By: Joaquin Cortez
After sharing the court as teammates at the University of the Philippines, Aldous Torculas and Denzil Walker finally found themselves on opposite sides of the floor in the NCAA.
The two former Fighting Maroons squared off for the first time in the NCAA on Monday. And Torculas came out on top, as defending champion San Beda University defeated Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 74-65, in overtime in their first meeting since the Finals.
Torculas knocked down the triple that forced overtime before finishing with a game-high 18 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Walker, meanwhile, chipped in eight points and four rebounds before fouling out 34 seconds into the extra period.
Walker enjoyed finally sharing the floor with his former teammate as an NCAA opponent, although the experience came with a bit of frustration as the game wore on.
“It was fun, and it was exciting,” Walker said. “The refs gotta let us play, but besides that, it was fine.”
Torculas and Walker had to wait a full year to finally face each other, with both completing their residencies last season following their respective departures from UP.
The two, however, entered the matchup already familiar with each other, having shared a championship run with the Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 87.
Unlike their days in the UAAP, when both saw limited minutes, Torculas and Walker are now key pieces for their respective NCAA teams, finally getting the opportunity to make their mark on a bigger stage.
“Before the game, no’ng nag-uusap kami, we always say na we are proud of each other and getting the opportunity na hinihintay namin talaga,” Torculas said.
“I am very happy for Denzil and sana magtuloy-tuloy pa. For me, parang kapatid ko na yan, especially winning a championship together, iba rin ‘yung relationship.”
Their friendship goes beyond their time on the court, with Walker considering Torculas one of his closest friends in the Philippines.
“That’s one of my closest friends in the Philippines,” Walker said.
“We don’t hang out as often anymore ’cause we’re both in the season. But when we were at UP, and we were at our residence, we used to hang out a lot.”
But come game time, the former teammates had no choice but to put their friendship aside and battle for their respective teams.
Torculas delivered the bigger moment, while Walker was forced to watch the overtime finish from the bench after fouling out. Still, Walker was quick to praise his former teammate after the game.
“I am proud of Aldous. He did really good today, and he’s the number one option on his team. He had a game that he deserved,” Walker said.
Monday may have ended with Torculas on the winning side, but for both former Maroons, it marked the moment they finally got to make their mark in the NCAA.
