who knows?
That is why Nelle would have wanted to have one last run with his Bandana Bro during this game.
“You never know this might be our last game together, diba? So we had to wear that bandana,” he lamented.
“Tiyaka san kami mamaya.”
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The entire 2022 Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup will stream LIVE on Smart Sports Facebook page
