The PBA has seen numerous on-court battles between brothers, and another one of its kind happened on Wednesday.
Faundo brothers Bryan and Jeepy went up against each other when struggling teams Meralco Bolts and the Columbian Dyip locked horns in the resumption of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup.
“Gusto niya ‘kong makalaro matagal na, sinasabi niya sa akin,” quipped the elder Faundo, who entered the PBA back in 2009.
“Isa sa mga bucket list niya makalaro ako kaya lagi niya ko inaasar.”
“Happy ako kasi naabutan ko pa siya,” shared Jeepy, the 15th overall pick in the 2019 draft.
“Napa-panood ko siya dati elementary pa lang ako. Happy ako na nagkasabay kami. Masaya ako na nakalaro ko siya.”
There were even times in the game that the two went physical with each other, especially during box-out situations. For Jeepy, he saw it as some sort of a welcome message from his kuya.
“Parang wine-welcome ako ni Kuya.
“Ganun, bigayan lang kami, kasi minsan lang kasi eh, yung opportunity na ganun na magkasabay yung magkapatid. Fini-feel namin yung moment,” he said.
It was the younger Faundo though that reigned victorious in their clash, 86-85 — a win that snapped the Dyip’s three-game slide — and he definitely now has the bragging rights once they reach home.
“Siguro aasarin ulit ako nun. Tinalo ako,” Bryan said. “Okay lang, bawi na lang.
“Congrats sa kanila.”
But at the end of the day, no matter the game’s result, they are still brothers. And for the 35-year-old Bryan, he couldn’t be prouder that Jeepy has finally made his way to the pro ranks.
“Siyempre proud na kuya ako kasi yung kapatid mo nakuha niya na rin yung dream niya na maging pro,” he said.
“Sana magpatuloy pa. Sana maging masipag siya sa lahat ng gagawin niya.”
